I only just found this website. Enid was my unofficial "godmother." She and my mother were vere very close friends for many years, even though they were often mad at each other for one reason or another, and at some point during my childhood, I was told that if anything ever happened to my parents, Enid and her then husband, Richard, would take care of me. After Enid and Richard were divorced and my father died, Enid and my mother spent a lot of time together: Enid would come to the Adirondacks for holiday weeks - July 4th, Labor Day, Christmas, or my mother would go off to Washington or to Enid's house in Virginia and then on Chesapeake Bay, or on their annual post-Labor Day week in Rehoboth Beach. 

Enid was almost like a second mother to me. Especially as I got older - in college and as a young adult -  she was a wonderful advisor on my career and various foibles and heartaches. We would enjoy hanging out in her dining room overlooking Georgetown with a nice bottle of wine and food from the local Trader Joe's, or eating out at a fun DC restaurant. 

It was very difficult to watch her decline in the last years. I saw her for the last time in the fall of 2021. I cherish the many happy memories of singing folk songs at my family's camp on 1st Pond in Saranac Lake, sitting around the fireplace in the Harveys' wonderful Victorian house, popping over to her and Richard's house on East 85th St after school, watching them renovate the 18th century house in Ridgefield, CT and then in Sharon, CT, and visiting their farm in Pine Plains, and then the many years as adult "girlfriends." I know she is missed by everyone in my family and so many others who knew and loved her and all her eccentricities and quirks.  

Enid and Cassius Janka

Noelle Janka and Enid

Thanksgiving with Enid and the Jankas

I first met Great Aunt Enid when in 2017. I was a former foster youth advocate from Hawaii and was accepted to intern with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Foster Youth Internship program. From this opportunity, I lived among other young leaders from across the country for 2 months in Washington DC and I lived less than a half hour walk from her! Lived in dorms at George Washington University. I created a policy report for CCAI and wrote a white paper on Hawaii’s child welfare system for Senator Mazie Hirono’s office while working in her office. This was my first time I met my Great Aunt as I didn’t know a lot about her. I’m sure Aunty Vicky supported this connection for me. I came over to her home when I had a free weekend and I had a great time getting to know her. Although, it would have been nice to know her before, it was fascinating to hear a little about her career and the strength she has. I would visit a Trader Joe’s close to her home and visited with her at least a few times during my busy months. I join her at her friend June’s home for dinner and even got out into some of the country side (guessing northeast of DC). Aunty Vicky join us once and we seen a comedy show at Kennedy Center. Unfortunately, she was losing some of her memory when I met her but she was still very sharp. From that point on, I got sucked back into busy life in Hawaii and never got another opportunity to see her again. When I found out she was in a care home, I had unsuccessfully attempts at reaching her. I’m hoping to learn more about her life, career, and interests. Definitely appreciated my opportunity of being one of 12 young leaders in 2017 to experience DC and to also meet some of the Hawaii leadership out there.  Sending my love to Aunt Enid and to all her cherished relations.

Weekend trip to a seafood restaurant — with Great Aunt Enid and friend June

Seen a comedy show — with Great Aunt Enid and Aunty Vicky