Aunt Rosemary

My favourite aunt and godmother died today. She was 93. She had had a series of strokes and was mentally ready to go. None of which makes losing her any easier. She was the kind of aunt who made you feel like a smarter, better, more important person than you are. She would have been very proud of me being here at the business and human rights conference and she would have been convinced that my newfound wisdom would help me change the world, which she saw as in dire need of change.

We had wonderful conversations about politics, history, culture, lack of culture. We both hated Fox News. She was never short of opinions, but sometimes apologised for having so many opinions. She told great stories--a trait of all the Caseys. She was bright, compassionate, openminded, curious, and loyal to kith and kin. Her three children pursued three religions that were different from her own, which didn't bother her a bit. They are all good people making a difference in the world, and that is all she needed to know.

She enjoyed reminiscing about Chester, Pennsylvania, where she invested a great deal of her boundless energy in bringing medical care to the underprivileged. She served on the boards of a Catholic hospital there and on the Visiting Nurses Association board. She practiced law for something like 50 years, helping generations of families manage their affairs (she was a trust and estates lawyer). At her retirement community, she was the go-to person when women had questions about their retirement plans and insurance coverage.

She was the bedrock of the Casey family, keeping tabs on the offspring of the ten Caseys, and the offspring of the offspring. She kept the Casey Rolodex and she started the phone chain when there was News.

I asked her once how she managed a successful career, raised three kids, and spent countless hours serving on boards, recruiting doctors to serve in Chester, setting up mobile clinics, and so on. Her response: "No one told me I couldn't." Also: "I was the only woman Catholic lawyer, so who else were they going to ask?" And, finally: "I couldn't have done it without Uncle Phil. He picked up the kids, did whatever I couldn't."

I can't remember the order those answers came in but they represented the best of Aunt Rosemary--humour, humility, and family. I thought of my grandfather, who was also a lawyer, and the faith he must have instilled in her. I thought of her growing up, second oldest of 10 children, and how that must have made her a leader from the get-go. I think the 42 Casey cousins are somewhat in awe of the 10 Casey progenitors, of which there are now only four. Sorely missed she will be.

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