In the midst of all of the pandemic and in my unpacking and scanning photos from the box I shipped to myself 10 years ago, my family lost one of my favorite great-aunts, Helen “Pinky” Dimick. She was married to my uncle Richard “Dick” Dimick, my grandma’s brother. She died on Saturday morning, April 18. (Click here for her obituary.)

My family was a little bit divided, geographically. My parents were divorced, and my mom moved us to Wyoming just before I started high school. Whenever we visited our Ohio family, there would be pot luck meals where family and friends came to see us and Dick and Pinky were always among the visitors. Pinky was always smiling, always interested in what we were doing, asked a lot of questions about how we were doing in school or work.

My grandma, Pinky, and their friend Wilma came to visit us in Colorado in February 2007. They seemed to have a ball entertaining (or being entertained by) my kids.

Pinky watching my son play cards.

My daughter, Pinky, my grandma, Ethan, and Wilma

Pinky was always a good friend and companion to my grandmother and I’m happy my grandma had friends and family around her after my grandpa died.

Pinky recently celebrated her 92nd birthday. She was happy, healthy, and smiling having dinner out with her family. She lived a long and happy life and I was so fortunate to have had her as part of our family. Her kindness, pleasantness, and cheerful personality will always be the thing I remember most about her.

Rest well, Pinky. Say hi to grandma, grandpa, and dad for me!

(Pinky enjoying her 92nd birthday dessert in February 2020. Photo by Sue Dimick-Dauer.)