I still remember coming with Rick, Not knowing where I'd fit, Walking into Relief Society, Wondering where I'd sit. Then Aunt Ilene made room beside her, As natural as could be— No questions asked, no hesitation, She simply welcomed me. And that was who she always was Through seventeen years I knew A woman full of faith and kindness, Warm and gracious through and through. I heard the stories through the years, Some tender, some that made us smile, But I didn't need the stories To know her heart and know her style. Yesterday I saw her in her daughters, In the kindness shining through, In seven women full of laughter, Strong in faith and gracious too. They didn't have to tell me What their mother taught along the way— I saw the things she gave them In the way they lived them yesterday. Cherie and Karen came in early, Saw that I could hardly speak, And somehow without making much of it Knew the kindness that I'd need. They treated our home so gently, With gratitude in everything, And Kathy came to introduce herself Though I couldn't say a thing. Kindness seemed to fill the room In a hundred little ways— In every thoughtful "thank you," Every smile and word of praise. Even Philip saw my empty glass And filled it without being asked— Such a little thing, and yet somehow It brought Ilene right back. Yesterday I saw her in her daughters And their husbands- kindness shining through, In seven women full of laughter, Strong in faith and gracious too. They didn't have to tell me What their mother taught along the way— I saw the things she gave them In the way they lived them yesterday. Rick has told me through the years Of the beauties Malad knew— "All the prettiest girls were my cousins, So what was I supposed to do?" I laughed about those stories, Till yesterday I had to say, "Those beautiful blue eyes weren't exaggerated— You were right in every way."' And when Cherie and Karen first arrived I told Rick, "Look at that beautiful hair!" He laughed and said, "There's a reason— Cherie's the hairdresser there!" And somehow all those little moments, The laughter mixed with love, Felt like one more piece of Ilene Still surrounding all of us. Cherie, Janet, Karen, Annette, Debbie, Kathy, Mary too— Seven daughters, seven stories, Seven lives she poured into. Different homes and different journeys, Each becoming who she'd be, But yesterday I saw their mother In the women I could see. She lived to ninety-seven years, And I'm grateful seventeen were mine— Years of always being welcomed, Years of simply being kind. And I'm grateful loving Rick Brought this family into my life, For the aunt who made a place for me And never thought about it twice. Yesterday I saw her in her daughters, And I think she'd smile to know The kindness that she planted in them Still goes everywhere they go. Some people leave names on possessions, Some leave treasures tucked away But Aunt Ilene left her greatest treasures In the lives she shaped each day. She once made room beside her For a woman she barely knew. And all these years later, her daughters Made room for that woman too. No, they didn't have to tell me What their mother taught along the way— I saw Aunt Ilene in her daughters Yesterday.
