My Mother's Sister,
Johanna (Jopie) Dondorp-Devine,
visited us with two of her daughters,
Deborah Devine-Donnelly &
Elizabeth (Liz) Devine-Nugent
Photo taken on 10 September 1984
Liz writes:
I didn't get to spend much time with your Mom but the time I have spent with my sweet Tante Dity was always instantly cozy and familiar. The sight of your sweet dog in her arms and the sounds of my Mom and her speaking Dutch have come back to me many times since my last visit to Yuma. I took great comfort in the fact that she found such a warm and nurturing home to spend the last few years of her life. It was nothing short of a miracle that she was able to stay there and reconcile her physical well-being with her loyalty to your dad and to you.
Over the last few years, your Mom may have lost some of the faculties that this world deems important but she never lost the love and the sweetness that was Dity. Often, when the mind begins to falter, pleasantness fades and resentment takes over. Although I'm sure that she must have been frustrated by her condition, she kept her steadfast courage, dignity and sweetness to the very end.
I am sure that there were times when we were all mystified by her unyielding loyalty to Uncle André, but that is also one of things that made her stand apart from the crowd. Fiercely private and loyal. The opposite of a gossip. A vision of elegance and style. A petite woman with the spirit of a giant. We will probably never understand fully why she endured what we may have thought were unacceptable compromises, but I believe Dity saw something in your Dad that was very real and very good and although his own mind has become his enemy, she kept that goodness in her heart and it allowed her to love him in spite of his flaws.
You were always the light of your Mom's life and she will be the light shining down on you, now. There is so much of her in you . . . your love of animals reminds me so much of her.
Tante Dity is free now. I picture her with brightly-painted nail polish and lots and lots of glitter, running out to sea to catch the next big wave on her boogie board! No earthly worries, just a lovely, bronzed Dutch lady with a beautiful long, single braid walking barefoot in the sand, into the sunset.
I know that we will not have the opportunity to be together to celebrate her life in the traditional way, but I will think of her courage and quiet strength, the sparkle in her eye and feel her sweet, gentle touch and remember a very special lady, my Tante Dity.
Deb writes:
One of my memories of Aunt Diety was, my Mom had taken ill and I got to stay at Aunt Diety's house. My sisters stayed at two other homes. I felt like I was the lucky one; we went on many walks with the dogs across the street from her home. I got to stay in my cousin's room that was just so beautiful; there was a seated chest in the room and I found myself reading a lot of books lying down in that little area.
She always offered tea at night and served the tea in really nice little tea cups; I felt so grown up there. She treated me so special.
There are so many memories, from the St. Nick visit. To being totally amazed that her Christmas tree had candles. As a kid I would sit on her couch and stare at that tree. There was always classical music playing. And at that time the was the only place that I heard that kind of music was at Aunt Diety's house. Actually, I wanted The Nutcracker Suite Album for Christmas and it truly reminded me of my time at her home.
My Aunt was an aunt like no other. She was the coolest Aunt, long braided hair, always dressed so cool. In my mind my Aunt Diety never aged. I love her and miss her. Debbie
Johanna Devine-Anderson
(youngest daughter, not shown here) writes:
These two stories were my memory from when I was very small, so they may have happened in a little different light as in a child's mind.
I remember one Christmas Eve all excited for the special day to come and there was a bang bang bang on the front door; my Mom went to open the door as we followed because of the strange noises we heard outside. The door opened so slightly but just enough to see St. Nick throwing candy in the door. I thought that night and many years later to hear sleigh bells in the middle of the night. This was a Christmas I remember spending with Tante Diety.
Another year I was mystified by the burning candles on her tree, wondering why the tree didn't start on fire. It was so beautiful I can still see the sparkle and warmth in my heart.
And then there was the year that our tree was huge and beautiful, Christmas had passed but it's so hard to see it go. My Aunt came to visit and remarked with a glimmer in her eye on how dry our beautiful tree was and my Mom said something to the effect that it may still have a few days life left.
Well, I watched my Aunt walk to the tree and take hold of a branch and with a few shakes every needle and dry branch had fallen to the floor; we laughed so hard . . . .
I am so sorry and wish there were words that I could put to my emotions at this time. All I can say is that your Mom is so proud of you and touched so many lives. She will be with all of us for eternity. She was beatiful inside and out.
I may not have seen her often since I was young but I see the pictures, hear the stories and know the legacy she has left behind.