Great Aunt Minny

She really was great.

The funeral home was a non-descript little white building but as Sarah and her mum pulled up in their rental car it wasn't the first thing that hit them. The sheer number of people waiting to get into the small structure surprised them to the point that when they parked and got out, they just stared for a few moments. One elderly lady stopped, her skin as rich as dark chocolate and the string of grey fresh water pearls around her neck whispered against her black coat. She studied them for a moment before she made a bee line for them as fast as she could with her cane.

"Minny's folks?" she asked as her eyes ran over their faces, memorizing them.

"Yeah, flew over from Australia...did you know the old girl?" Sarah's mum Rachel asked, only to get a grin and a bark of laughter in response.

"Know her? I worked with that woman for over forty years, enjoyed her company every day except for Sunday...made everyone go to church she did! I'm Gloria Bell," she shook each of their hands and motioned for them to follow her. "follow the old black woman with a cane and everyone parts like the Red Sea."

The mother and daughter duo looked at each other with wide eyes before a crooked smile broke out on Sarah's face and she happily followed Gloria. The old lady set a pretty good pace for her age, the crowd of people indeed parting as she came through, shouted greetings coming from every direction. Seems like both Minny and this elderly lady were quite popular in their community.

They were seated in the middle of the funeral home and that's when Sarah saw the diminutive timber coffin, flowers covering every spare inch of the cover. Still more flowers were being left at the foot of the stand beneath the coffin, people of all ages, races and backgrounds filtered in with a white lily and then took their seat until there was only room to stand.The minister was off to the side discussing the overflow of people still to come with one of the funeral coordinators. Eventually they decided to leave the doors open and put speakers outside so people could hear, those standing were asked to sit so the people outside could see. Behind the pews people were asked to stand as they were out of the view of the people in the doorway.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to witness the loss of one of our precious community members. Though Melanie 'Minny' Dolores Plat was small in stature, she always saw fit to remind us all that what matters is inside. I remember her once saying: 'Minister, whether you're black, white or green with blue stars all over you....you're still you and you'll be cherished all the same.' Her passing has left us with a hole in our community that no one will be able to fill. Now a few words from her niece, Rachel Garrett." The Minister stepped down from the podium, Sarah's mother patting his shoulder as she made her way up the aisle. She took out a faded letter and cleared her throat.

"March 16th 1975. Dear Tessa....I did something amazing today, I invited some black folk to my apartment and let them try mum's Lemon Meringue Pie. They loved it so I thought to myself, why not open a bakery? I met a funny black girl today too, her name was Gloria and it turns out that we were born on the same day! How crazy is that?

How are mum and dad? Are they still mad at me for staying in America after John died? How are you and your growing family? Send pictures so I can document how quickly Rachel grows? I love you my darling sister, let me know any goings on that come from the land down under. I live for Australian gossip nowadays, American gossip is so....mundane, we used to get the juiciest gossip back in Sydney! I must go, the land lord is demanding rent and doing other people's ironing just isn't cutting it any more.

Your loving sister,Minny." Rachel paused to compose herself before continuing on to say more, folding the letter away.

"My Aunt was amazing, she cared for her community and saved up the money with Gloria, Lawrence and Ferguson's help to rent a small shop front which they turned into a diner. My uncle had died in a work place accident a year or so prior to the letter to my mother. Minny was proud of her shop and due to the tireless work of everyone she hired, the community soon supported her. The Lemon Meringue Pie with whipped cream and a few pancakes....that was always one of the specials.

Many children and great grandchildren were raised on Minny's Lemon Meringue Pie. Even up to her passing she was there every day except Sunday, at home in front of her hot plate and oven. I'm sure she'd be quite embarrassed that you all miss her so, either that or she's mad at you for missing church. Sadly Lawrence and Ferguson have already passed on but I'm sure that they're here in spirit. Thank you." The laughter and the clapping astounded Rachel as she placed her own flower against the rest of the flowers that rested against the coffin stand.

Minny's funeral was filled with laughter and tears as her community celebrated her long life, a slide show projecting pictures onto a screen. There were beach side pictures where the redhead Theresa (Tessa) and blonde Minny played as tots in the sand. Pictures in front of famous Australian landmarks, John and Minny's wedding photo. Lastly there was a video of Minny in front of the hot plate, flipping pancakes despite her hair being white and her back slightly hunched.

Minny turned around as the bell at the top of the door announced the presence of a visitor, her apron splattered with flour and one smear of pancake batter on her wrinkly cheek. She smiled widely before gesturing at the camera man with her spatula.

"Now Emanuel....I'm so old your camera will break. I've got too many wrinkles for high definition, turn it off you cheeky thing! The breakfast rush will start soon and we need that second hot plate. Use your video camera on your girlfriend, a lot less grey hair and old age to film on her." Minny chastised good-naturedly, her Australian accent still strong even after fifty nine years in America. She clucked her tongue and went back to making pancakes as the young Latino man turned the camera towards himself.

"There's the one and only Minny..." He waved before turning it back to Minny and she smiled graciously at the camera before it faded to black.

Then a picture of her smiling while siting with Gloria in the diner showed up with her name in cursive along the bottom: Melanie 'Minny' Dolores Plat 1/01/1915 - 3/09/2014