Alverna is my aunt, my mother’s older sister. She grew up as a very young girl during the depression days when things were financially very hard on everyone. That made an impression on her life, personality and everything she did. My mother was enough younger that she was not impacted by those hardships. There could not have been two more different sisters. Living so far away from the family in the Midwest our families seldom saw each other. When we traveled to Virginia for visits, Alverna showed us a nice time seeing all the historic places we didn’t have many of in Iowa. Plus she was willing to drive us into D. C. traffic so we could see all the sites there too. I still treasure many gifts from her and Don, some sewn (like my sewing needle holder) and others Don painted (my chopping boards) and just recently, gifts she shipped home to my mom from her time working in Japan. To her son, daughter & daughter-in-law that survive, you each have my deepest & sincere sympathy for your loss.
This is hands down the best portrait of my Aunt that exists because she is smiling. Say hello to your parents & many others in Heaven and enjoy yourself because now you don’t have to worry about the cost of anything.
