My dearest auntie, Paulette.
It’s hard to put into words how your life and passing has impacted me.
I have many fond memories of you, my most recent (albeit during a challenging time following Mark’s passing) being some of my most cherished. I will forever treasure our times adventuring around Leesburg and up to Jacksonville, going gator-viewing in Mt. Dora (at the boardwalk that was close a week after I left because the gators were being too aggressive with park-goers), having you convince me to go with you for my first ever pedicure experience (after 33 years of never having been in a nail salon), driving to Sonics on almost a daily basis for a root beer float, watching ‘The Chosen’ together, and taking a beach road trip out to New Smyrna and Daytona Beach to take in views of the ocean. Going further back, I’ll never forget the time you and Mark joined us youngins’ for an epic ziplining experiencing in Colorado where you froze up on the “walk off” trust bridge (that I believe has since been discontinued for being too dangerous) with Mark yelling from below that he’d catch you, then having to climb up the mountain because it started raining and was too dangerous to zipline down on.
What an incredible blessing and privilege it was to have you as a part of our family. You were so beautiful, kind, and loving to all of us Walz family descendants – embracing us all with a warm southern love (and accent) that I so much loved to playfully mimic. On behalf of us Minnesotans, I’m sorry you had to endure the freezing weather that was always your adversary when you came to visit us layered up in sweaters and pants while we were in t-shirts and shorts. I am so thankful that you found Mark and were able to have 36 years of ‘happily ever after’ together that so many people search their entire lifetime for. You deserved every bit of that time and more.
You have left a remarkable legacy here on Earth. Know that you will never be forgotten and always loved by all of us in the family. I was so privileged to have you as my incredibly special ‘auntie’ that meant so very much to me. I only wish we could have had you here longer and in good health, but I know Mark was impatiently waiting to rejoin with you and that you were missing him greatly. Along with Mark, I’m most certain that you’re thrilled to be reunited with your son David, and all of those who you loved dearly who passed before you.
I hope to see you at the gates when I make my journey across the veil to greet me with a huge hug.
I love you, Auntie Paulette.