To my dear sweet little tia Ednita.

Of the three sisters, Lillian, Edna and Martha, I think Aunt Edna knew me the best.  Years ago at my mom's funeral I described my mom as full of passion.  Well, I would for myself have one word for Aunt Edna - WOW!

She wowed me every time I was around her.  Growing up on 80 Washington Hwy. I felt like I was living a cloistered life. Not being until about 12 yrs old that I could even leave my house.  At Aunt Edna's everything opened up.  Her house was always full of life and she was the center.  All the kids running around doing their own thing. WOW!  My Aunt Edna was an artist?  WOW!  That is sooooo cool.I always wished to have her talent.  (I tried in HS.  It was not my calling)  What? She could play  the piano without reading?  WOW!  I tried that as well - NOT my calling.  Clearly I had no artistic ability.  RATS!  I wanted to be just like my Aunt Edna. Visiting her house once she gave me a book to read.  "Horses and Heroes" It was my favorite book for many years.  Everytime I went to Aunt Edna's house I searched for that book and began to read.  WOW! I wish I could find that book now and read it again.  For one of my birthday gifts to hang on my bedroom wall she gave  me a picture of a horses head. An ink drawing, his forlock was covering his eyes and I named him "Dusty"  I still have him and he is still my favorite.  WOW!  How did she know me so well?  She knew kids.  She had six of them WOW! For my new home in Williamsville she gave me a picture of a girl walking in a pasture leading a horse.  She said it reminded her of me! WOW! How did she know? It is still my favorite.  In Newtown once at some family gathering she asked me to make scrambled eggs for breakfast.  I was like ME?!  I had no idea.  My mom burnt everything she tried to cook. Aunt Edna was disgusted that I didn't know how so she showed me.  WOW! that's it?  To this day when I make scrambled eggs I think of Aunt Edna.  Aunt Edna was the coolest.  She alone put together the weekend of a lifetime.  All the sisters and cousins together at a beautiful park.  WOW! I will never forget that weekend.  She did her own thing and followed her own path and passions. All with one great friend and  husband, my Uncle Gene. He was so cool. When they would come to 80 Washington for a cookout I loved listening to Uncle Gene.  Always making light of things and laughing. WOW! What a breath of fresh air and I just wanted to breath it in.Together they were unstoppable.  They loved, lived and cherrished each other and their family.  They will be greatly missed and I will think of them often.  I believe that now they are together again and will surely be looking in on their children an grandkids and great-grand kids with smiles and love.  They have come full circle.  WOW!  Love to you both, little Lili Maria