This morning our Parish bid farewell to Charlotte, a long time member of our community. I didn’t know her at all other than to know who she was by sight, a very elderly woman who reminded me of the old lady on Hallmark cards.
Each Sunday her friend Betty would drop her off at the door and she would slowly shuffle to her seat with the aid of her walker. Her eyes must have been sensitive to the light, because she always wore dark sunglasses and her hearing wasn’t good because often, during the quiet times of our services, she would turn to Betty and ask, “What did he say?” in a very loud voice. But Charlotte was 99 years old so she got brownie points for her mere presence.
In the past month or so I’ve gotten to know Betty a bit, having chatted with her on the phone several times when she called to ask me to send an email out through our Parish Communication Network to keep the community informed of Charlotte’s failing health and eventual passing. Each time we spoke, I was given glimpses into the early life of this “little old lady.” She wasn’t just one of the locals. In fact, through her longtime career in the hospitality industry, she lived in many places including Cuba both before and after Castro assumed power. While in Cuba she adopted two sons and eventually was able to bring them back to the US with her.
Betty prepared a photo board montage of Charlotte’s life for the luncheon following the memorial Mass which showed her at various stages of her life, as young girl, bride, young mother and happy retiree vacationing all over the world. There was even a photo of Charlotte with Mohammad Ali!
The more I’ve learned about Charlotte, the more I wish I’d actually gotten to know her. Those who did know her said she was a pip. She was outspoken in at least two languages and had an enormous capacity for love; she was just my kind of person!
I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to know her personally but I’m glad I was able to learn what I did about her because it is a reminder to me that I have to be a bit more careful about how I label people in my head. After all, someday, God willing, I too will be a little old lady shuffling into church each Sunday with my senses failing. And I wonder, what will people think of me?