My wonderful aunt, Rhonda:

Rhonda is one of the best aunts in the entire world.  She was always one of the most compassionate and kind people.  Finding out that Rhonda was diagnosed with cancer hurt my heart tremendously.  She was and is such a kind and loving human who shouldn’t have to suffer the pain and the sickness that followed the months after. It hurts my heart that today my precious aunt went up to heaven.  She will be missed by many, including myself.  I know that you promised my mom that you would say hello to my grandpa and Kaiser dog, so I do really hope that you do get the chance.  I also know that you have your father that you can talk to. It will at least make me happy to know some of my family is all together.  

Growing up, Rhonda was my girlie girl aunt. On my Dad’s side of the family, I was always called, “the princess,” especially as a kid.  I was the one who wanted to get into dresses, pretend to be a princess, get nails done, have long hair, etc.  Sometimes I didn’t like being called, “the princess” when I was a kid because it would hurt my feelings.  It would make me feel different than everyone else in my family.  However, Rhonda liked those things as well, so she made me feel a bit more accepted.  She loved to wear jeans with a bunch of jewels on them.  She would get her nails done every few weeks and always was getting her hair done.  I had someone who understands loving and appreciating the extra girly things in life.  

There were a few life lessons that I learned from knowing Rhonda that I want to adapt in my life more and more.  The first one is taking time to spend with those you love.  Rhonda was very good about spending time with those she loved.  She cared and valued relationships, whether it be with her family, her friends, or those that she worked with at Hope Haven.  I know that as her niece, my absolute favorite day with Rhonda was when she took me out to the spa in Spencer.  Rhonda loved to get her nails done as I have mentioned before.  I hardly ever saw her without her fingernails or toenails done, so she took me out to get my very first pedicure.  It was awesome, and I loved it.  I never knew that getting your toenails done could be so relaxing and comforting.  Then she also took me out to lunch at Chinese.  She knew to take that time with me would mean the world to me.  She also is incredibly good about doing that when she would go to wrestling tournaments with my dad and cousin Clint just because both of them liked to watch wrestling.  She wasn’t necessarily watching anyone in particular, it was a chance to be with my dad and Clint and just watching a sport. It is important to take time to spend with those you love and to pay attention to the things even that they enjoy.  

Rhonda was also always so good about coming to support me.  She loved to go to my different events when she could.  I know that she made some concerts of mine, volleyball games, dance recitals, and, of course my high school and college graduations.  She was so happy to get the chance to watch me in different events.  I also know that she loved doing that with her son, Clint as well.  A person always needs someone who is willing to be supportive and loving to have their back.  This is something that I am going to continue to remember the rest of my life.  I have learned that I really love to support my students, friends, and family in my life mostly because I have been shown such great support in my life through people like my aunt Rhonda.  

Rhonda was also very caring.  She cared about others.  She worked at a disability service called Hope Haven, where she showed how much she cared about others all the time.  On Thanksgiving Day, we made sure to spend some time with Rhonda for her last Thanksgiving.   Even though she was the one who was very sick with cancer, she was just as loving as she always has been.  I was taking a nap on Thanksgiving day in the recliner after lunch.  I was halfway asleep and halfway awake when she put a blanket on me in order that I would stay warm.  She was showing me love and care for me even when she should have been the one getting cared for.  She didn’t want all the glory and the love for herself, but instead she wanted to make sure that she is taking care of others in her family.

Thanks for being an amazing aunt Rhonda.  I will try to remember to always be as supportive as you, and to value relationships as much as you did.  I hope that I can always remember to be as caring and as loving.  Again, God blessed me with the world’s most wonderful aunt and even though I am sad that she is gone, I have at least the best memories from her.