It was kind of a sad weekend for my family. We had to lay my aunt Jackie to rest. She was a pretty remarkable woman. She was an unassuming person with a wonderful smile and a good word for everyone. She had a tough childhood that made her feel that she was less than worthy of anything. This continued into her adult life with an abusive marriage that lasted a long time. It wasn't until she was older that she broke free from that relationship and struck out on her own for the first time. She met a very nice man who showed her that not only was she worthy of being loved, but that life was an adventure that she was just beginning.
Jackie suddenly found a whole new world in which people cared about what she thought, and what she thought was usually very sagely and delivered with perfect timing. She began going on cruises and exploring the world. She decided not to waste another moment of her life, which was personified once after tasting a rather odious glass of wine when she commented "life is too short for bad wine." She poured it out and opened another bottle.
When she was in her late 50's she decided to go to college. The new love of her life was a college professor with several PhD's and spoke seven languages. It's difficult to be around someone like that and not catch the learning bug, so she enrolled in the Texas Woman's University. She found a whole new world in academia. For most of her life she was told that she was dumb, but she discovered that not only was she not dumb, she was smarter than most of us. She took classes and got certifications and the people at the college noticed her immediately. She received so many certifications that the college had to create advanced level certifications just to keep up with her.
Jackie finished her undergraduate degree at age 61 with a 4.0 GPA. But that wasn't enough for her, she went on to receive a Masters degree a few years later, again with a perfect 4.0 average. She finally became a teacher, bringing her education full circle to do what she did best, enlighten others.
Jackie's funeral was, for the lack of a better word, astounding. The pastor began with a eulogy and some scripture, then she said they were going to play some songs that Jackie really liked, and while the music played if anyone would like to say something about Jackie they could come up and do so.
I kid you not when I say that literally for over an hour people streamed up to the podium to talk about Jackie. Women who worked for her when she was a manager at an insurance agency many years ago talked about how Jackie had mentored them and helped them through marital problems and other difficult times in their lives. Professors from the college came up and talked about how Jackie was the most incredible learner they had ever met, and that the college even began a scholarship program in her name. Friends from years past, family, and acquaintances all spoke of what a wonderful, giving person she was. It was amazing to see how many lives she had touched.
It's been said that a person's life can be measured by their funeral. If that is true, then there is no scale big enough to measure the life of Hettie Jacqueline Nye. She will be missed, and all of our lives are just a little less joyful without her presence.
Rest in peace, beautiful soul.
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