Something I made last year in response to the passing of my beautiful aunt, Vicky Roberts, who was a victim of cancer.
Her death affected me deeply, but no tears were shed until I saw my father cry. I had only seen him cry once in my entire life. I looked over and saw him, and emotions flooded my entire body. That was his sister, and they were extremely close. When I was a child, my young parents and I lived with my aunt in her large, blue house on Mogadore Road. I remember walking to a summer camp at the local Lions park, and building bike jumps out of wood and cinder blocks with my cousins. There was always green kool-aid in her fridge and Velveeta mac & cheese. She was part Native-American, loved Jade, and was an avid collector of dream catchers and figurines. It was a very happy time in my life.
She battled cancer for what I believe to be 5 or 6 years, maybe more. During this time I was just growing into my twenties and was so self-absorbed I grew apart from her and the rest of my family. As dysfunctional families tend to turn out this way, near the end of her life our family was starting to come together again. People always say, "if I could only go back I would do this and this!" .. I would have liked to have more of a relationship with her.
She had found religion and it played a huge part in her life. I like to think she confronted death with bravery and grace, as that was much a part of her personality.
Rest in peace Vicky Roberts
All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society
