This week my family lost a truly beloved member. My aunt Katie Ten Eyck passed quietly in her sleep on January 7th, 2023 after being diagnosed with brain cancer last summer. Since then, I’ve been struggling to find the right words I desperately want to write down to describe how much she means to me.
My aunt was so much more than someone I saw occasionally during family gatherings. She was a musician, a creative and a nurturer. She was a pillar in her family, filled with a genuine love and an interest in others. For the purpose of this blog though, I will tell you how she encouraged my aspirations of working with chimpanzees.
My aunt, uncle and cousin opened their home to me after I graduated college and got the next best thing to a job – an unpaid internship at the Oregon Zoo . I lived with them, rent free, in the fall of 2011 as I scrubbed enclosures, chopped produce, and commuted on the light rail for hours on end. My aunt cooked me dinner every night before my ridiculously early (but extremely necessary) bedtime. She listened to my work stories, visited the primates “behind the scenes” with me and overall took a genuine interest in my dreams.
When I accepted a caregiver job offer from the Fauna Foundation, she eagerly read the Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary right along with me. After I moved back to the northwest and joined the staff at CSNW it came as no surprise to anyone that she started to read and comment on the blog from time to time.
I love that I can search through the comments on our blog and still find a few snippets of her voice, preserved for all to read. Not only is this blog a diary of sanctuary life, but it seems to have also become a time capsule filled with love and kindness. For now, I’ll lay a few memories of my dear kind aunt in this beautiful digital time capsule.
Thanks for the support Aunt Katie. All my love.
-Anna
Such a beautiful remembrance Anna,
I want to share this quote from Elise Grey with you.
“The people who influence you, are the people who believe in you”
It sounds like you had a very special Aunt.
This is perfect. Thank you for sharing
I’m so very sorry for your loss, Anna. Your aunt must have been an amazing person.
Such a lovely tribute to your aunt. i’m so sorry you lost her. i am a volunteer at Oregon Zoo and the Primates are my favorites. i hope you can visit the Zoo again. Thank you for all the good work you do at CSNW.
That was beautiful Anna. So sorry for your loss.
And, so glad you have such lovely memories to treasure.
These are beautiful photographs to accompany a beautiful tribute for someone who seems to have a beautiful soul. Even in your grief, Anna, you were fortunate to have been able to share your passion for primates with someone who encouraged you in your vocation.
Oh, Anna, Im so sorry for your loss. I lost my father to brain cancer many, many years ago. Having time to say goodbye doesn’t make it hurt any less.
How beautiful you both looked in your wedding photo, and how beautiful your life, because she was in it.
Thank you for sharing that.
I am very sorry for your loss. I lost my mother to a malignant brain tumor so I have an inkling of her journey. I am certain she knew that she was treasured and will rest in your heart and thoughts. Blessings!
Anna, your blog today reminds me of the lyrics from the hymn…
“Precious memories how they linger, How they ever flood my soul. In the stillness of the midnight. Precious sacred scenes unfold. As I travel on life’s pathway, I know not what the years may hold. As I ponder hope grows fonder, Precious memories flood my soul. Precious memories how they linger, How they ever flood my soul.”
For all of those passed whom we hold dear
Thank you for sharing your feelings of love and admiration for your aunt, Anna. What a gift!
What a beautiful tribute to your Aunt, she sounded like a very special person to you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. :heart::heart:
Anna, Katie was a very special person. Was surprised to hear of her struggles and death. What a blow to the family. I also have fond memories of her and her support to you. As usual keeping you, your mom, dad, sis and Aunt Sandy close to my heart.
Such Beautiful and Lovely memories of your Aunt….so so sorry for your loss- you’re so Blessed to have had her…. no words seem right that only time can heal….I hope you have faith and that your faith gives you Peace
Beautiful… Thank you for sharing!
Oh Anna. This is a lovely tribute. Just as the Chimpanzees in your care would not be who they are without all of you, as individuals, we too, would not be who we are without the love and support and encouragement of a very special few in our lives. How fortunate you were to have your aunt Katie supporting you and enjoying your life choices and successes. Her wonderful energy did not die, it remains. In you. With time, it will live on in Luna too.
A wonderfully expressed tribute in words and photos to your beloved aunt. I’m sure that the gifts she shared with you are matched by the gifts you gave of yourself to her. Even just being in her home and her cooking and caring for you gave to her I’m sure. She will and does live on in you – Luna will surely know your aunt’s spirit. We are so fortunate to have people like her and you in our lives. Peace to you.
So sorry for your loss. Beautiful tribute.
Thank you for sharing this lovely tribute to Aunt Katie! She is such a sweet soul and you have captured that well in this note. Hugs from here in the far north!
Anna, so sorry for your loss. May the wonderful memories of your dear Aunt Katie give you peace and comfort. Sending you hugs.
Anna, We are so sorry to hear about the death of your Aunt Katie. She was truly an angel in your life. She took such an interest in you as a person and sprinkled you with so much love. There simply are no words for such a loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Anna, How beautiful to share such a tribute of your aunt. I’m so sorry for your loss and am so glad you have such deep feelings and memories to take off your shelf and enjoy like a good book.
Thankyou ,Anna,for sharing such a beautiful tribute to a wonderful lady.
So sorry for your loss. Your aunt sounds like an amazing human who supported your dreams.:purple_heart:
Anna, this tribute to your Aunt Katie is just beautiful. I teared up reading it. I am so sorry you lost this wonderful person in your life; I wish I could have known her too, as she sounds amazing. Sending prayers for peace.
The second picture title should be “Looking Up to Heaven”. Such a beautiful memory for you and your family to treasure.
A Gift from your Heart that you have shared with us all.
And a True Blessing that you and Aunt Katie have journeyed through this life together.
Your journey together has not ended, you will feel her presence in your quiet times, when a gentle breeze touches your face or when a gift of nature (a flower or brightly colored leaf, a butterfly or a bird that lands close to you, a beautiful sunset that you wonder if anyone else is seeing, these will be Aunt Katie letting you know, she is still here with you.
Blessings and Love from all of us
.
I’m so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful tribute. To be forever captured in a time capsule of love and kindness!
Debbie
spoken beautifully. and with love.
Thank you, Anna, for sharing your love for Katie.
I was schoolmates with her son and I think I may have met you briefly in the great house they had then, though I could be wrong.
After they moved, I do recall the pictures or postcards of chimpanzees on the refrigerator, where also other shared family-portraits, postcards, and positive quotes would be seen. The calendars there too were constantly filled with the many activities and duties she would take on or schedule with the family. She worked so hard, and at so many things near and further into our communities.
I’m grateful to have had some opportunity, like you did, to witness her gentle force and tenacious love of virtues. As some here have said, I hope that we’ll be reminded of her [or other great people in our lives]– often– and be able to share such memories and lessons with the future.