Our next door neighbor recently passed away. We were pretty friendly with her. Matt changed light bulbs for her on a regular basis. We had her over for dinner on Christmas Eve. She loved our girls. She had been living in this building (in the same apartment) since the early 1960s. She once told us that she paid a whopping $263 in rent a month! For her rather large 3 bedroom abode. She was a hoot and always made us laugh (in a good way!) She was a great neighbor, too, as she never played her music too loudly or complained that our kids were too rowdy.
In cleaning out her apartment, her family gave this doll to Alexis. We talked about naming her Frances (after our neighbor) but I think Lexi has come up with some other name since then. Alexis loves this doll so much. When she first got it, she just stared and stared at it and commented on all its features: "I love her eyes. They're green! I love her hair! It's like Rapunzel's! Her dress is so soft!"
I attended her funeral in the heart of Harlem. Did you know they're not called FUNERALS anymore, but HOMEGOINGS? Lots of Hallelujah!s, Amen!s, and Praise God!s. It would have been interesting to have known Frances in her younger days. Seems she was quite an energetic lady who worked hard, loved a good time and was a generous soul. May she rest in peace.
2 comments:
That's so neat. Being a good neighbor is priceless...especially to an elderly woman. I love funerals because you learn so much about the best of people. I've never heard that term, but when my cousin passed away a little more than a year ago, his trendy friends held a "wake" and it seems I am the only person who didn't know what it was.
Homegoings?? It sounds like quite the experience! I'm glad they gave Lexi the doll, what a nice reminder of a wonderful woman.
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