Magical Moment

Auntie Phee

She died. 

After she lived. 

Born on August 14, 1924 

In that year, Walt Disney produced his first movie Alice in Wonderland.

George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue was published.

It was the year of the first Macy's Day Parade. 

Auntie Phee was the baby to a family of 7. 

Three boys followed by two girls

Irene and her baby sister, Phyllis. 

Part of a busy family, she helped her mom cook, clean and garden. That was back when you had to iron all the clothes. 

She graduated from high school when it actually meant something. 

For vacations, her dad and mom packed the car with kids and they all traveled to the Atlantic Beach. 

Auntie Phee loved music. 

She told me she and her sister, Irene, my mom .. loved to dance.

While living in Washington DC as a young single woman, 

those sisters would jitterbug the night away. 

One of her favorite movies was The Sound of Music. 

She was a traveler. Just let her get in her car and she was gone. 

She had places to go. 

You know, she married a spy, Uncle Les, he worked for the CIA. 

She told Elisa and me

that they would move from location to location to keep his cover. 

Auntie Phee wasn't to ambitious, she was usually satisfied to live simply. 

Her favorite way to spend her time was with her family.

She had a daughter, Suzanne. 

Who blessed her with the light of her life, 

David, her grandson.

She had the good pleasure to help raise him when Suzanne had to work. 

Gaga, and David developed the close relationship that they shared until the day she died. 

In fact, I was there that day. 

She was laying in her bed in a horribly weakened condition, David told her he loved her and she didn't have to keep suffering. David shared with us that when he told her goodbye a tear fell from her eye. She loved her family. 

She always made us laugh. She had a way to look at a situation and with some wise crack, give it a whole new perspective. AND, even until recently, she had her eye on a certain gentleman. I have heard she would sit in the dining room and call to him, telling him she loved him. Funny lady. 

We love you, 

Phyllis Evelyn Dillon Riber 

We are thankful to our Good Lord that 

He let us have this earthly time with you. 

Yes, Auntie Phee died 

but not before she lived a good long life. 

Her funeral 

After the viewing, having a late night dinner of spaghetti with family. 

Thank you, Bud and Liz 

Me and Linda 

Don and cousin Bud

 Suzanne and Jackie 

 Sherry and her mom, Liz 

We stayed at Sherry and Bud's house. SO nice. 

 Cousins Rick and Lily

 Lily's granddaughters 

 And her special pal 

The day of the funeral

Cousin Julia that lives in Fredericksburg 

The next generation 

The reality. 

Cousin Irene, her husband and cousin Linda 

Cousin Liz with cousin David 

Cousin Suzanne with cousin Jim 

After the funeral on our way to the cemetery 

On our way to the church for a lunch

This is the mine where Dada Phil worked. 

This is the bridge where Uncle Tony fished.

The family house. 

David and cousin Rayme 

The ladies that made all the good good. 

Ashton trying hard to understand why he needs to settle down. 

Yummy food. 

The Moore family (cousins) 

Explaining our family tree to cousin Irene 

Two jokesters, cousins Jimmy and Alex 

 These are some of the people that loved Auntie Phee. 

Lots of people couldn't come because of work or illness, distance or because they were just 9 days away from their wedding. That was OK.

Auntie Phee was a smart woman. She understood that there was a time and place for everything. 

She loved us all with her whole heart. 

This is her hugging us, because she loves us. 

Love never ends ..