Yesterday July 1st, the world got a little darker. Not because of some evil done, but because a great light passed from our family.
Thanks to My sister-in-law for this picture from her blog post
My Aunt Jill, born with Down Syndrome spent her wonderful life giving love to all she met. You didn't say high to her without recieving a big bear hug as part of the deal. Her entire life past birth was an act of proving the Doctors wrong, for 55 wonderful years she proved those doctors wrong. And we, and all who met her, were greatly blessed because of it.
She loved Barbie dolls, puzzles, word-searches, big hair bows and rootbeer. She hated all frogs with an undying passion, except of course Kermit. And she despised my fathers favorite nickname for her "Jack". But she was always ready with a big hug from her small body and a smile a mile wide.
This is the only picture I seem to have of Jill, sitting between her mother and her sister (My mom, with her grandchildren on her lap).
I last saw her just before easter, amazingly she was actually remembering a few of us. Which Alzheimers had made a rare occasion. I seriously regret that we hadn't found the time to make the drive up to visit her in the rest home we'd had to put her into so she could get the care she needed. How often we regret, after the fact, not making time for the really important things. But then again I think, no I know I was trying to avoid seeing her in that condition, so it really wasn't time that was the issue.
When we got the call that she was most likely not going to last we made plans to get up to Layton as soon as I could get off work. But shortly after that, the call came that she was gone. She died peacefully in the arms of Kristanne my sister-in-law, my brother Shawn and my Grandfather were there as well.
She is gone, and we are saddened, yet we rejoice, absolutely we rejoice for her, she is reunited with her mother and her oldest sister, and she is glorious and perfect. Her handicaps are gone, but her love never really will be.
We'll miss you Jill Nielson.
I'll miss you Aunt Jill!
Dirk
