My sister Linda was 48 years old when she died. For 40 of those years she was very independent. She went where she wanted with whom she wanted and for whatever reason she chose. She wasn't afraid to go to new places or experience new things. She was more bold than I ever was in going to class reunions and being in the center of a party. The last eight years of her life, after her husband died, she was a little less mobile and that's when our relationship began to grow. She depended more on others to get around and we were often called into service. There were times I didn't want to make the drive to Hutch to help out but I was always glad I did. I came to love her in a way I didn't think possible. I loved how she thought I had hung the moon and how she depended on me, especially in times medical things were happening.
She thought I knew everything about everything. :-) She was childlike and adult like all at the same time. She watched the news and often called to give us her spin on it (usually it was about half fact and the rest she just filled in on her own). She kept us abreast of current weather conditions, both here and in New York where Adam's wife Sarah has family. There really was never a dull moment. Her voicemails left us in fits of laughter at times...she went from chastising us for not returning her phone calls to dispensing advice gleaned from the Dr, Oz show all in the same day.
My sister also loved funerals. I'm not sure why but something about death and dying intrigued her. She went to many funerals and probably weaseled her way into many a funeral dinner. Linda would have loved this celebration today...the songs, the flowers, the people gathered to celebrate her life. she would love that her sisters were loved and supported by others.
It was a privilege being her big sister. I will definitely miss her and our family will miss her as well. But I do know she is in a better place and her childlike faith was surely welcomed when she met Jesus face to face.
-Jill Smith (Linda's older sister and my Mom)
She thought I knew everything about everything. :-) She was childlike and adult like all at the same time. She watched the news and often called to give us her spin on it (usually it was about half fact and the rest she just filled in on her own). She kept us abreast of current weather conditions, both here and in New York where Adam's wife Sarah has family. There really was never a dull moment. Her voicemails left us in fits of laughter at times...she went from chastising us for not returning her phone calls to dispensing advice gleaned from the Dr, Oz show all in the same day.
My sister also loved funerals. I'm not sure why but something about death and dying intrigued her. She went to many funerals and probably weaseled her way into many a funeral dinner. Linda would have loved this celebration today...the songs, the flowers, the people gathered to celebrate her life. she would love that her sisters were loved and supported by others.
It was a privilege being her big sister. I will definitely miss her and our family will miss her as well. But I do know she is in a better place and her childlike faith was surely welcomed when she met Jesus face to face.
-Jill Smith (Linda's older sister and my Mom)
