A Tribute to Aunt Jo

I sat silently awaiting the beginning of the services for Aunt Jo. I was not sure what to expect. Several years earlier, my Uncle Tom preceded Aunt Jo in the afterlife, and the services were the most positive and uplifting funeral service I had ever attended. Several of the Gruenenfelder children stood before the crowd and paid tribute to their dad, mostly funny stories about misadventures and personality quirks that captured the wonderful human being that he was. They played show tunes, a nod to Uncle Tom’s lifelong affinity for theater. It was truly a celebration of life. I left both saddened and joyful all at once.

Aunt Jo’s funeral was somewhat different, a little more somber like most funerals. My cousin Amy bravely spoke to the attendees about what a wonderful person Aunt Jo was. Part of the focus of Amy’s tribute centered on Aunt Jo’s battle to have juvenile criminal laws changed, so that the mistakes that occurred that freed her sister’s murderer would never happen again. I had no idea Aunt Jo had done that. I was clueless that she gave up an entire year of her life to channel her energies toward reform. Nobody had ever told me.

I didn’t realize it then, but that day planted a seed, which would eventually blossom to The Love Sisters Project. If it weren’t for Aunt Jo, and the example she set, I don’t know if an introverted, former bureaucrat like myself would have had the courage to step out and take a chance to build something that could make a difference to others. I am, after all, “an imminently safe man”.

Aunt Jo returned from her year long journey intense lobbying to build a career as a paralegal and to her family. Her character as a mom is deeply reflected in her children. If I could describe Aunt Jo’s kids, my cousins, in one word, it’s “laughter”. Every time I am around them, which isn’t nearly enough, they lighten the room with laughter. Brightening the world in our own way is really what we are here for and I can honestly say they always brighten my day. That came from Aunt Jo and Uncle Tom.

We had always intended to get The Love Sisters going and then expand the board so that both Love sisters were represented. We are pleased to announce that the board voted to expand and we welcome Julie Gruenenfelder and Amy Tobey to The Love Sisters Project board. I can’t help but think our board meetings will be more fun! And to them, and to Aunt Jo, we say, “Thank you!”