We received an email from our relatives in Israel today. My grandfather’s sister-in-law, tetya Nadya, passed away. The news made me cry. I closed the door to my office, swiveled away from my computer, and tried to take control over my emotions.

I hardly knew tetya Nadya. I met her only once, when I was in Israel several years ago. Perhaps there were other times, but I must have been too young to remember.

In a week, it will be 3 years since my grandfather died. Whenever Grandpa talked about tetya Nadya, his words always conveyed love and deepest respect. He used to call our family in Israel regularly, and was always excited when they called him.

Tetya Nadya was the last link, the last person I knew who knew my grandfather back when they were young. Mom sometimes called her our matriarch. She was the last of that generation on my mother’s side of the family.