Grief is one of the most overwhelming things to feel, especially as it can’t be healed over time.
Most of the pain we experience in life is temporary. But because grief is the response to the loss of another person, it never gets easier.
Still, there are more “positive” ways to grieve, such as celebrating a loved one’s life and sending happy thoughts their way, rather than focusing on how unfair it is that they’re no longer here.
Losing a parent is particularly difficult, as Bauma and Anne Marie Schmitt know all too well.
The sisters’ mom, June Brock, passed away in 2014. Now, unable to create new memories of their doting parent, their old memories have taken on a new significance.
Most of us who have lost a parent will know how it feels to look through photographs and possessions belonging to that person. As much as you’re grateful to have them, you can’t help wishing there were more.
So when Bauma and Anne received an unexpected photograph in the mail, they were brought to tears.
Just in time for Mother’s Day, the envelope showed up. It contained a photo of some students from a Rochester Horace Mann P.S. 13 school kindergarten class.
What made this photo special was that it was taken during the 1934-35 school year – the year that Bauma and Anne’s mom, June, had been attending kindergarten.
The surprise letter was sent by Aaron Turner, a stranger from Lexington, Ohio.
He wrote a letter to the sisters explaining exactly how he had come across the photo. Speaking to 13Wham, Bauma said:
“He introduces himself as a man who purchased an online photo album from 1934-35 school year at Horace Mann Ps. 13 in Gregory street in Rochester, New York.”
As it turns out, Aaron has one of the most feel-good hobbies ever: he collects old photographs and, when he can, mails them on to the families of those in the shot.
Imagine spending your time uniting families with photographs of loved ones – how rewarding it must be!
This isn’t just a one-off for Aaron, either. He considers himself an expert in the field, particularly when it comes to schools in Ohio, but he was drawn to the Rochester photo album.
Talking about his commitment to the job, Aaron said:
“I probably send out about a thousand envelopes per year of pictures for people. People at that time, especially in the 30s during the depression, didn’t have the luxury of having photos… These kids may have had a school photograph taken by a photographer but the family may not be able to afford prints of it.”
To make things really difficult for Aaron, most photo albums don’t have any printed details apart from what’s on the photos.
But that only makes it more rewarding when Aaron is able to find the right people, like Bauma and Anne.
The sisters agreed that the lost photograph of their mom made for a wonderful Mother’s Day surprise.
Bauma thanked Aaron for his goodwill, adding:
“It’s been a hard year and to think that there is still kindness and people thinking of others after such a hard year. It’s rare.”
You can learn more about this incredible story in the video below.
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