From Aunt Laurie...

Aunt Laurie Martin is the youngest of the seven Poulos kids, and lives in Boone near Mom and Dad...

I'm Laurie, the baby of the family. Janet was the oldest of the us 7. She always doted that she raised me. Well...she kinda did. In pictures I was always on her lap or in her arms. My mom shipped me off every summer to her. At about 13 I remember one summer crying to her (I always thought I had such older parents), I asked her, "Where will I live if something happens to Mom and Sad?"  Her answer?  "You'll live with me, of course." That's all I needed to hear.


Jan being 10years older than me had kids way before I ever did. During my summers with her I learned how to be a mom.  She was the "Koolaide mom", with dinner always set.  I learned how to take of babies from her. Her kids were like my kids, and I had picture albums full of you kids!

She was very protective of each of you. She would never talk about things that were private.  I asked her what she would like to say to her kids, she said to me "you tell them". It was just to hard for her at this point. I know she was so proud of each of you. She wanted you to walk with God, to understand the "Cross".

And of course she wanted you to be happy and to be taken care of. Though we could never fill her shoes, you have a lot of family here to make sure that happens!

I have the assurance we will be together again, Janet.  Give mom and dad a hug for me... I'll forever miss you!