Tuesday, September 14, 2010
To Tammy: First, I thank you, Tammy, for keeping me posted on Aunt Teenie on such a regular basis. Aunt Teenie always had a "special" place in my heart and Aunt Bess would ask me...any new news about Teenie? It was good to be able to tell her something. I know you talked to Aunt Bess too, so you know what I mean about all that. It has and will always mean more than these words could ever say, Tammy, but I wanted you to know all the same. I LOVE YOU FOR THAT!
To the entire family of Aunt Teenie: I know the memories she gave me and the joy that went with it....she was so funny and had a heart of GOLD!! She took my parents in to live with her temporarily (John and Bessie Stark) which gave them time to look for an apartment in Oakland. Not everyone would interrupt their routine and especially give up their privacy to open their home like that but she DID and with NO HESITATION I may add!
When my dad died, again Teenie offered her home to anyone who needed it saying...I don't have much but you're MORE THAN WELCOME to make my home yours...SHE WASN'T EVEN THERE at the time...she was on a trip with Tammy and Eddie....how SWEET and GENEROUS was that? She just had us get a key from Sherri and my sister Jane and her family did stay there. She was AMAZING!! Always thinking of others and telling me...now you be careful, here?...when we'd leave. She would talk about her family endlessly showing off pictures on display and telling "remember when" stories about them all one by one and how they are all doing now. She was so proud of you all and loved you all so very much..!!
Family meant everything to her.....you all really kept her going and gave her purpose in life....you could just see that so easily!!
I couldn't get over how she'd chat with us, watch the soaps, and crochet all at the same time (oh, yes and smoke a cigarette)-WOW!!....she was always active!!
Our chats I'll cherish along with some of the crochet-work she made that I bought from her. She'd show us all the different things she would make and sell and I just wanted to buy them all. So detailed and beautiful!! I keep her crochet-work now in my living and dining room areas and will always cherish them. Each stitch, a movement of her hands giving love with each loop.
I loved sleeping over at her house - she would make a "pot of beans" and cornbread...mmmm for when we got there and then we'd stay up late "catching-up" and watching TV. Our sons, Nick or Ben Jr., or our daughter, would go in the "game room" and play for a while - always something up her sleeve to keep them busy and still have time to talk to them. Sometimes my husband and I would go running with the kids when we heard the train coming by. She would laugh at what a BIG deal we made about it and watched us out the window all the way. She would call her other family members and hope we would get to see them if they didn't stop in...she had such a LOVE of LIFE AND FAMILY. And, oh YES, she loved her cat!!....and it loved her back, of course!!
Our pastor once mentioned during a sermon that one of the GREATEST GIFTS OF LOVE IS.....SELF-LESS-NESS!! That was her middle name to me....one of the faces I'd see in my mind when I heard this word. What an amazing woman she was and she was like that ALL THE TIME....EVERY TIME-she taught me a lot!!
I remember how she cried when I told her my mom was now in nursing care and she'd say, Teresa, please have Bessie call me so we can still stay in touch and I did because as her health failed and she could no longer visit her, just the voice was a comfort for them both. They did see each other one last time earlier in the spring and shared cake together celebrating their birthdays. You see Teenie and Bess were only 10 months apart and from January to March they would always tease people that they were twins because they would be the same age for that brief period of time. It was so cute hearing them talk about it every year. Again, one of my fond memories...too many to put in this email, but needed to share some of them in hopes that they will reinforce to each one of you that she may be gone in body, but the memories she left will always be in your heart and mind....FOREVER AND EVER! GOD HAS HER NOW...NO MORE AILMENTS-AMEN!!
I do cry as I write this for I loved her and will miss her very much, but they are tears of joy and gratefulness that God put her in my life and my family had the privilege to know her as well. Please do call if there is anyway we can do anything at all to help you thru this - you are not alone (410) 557-6881. I would love to stay in touch...my email is noted here as well if that's easier. God Bless!
Our deepest sympathies to you all.....Love, Ben and Teresa (Stark) Carini and sons, Nick and Ben Jr., and daughter, Kayla xoxoxo
