Lorraine Rotunno
I became acquainted with my Aunt Marion, my father’s sister, at the age of nine and a half when my parents moved from New Mexico to Michigan. At that time, all seven of us children were spread out among different family members until my parents got somewhat settled. A few months after moving back to Michigan, my family experienced a tragic loss—we lost our sweet little brother Eric. Once again, I found myself living in Aunt Marion’s home. It was an October morning, while living there, that snow dust fell on the ground. I woke up to what I thought was a heavy snowfall. Compared to New Mexico, Michigan’s winters were a whole new world to me. I excitedly asked my aunt if school would be canceled, and she chuckled, saying, "What’s wrong with you? That’s just a dusting of snow!" Later on, I realized just how right she was when, a year and a half later, I experienced a real snowstorm—one where the snow reached my father’s chest, and he was well over five feet tall.
Years later, when my parents decided to move back to New Mexico, I was a sophomore in high school. Wanting to finish my education in Michigan, and Graduate, with my high school friends, I reached out to my Aunt Marion and Uncle Dave and asked if they would let me live with them. Thinking back now, I realize what a huge commitment it was for them to take in an almost fifteen-year-old teenager. It was a selfless act, and I have always been grateful for the gift of stability and love they provided me.
Later in life, when I was married and my husband and I were refurbishing our home, my Aunt Marion once again opened her home to me. My husband and I lived with her, and not long after, my daughter was born while we were still under her roof. In fact, I was sleeping in her bed when my water broke! I will always be grateful for her generosity and support during that significant time in my life.
I admired so many things about my Aunt Marion—her meticulous home, her warm sense of humor, and the way she always took pride in her appearance. She cared deeply for her family and was always concerned about their well-being. My time with her children, my cousins Angela (God rest her soul), Dominic, Liza, and Sarah, was filled with so many cherished memories. Oh, how I remember little blonde-haired, blue-eyed Sarah— who had a very high-pitched voice and the precious baby girl of my Aunt Marion and Uncle Bill.
Aunt Marion was a woman who provided consistent love, support, and guidance throughout my life. She was a reliable presence through various stages and challenges, offering a perspective that was both nurturing and understanding.
One of my fondest and funniest memories of Aunt Marion was her absolute fear of snakes. Unlike her, I was not afraid of them, so I took it upon myself to play a little prank. While she was relaxing and enjoying a nice hot bath, I found a harmless garden snake in the yard and slipped it into the bathroom under the door. Oh my gosh, if you could have heard the screams! She was absolutely furious and swore she was going to kill me once I remove the snake from the bathroom and she got out of that tub. It was a moment we laughed about for years to come or maybe it was just me laughing and her furious that I did that🙈.
Aunt Marion, you will always be a part of my heart and my memories. I am forever thankful for the gifts you gave me by opening your home and your heart. My deepest condolences go out to my beloved cousins, my beautiful Aunt Cathy, the baby sister of my Aunt Marion and my Uncle Randy, the baby brother of my-aunt Marion. I love all of you dearly and grieve with you in this tremendous loss.
My deepest condolences,
The Niece of Marion Rotunno Beni Dodge
Lorraine Rotunno 💐