My aunt Jeanne loved the brightest, cheeriest florals you could find on her blouses. It was a long-standing family joke which she was entirely unapologetic for. For such a quiet, shy person it was a big statement. She was one of the few family and friends who insisted, quietly but no discussion allowed, on paying the whole price for my work and she collected it consistently. When she retired from her nursing career, she stepped in to care for other family members.

On July 18, my aunt Jeanne died from liver cancer. And yes, the floral arrangements were the absolute brightest ones to be found.