Goodbye Mom

Kurt, Jeff, Jason, David and Mom on ECHO in 2011

While Brian and Katie were still visiting us we unfortunately received the news that Jeff’s mom had died. Patty Boyle had been visiting her sister Linda in Florida and was hospitalized with breathing problems. It was difficult for us to be away and unable to quickly get to Florida but Jeff did have one good phone conversation with her before she died and we are thankful for that. We had also spent some time with her while in Detroit last fall for Jeff’s surgery.

Following Patty’s death it took us a few days to transition Echo back to St. Thomas then fly back to Detroit for the funeral which was held over the past weekend. We had been in the British Virgins and had to get to an island where we could clear out with customs then to a spot on St. John where we could clear into USVI.  Logistics were a bit complicated but were accomplished in time to get to Detroit with one day available to track down appropriate clothing and footwear for a funeral in January in December. Brian traveled back with us while Katie had to return to work in Washington. Sarah and Kristi came in from Washington also. Jeff spent a great deal of time arranging and juggling flights while trying to stay in the loop with his brothers as funeral arrangements were made. Fortunately for us so many details fell into place and the funeral was an amazing tribute to an amazing woman.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014301130188

http://sbmblog.typepad.com/sbm-blog/2014/01/in-memoriam-hon-patricia-j-boyle-1937-2014.html

We returned to St. Thomas Tuesday and just missed the latest deep freeze in Michigan, 8 degrees when we left Detroit and 85 when arriving back in the islands. We are preparing the boat for our upcoming passage to St. Lucia and expect to have a good weather window mid next week.  We will make our way back to Virgin Gorda over the next few days and stage in the North Sound to await weather.  In the mean time we will work on a post recapping our explorations of the US and British Virgin Islands and all the fun we had with our recent visitors.

Me and My Mom…1958

Mom, Dad, Jeff and Jay…1962