The Passing of Terry

My sister-in-law Terry, my late wife’s older sister, passed away yesterday.  She was 75 years old.

She was newly married when I began dating her sister back in ’63 so I’ve known her and her surviving husband Vic for a very long time.

We live 15 minutes apart, spend Easter and Christmas together and perhaps once a month I wiould pick up donuts on a pleasant Sunday morning and drop in for coffee and conversation.  She was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her sister’s grandson next month.

In the half century plus since we met I can say with all honesty that an unkind word has never passed between us.  How many can make that statement?

She had been ill with heart disease for decades, complications of Scarlet Fever as a child.  She had a steel valve in her chest and a pacemaker.  She suffered a stroke perhaps 25 years ago which left her partially disabled on one side but she never gave up living.

She raised two fine sons and was with her sister and I when we buried our two sons.  She was also there for the joy of our two daughters.

Her older widowed brother also lives nearby.  We are now three old men who buried their wives living in houses alone, doing our best to find our way.

I will be out of touch for awhile.  I’m sure you understand.  Regards from Florida.

JoAnn and Terry -two sisters -1948

The loves of our lives