RIP Tante Marie

Tante Marie was special. Here's why. When my clan washed up on these Canadian shores in the middle fifties, every single aunt and uncle was hooked up with a fellow German, except my Dad's younger brother Horst, who remained unhooked till well into the 60s. Then one year, he shows up at a family get-together with this French-Canadian firecracker! Her name was Marie Richard. Tante Marie was perhaps a little more precocious than I was accustomed to. None of the other aunties were into Kino or Tanzen. Through my childhood eyes that made her rather exotic. At the same time, her core values allowed her to blend right in with the extended family from the get-go. Turns out small-town French-Canadian values meshed pretty well with the values of these German immigrants. You work hard and do your best and you care about the people around you. Tante Marie was a much-loved Auntie who we're going to miss. Condolences to Carmen and Joe, and to my Uncle Horst.