I was lucky to have lived with my aunt when I was younger. While I was still in high school, my aunt came to live with me and my parents while she transitioned to a new community, new job, new church, and overall new life.

It was such a treasure to me from the beginning. No longer living far away, now I had her right in my own home.

My Aunt Dede had always been easy to talk to, and when she lived with us, she never took the role of a strict adult telling me what to do. Instead she remained the same - a safe place of comfort that I could come cry to or share my happiness around. 

After I moved out of my parent's house to go to college, she remained a central part of my thought of "home". And throughout the years I have always enjoyed coming back to my hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania to see not only my parents, but to see her, too.

She doesn't realize how much I've learned by watching her. As my sisters have had children of their own, I've always taken my lead from her to know what to do when the babies cry, what to talk about when they become toddlers, and even how to be "hip" as they turn into teenagers.

I love you so much, Aunt Dede!! Thank you for always being there for me through it all. You're the best one could ask for!

Love, Jana