"They are not dead who live on in the hearts that they leave behind."
                       
                                                from the Tuscarora, a native American tribe

This is perhaps my favorite picture of Cathy. She flew down to visit Barb and I in Tampa a few weeks before our wedding in 2007, and took us to Universal Studios for a day. As usual, she was up for anything fun, so we all decided to go on the Jurassic Park log ride. So we sit down and the ride begins. Of course, the whole point of it is to get wet. I glanced over at Cathy, who was enormously careful about her hair. She was sitting with her hands on the handrail, a big grin on her face...and a plastic shower cap on her head. She clearly had come prepared. I found this far more amusing than the ride. Barb bought the obligatory big final splash photo over Cathy's protests. "Barb, don't you dare!" That was a fun day.

I love that lady.

Not long after we began dating, Barb invited me to her apartment in Silver Spring to meet her mother, Cathy. She seemed quite nice and the evening was going well. After dinner, Barb asked me to help put a new cover on her Ikea couch. As I worked to get the tight cover over a reluctant couch, Cathy noticed I had the cover inside out, which she pointed out by telling me "you're doing it wrong, jackass." While Barb let out a horrified "Mom!", I was instantly charmed and just laughed.

I did not know it at the time, but that was vintage Cathy. We became fast friends. She was the master of the endearing insult. In no time, we shared a routine where she responded to my gentle teasing with mock, indignant outrage. It was easy to see that she loved talking to people and she loved to laugh.

She had me forever at "jackass."

Aunt Cassie was an amazing woman with so much energy and such an infectious laugh. She might’ve been a small woman, but she had a HUGE heart and you always knew when she was in a room.  She was just fun to be around.  My fondest memories of her are of our yearly trips out to Baltimore to visit the family and spending the night at her house with cousin Barb. AC always treated her nephews and niece as if we were one of her own children. She was a great great cook and always made our favorites when we came out (Swedish meatballs, bean soup, eggnog, to name a few). She always supported us and would do anything needed. I could go on and on about what a special woman she was but anybody that knows her doesn’t need a reminder. She’s finally at peace now once again watching out and taking care of us. I love you Aunt Cassie. You will be sorely missed. ❤️