My aunt Felicia passed away in the opening days of August 2026 short of her 99th birthday after a long battle with dementia.

I remember my aunt with my earliest memories and it is an understatement that she was a remarkable woman. She was kind, resolute and dependable and we miss her views and counsel. She was highly educated herself and a champion for higher education. Felicia also volunteered her time for good causes.

Felicia has shared in my family adventure: as a child, I visited the Chicago area every 2 years or so. Felicia visited us while we lived in Vancouver and we travelled to Toronto together; we met frequently when we were living in Costa Mesa and she was nearby when Sam was born; she also visited us during our time in Cyprus. We were always in touch.

Felicia’s passing is a significant milestone for our families. She was a teen during World War 2; we have lost the last living link between the family and those times. Felicia survived the war, emigrated, and through effort and determination, created a life for her family that led to great achievements. This is not a unique story, but, for us, sadly, it is the last one.