​You Were The Most Divine

I recently lost my last living aunt, Margaret Jensen. She was married to my mom's brother. She worked at Cherry Avenue School for years. Her husband, my uncle, owned Cave's men's clothing store in downtown Tulare for those who have been around awhile. She was 94. She had Alzheimer's in past years but she lived a full life before Alzheimer's robbed her and her family. I wrote the following to post on her obituary page. Then I came across a Facebook post with me wearing one of the jackets she passed on to me. It's been almost 35 years now. It is one of my favorite pieces of clothing from one of my favorite people.

My Aunt Margaret was such a big part of my family. She was a wonderful sister-in-law to my mom. She and my Uncle Jerry were at the hospital often in the last week before my mom died. I leaned on her to help me with the decisions being made in preparation for a loss that was so heavy and so hard. When we were at the funeral home I was looking at a beautiful casket wondering what the price could be when I heard a whisper in my ear saying “your mother would kill you.” Her voice of reason helped me countless times. After my mom died she and my Uncle Jerry supported my dad in ways that I couldn’t. Their love had no limits.

We spent a lot of time swimming in their pool and I gave a few private swim lessons there to toddlers, including her grandson Ryan. Margaret was always elegant and classy. She used words like “divine.” I remember as a young woman thinking that I didn’t know anyone else who used that word, and with such style and grace. She often handed down her clothes to me. I still have a couple of jackets that are timeless and will forever remain in my closet.

She was also an amazing artist. My parents had one of her paintings in their house which was passed on to me. I never hung it up which I terribly regret. When I relocated to Utah I had that painting reframed and now have it up in my dining room. I love it, especially her initials at the bottom.

Margaret loved her parents and her sister. She also loved her husband, her children and her grandchildren. I have other memories of my Aunt Margaret that I hold dearly. I know she was greeted by those loved ones who passed on before her. I can picture my Uncle Jerry saying “well it’s about time you got here Sug!” I love you Aunt Margaret and am so thankful to have had you in my life and for the example you were to me, YOU were most divine! ❤️