This is a poem or maybe a prayer for my Aunt Kathleen who joined her Mom and Dad in the great beyond early in the morning on April 5, 2022. I wept hearing the news and called my Dad, Tom Gibbons right away. I have never lost a sister and I couldn’t imagine and I needed to hear him.
Aunt Kathleen transitioned peacefully and gently in her sleep surrounded by love. I regret not spending more time with her in my life. I am forever grateful for all the time she spent on me.
💗
lighting a candle
and saying a prayer
to agnes
to martin
to uncle kevin
to all
my ancestors
they welcome home
my father’s
baby
sister
she would tell me
even when she was old
and dementia had her
in its grip or
in its thrall or
perhaps also in its care
that i was her favorite
niece
we were all her favorite
and we all felt it
for it was true
my aunt kathleen
she loves like nobody else
she unites
like no body else
our wild
politically diverse
geographically diverse
ethnically diverse
religiously diverse
queer and not
all are united
for the love of one
little but fierce
sassy
sweet
never defined alone by her disability
woman of impact
she never married
but she proposed to every boy
she loved
family and friends alike
she never had children of her own
but she loves us all
for she is a BAM too
like my mama is a BAM
BAM, you got this
we got this
we got you now
you always have us
forever grateful to you
little bad ass mama
aunt kathleen was and always will be
a bad ass mama in her own right
loves us all
loved by all
a woman of impact indeed
always
and so
i light that candle
and say that prayer
always
rest in peace
aunt kathleen
Aunt Kathleen, Photo credit: my cousin Jackie