American Association for Women in Community Colleges

Salute to Strong Women
Carla Gosney

One of the strongest women in my life was my Aunt Jeanette. Although her soul rested in a tiny 5’ frame, she stood tall in her determination and will. She was fiercely independent even though she grew up and married in an era when women were to be submissive to their husbands. She was loving and respectful to my uncle, but she didn’t rely on him for permission to participate in life. If there was something she wanted, she found a way to get it.

Aunt Jeanette was a modest woman of many talents and was never afraid to try anything. She was equally adept on a sewing machine as she was with a hammer and saw. She might be found building a new closet in her home, making drapes for her windows or Halloween costumes for her nieces and nephews.

She was active in her community and volunteered through her local RSVP. She kept herself physically fit by walking daily. She made time to visit with her family and was a favorite among family and friends.

Even after suffering from a stroke and being confined to a wheel chair with limited speech and mobility, Aunt Jeanette continued to be a source of inspiration to me. She was trapped in a body that defied her, so she was forced to move into a nursing home. But she managed to greet visitors with the same warm smile that we had loved for so many years. And although her speech was garbled, her eyes reflected her thoughts and feelings.

Aunt Jeanette died a few months ago, but her spirit will live on and she will continue to inspire me until my own death.