In Memory of Dorothy Zlatkes Vis

In Memory of Dorothy Zlatkes Vis

I’m here to say goodbye to my aunt which I didn’t get a chance to do in person.

I am still sad, that is because Dorothy was a light.  I have never met anyone in my lifetime who everyone unanimously loved.  Wherever she went people were happy to see her.  She lit up a room.  For our family she was the light.

I am reminded of a picture that was in the newspaper in 1965. Dorothy was at the horse races at the CNE.  She was just there, not to sponsor anything or do anything special she just went to the races with one of her girlfriends. There was a photographer there for the Telegram and he saw that light. Took a picture and put it in the paper.  It’s an amazing photo.

We all have pictures of Dorothy with that smile, that hello, that light.  We cherish them, look at them and remember.   She was the ambassador of light.

My rabbi told me that this grief, this sadness does not go away.  It will change but it does not go away.  I think that’s why we’re here. Because it doesn’t go away. She didn’t go away and we all still carry part of her with us always.

Goodbye Auntie.  Thank you for always being a light even in my times of deep darkness.