From Aunt Molly...

My Dad has only one sister, Molly Metzger Ferraro, yougest of seven with six older brothers.  As you can imagine, she has some stories to tell!  She told some at my mother's memorial on Saturday, sharing her heart about her sister Janet.  Here is what she shared:


I’m Molly, better known as Paul’s sister. But I always thought of myself also, as Janet’s youngest sibling. Picture this, a young girl of 8yrs living in a home of brothers. When I first met Janet, she and Paul had come barreling through the front door of my parents home. They were soaking wet. They were supposed to have taken a walk on the boardwalk but wound up in the water. I remember looking up and seeing this tall, beautiful, long haired-model thin girl and I thought, wow, my brothers are finally good for something….female hormones in the house! Next I remember Paul telling us he was getting married and then more good news…babies. And it got better and better at each new baby announcement.




I don’t know how you all have so many memories of Janet because my mind is whirling in them. I remember I drove to Florida with Janet and Shannon and Casey were in the backseat with Wendell, the dog, in between. When the summer was over, I flew back to NY (Paul, I think you were moving back then) and I brought Casey on the plane with me. She was about 2 and I was 14 at the time. When I got off the plane, Memaw met me at the gate and a few passengers who were seated near me came up to her and said, “What a wonderful young mother she is”….”Janet”. Janet taught me to care like a mother.


Paul (jr), you said that you would ask your mom how she was feeling or what she was thinking and she would type out “I love you”. I know if it was me going through this I’d be having one big pity party. But she never complained. I tried to get her to share how she was feeling, but she would only text me the same, “I love you." One of her final gifts to me was on a recent visit. I asked her if I could give her a pedicure. When she let me, I washed her legs and feet, rubbed on lotion. I looked up at her and thanked her, for letting me do this for her. It meant so much to me.




So if you would indulge me, close your eyes for a moment and take a deep breath in. Open your eyes. Do you smell it?....Janet is cooking in heaven. My mother has set the table, Dan has poured the wine, Mady is seated and waiting to be served, and Jim has tied her apron on...