I have so many memories of my dear Aunt Ivy that I don't even know where to begin.
Ivy knew me from the day I was born so we have shared a life time together. From way back at Diers family gatherings up through these last 15 years that we have both been in Honolulu, most of which we lived on the same street.
When I was young I can remember my sister Patty and I always wanted to sit near Ivy at a Diers family get together because we thought she was so funny. I also remember Uncle Paul sitting quietly watching her and I always thought he was thinking how lucky he was to have her as his wife. And she felt the same about him. They had a wonderful life together.
I loved listening to her tell stories about growing up in the bush in Australia. And having a pet Koala. And how when the Americans came to Rockhampton during WW ll and all the girls in town attracted attention she would pose this question to each of them - do you smoke or drink? I believe that is how Uncle Paul first passed her test!
Once I moved to Hawaii I didn’t see her as often except went I went back to Seattle for a visit and then it may have been when she and Uncle Paul hosted a family picnic at Sunset West for a visit by Lynette and her family. And we would meet all our cousins new kids.
Our relationship really deepened when we both lived on Kanaina Ave in Honolulu. I had moved back to Oahu from Maui in 2007, about the same time she moved here full time. I decided I wanted to live in the same neighborhood and every Sunday I would take her with me to all of the open houses in the neighborhood and then we would go to lunch to talk about the pros and cons of each unit we visited. Lucky for me I found a nice apt right up the street from her. We even shared the same doctor and dentist!
As we were the only family members living in Hawaii we celebrated each and every holiday and birthday together.
We walked around the park and up into Waikiki, shopped at the farmers market and for years went to every First Friday event in the Chinatown/Arts District. We checked out every art gallery and of course always shared a meal at one of our favorite restaurants. She got to know many of my friends and joined us regularly when we went out to listen to Hawaiian music, to summer Bon Dances and to all of the music festivals and celebrations at Kapiolani Park. We had a lot of fun.
For her 90th birthday I arranged to have it at Hau Tree Lanai, one of her favorite restaurants right on Kaimana Beach. Relatives from Australia and the mainland as well as friends from here all came together to celebrate this amazing woman. She was so happy.
I was able to meet many of her family members from Australia who came to visit her over the years. We would usually take them on a tour around Oahu stopping for lunch in Haleiwa. Or go to breakfast ocean side at Barefoot Beach Cafe.
Even this last year when her health began to fail and it seemed that most of our outings were now to see doctors she always wanted to stop for lunch before going home. We would talk about what she wanted when she passed and she was adamant about allowing things to take a natural course. And I can say that this she accomplished well.
I will treasure these memories for the rest of my life.
Aloha, your niece Marilyn
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal but leaves a memory no one can steal. Rest in peace Aunt Ivy, you will forever remain in my heart.