Wednesday, May 25, 2011
I'm very sad to learn tonight of Verlie's passing. I wish I could have been at the service. I hope that it was lovely and filled with music. Verlie and I teased each other that she was my 'second mom'. I was there so much, and she cared so much. I was sure I was her favorite, but I don't doubt she made us all feel like that! I loved to watch Verlie eat apples, she enjoyed every bite so much and ate it right down to the seeds and stem. She cared so much for us all, and tended to us and the community and the church with such dedication and passion. She loved to laugh, and she gave great hugs. When I frustrated her with my lack of practicing, or poor effort, I could tell she was mad becuase her writing in my scribbler would get huge and had lots of exclamation points added to her sentences! I still have all my books and scribblers, and looked through them all recently when one of my daughter's started piano lessons. I have the books she and Sonny gave me for my 17th birthday sitting on the piano right now, I love to look at her handwriting. She gave me Kuhlau and Haydn sonatinas. I was thrilled when they came and stayed with me overnight in Revelstoke when I got my first job after college. Verlie cleaned my kitchen and scraped the burnt black stuff off my stove! I cleaned like I practiced, I guess!! Verlie was an extremely important person in my life growing up, and her memory is imprinted on me forever. I am grateful for the love, good values and caring she worked into my lessons. I will continue to think of her often, and have so many wonderful memories, scribblers, notes and letters to cherish. My deepest condolences to the whole family. Sincerely, Gina.
