A sister's love

Imogene was 15 when I was born so she was more than my big sister. There was a little mothering, lots of protection and plenty of generosity. She shared her children with me so I always had a great sense of family, instead of being the youngest of the six Murphy children and raised as an only child. she introduced me to the facts of life, cautioned me about boys and cheered me on in high school plays and musicals (along with my parents, of course!). 

When I had children, Imy was there to hold my hand. Mother couldn't bare to watch so she deferred that duty to my other mother, who was my sister. Imy had her 5th child a few months after I had my first so David and Frank grew up together (yes, disagreeing frequently and a relationship long damaged beyond repair). My son Art, at age 2, kicked her in the shins for not feeding him quickly enough. Sheila was simply adored by her Aunt Imy. We were together often, traveling to Chicago and St. Louis before we moved away from Rossville near Imy to the Quad-Cities. She came to see me until she moved with her three youngest to Scottsdale. Marvin and I took our kids to visit the desert several times, and once we continued on with Imy and Curt and David to Mexico. Sheila loved being in my niece Joni's wedding, as Joni had been in mine. 

My aging parents moved to live near us, and traveled to Arizona to be with Imy during our cold winters. After they died in 1976, my sister decided I needed a vacation, so she took me to Venezuela to visit friends, then to Mexico City and Acapulco for some beach time. I returned the favor by driving her to Kentucky to visit our ancestors' homes several years later.

My sister was a strong woman in her youth who was devastated by Parkinson's Disease and many ailments of aging. Joni saved her life many times during the more than 20 years she cared for her. As Imy became more frail, I enjoyed their hospitality. While our families are torn apart by anguish, strife and betrayal, I remember Imy and Joni with love.

More than a sister, sometimes a mother and always a friend, Imy taught me about courage and tenacity as she faced the afflictions of life and her physical suffering. Imy's smile would light up a room and her generosity was exemplary. I loved her in this life and will always miss her. Gone two years now, she is with my parents and I will see her again one day. What more could any of us want?