This week my great uncle Bill passed away. I last saw him at his 80th birthday party in Florida.
But he was a big part of my childhood. Actually, to be fair, it was his wife, my great aunt Madeline who was a HUGE part of my childhood. She took care of my sister and I while my mother worked. She was such a big part of my life that I name my daughter after her. She died about 15 years ago and I still miss her.
But Uncle Bill was there too, always. With his hearty laugh and his big hugs. We went camping with them and on various outings. I remember visiting their house in Weymouth -- for a time they lived in an in-law apartment they'd built in the garage of their former house so their son Tim and his wife could live in the main house. For some reason my sister and I found that little apartment fascinating.
His granddaughter Jennifer wrote a lovely post about him.
Good-bye Uncle Bill. You will be missed.