Auntie Ag

We called her Auntie Ag. She was my dad’s older sister, Agnes. She was a special aunt…she never married so her nieces and nephews were very important to her, and she treated us well. She pass away in 2004.

I don’t know the date of this photo of Auntie Ag…perhaps she was in her 20’s or 30’s?

Last summer I inherited a couple of her photo albums from the 1930-40’s. I was amazed at what I could glean from perusing the old photos, where few photos had captions, and very few were dated!

I have many good memories of Auntie Ag. I knew her well, particularly in her older years…But when I looked through her photos, I felt I learned a lot more about her as a young woman. I found it interesting that I felt I could capture her essence from the photos. I decided we had a lot of similar traits.

When I found this photo of Auntie Ag, I remembered a dress I wore to a high school winter dance that was similar. I don’t know the date of Ag’s photo. The photo of me was taken in 1969.

I resonated with the photo of my aunt overlooking Lake Superior when she was a young woman. The photo immediately caught my attention when looking through several of her old photo albums. 

Auntie Ag on the north shore. Date unknown.

One similarity is our love for Lake Superior and the north shore. It is my happy place. It was fun to see how often the north shore showed up in her photos, and to learn she went there often. I also know that my grandmother, my dad and Agnes’ mother, had a love for the north shore.

Me, on the north shore, 2022.

Another trait I share with Auntie Ag is she liked to travel. She liked to travel a lot; across the country, and to cozy cabins, and to Norway in later years. I like to travel too.

She was an adventurer…There were photos of her on hikes, on bikes, on horseback, on the water, on a toboggan, and fishing…what fun! I, too, am fond of adventure and new experiences.

You could see from the different photos she liked being with friends, and she had a lot of them. She loved hosting them for breakfasts and dinner parties, as do I. 

Auntie Ag, all dressed up.

Agnes’ mother, my grandma, was always well-dressed. I think there are stories of grandma having more than one trunk of clothes when she traveled to Norway. I noticed Aggie was always well-dressed in the photos. I know when she was older, her outfits “matched” and she always wore “matching” jewelry. I am not a fashion bug by any means, but do like to dress nice.

Auntie Ag’s nieces and nephews, photo taken in 1971. I am in the front row, in the red dress.

There were hundreds of photos of our families. I know Aggie loved her extended family. She was a believer and prayed for me (and for her nieces and nephews) all her life…and for that, I am grateful. I too, am a believer, and deeply love and pray for my family.

My Grandfather Torkel and Grandmother Elizabeth in the front row. Again, I’m not sure of the year this photo was taken. Elizabeth died in 1962. The siblings in the back row L to R: Herbert (my father), Agnes, Earl, Bob.

16 thoughts on “Auntie Ag”

  1. This was a really fun read! I have lots of memories of Auntie Ag at family events when she was older, but it is interesting to see her younger pictures.

  3. Valerie, I love this post of family love. You’re right that the similarities between you and Aunt Ag are many. To discover that in photos is such a gift. I was especially struck by the formal dresses you each chose. They are almost like duplicates. Aunt Ag left a remarkable legacy of faith and love.

    1. Thank you Audrey.
      Family love is a gift.
      I’m grateful for my family…in my growing up years, and now with my own sons and their families.

  4. What a joy to read about your Aunt Ag. She must have been an interesting and loving aunt. Great pictures from days gone by! Thanks for sharing this with us!

  5. Great post! I remember Auntie Ag fondly, and it was fun to read about (and see!) your similarities.

  6. So fun to read and to see the photos🥰 Lots of good memories there with your aunt Ag and the family🤩 I am lucky enough to have met most of them, but sadly not your dad❤️

    1. It’s great to know you have met and recognize all the folks in this post.
      Such good memories abound!

  7. What a lovely family story and a tribute to your Auntie Ag. Our history precedes us as our future will set precedent for those who follow us. It feels good to look back and see the gifts we received from those who came before us. She sounded delightful!

    1. Yes, it is good to look back and reflect on the people who have influenced our lives, and the gifts they have given us.

  8. This is beautiful! I see a resemblance of the two of you in those photos in your look and mannerism. I, too, love the similar dresses! I recall Christmas shopping together for Auntie Ag back in the day.

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