Dear Vee Housman,

It is with greatest pleasure that I write this letter for you. We want you to know that we still miss you down here. We understand you had work to do that would take you away from this earthly place, but it left many of us grievously brokenhearted. What a wonderful Lady you were. We’re still sad that you departed. We think of you, mention you, often.

Some of us remember how it came about that you started The P.A.-Dutch list. And from there until the day you left us, we were all in for a pleasant ride. You taught us many lessons about living, about how life was for a female in the service, and about life from the view point of a retired veteran. You took us on adventures from one coast to another and across the ocean wide, down the Amazon, and into the mountains of Switzerland. You took us back to the days of WWII and rationing of food and gasoline. Every day was an adventure. Those of us who were blessed enough to obtain a copy of your autobiography can get an even better picture of the woman you were. Some of us have your little recipe book, too. What treasures they are.

You took us with you when you went to your doctor’s appointments, and grocery shopping (remember the virtual cart race we had down the aisles?), and to the battle front of your war on the ‘meeses’ that invaded your house. You let us share your conversations with your neighbors and Niece Deb. You shared your honors, you laughter, your grief, your ancestry, and your every day struggles with life and living. You shared with us your surgery and battle against cancer. Through it all, you were valiant, true, and brave; honest, sincere, and caring. No one has ever put up a more valiant fight on all fronts than you, Vee. No one else could have ever brought us to our knees chortling in laughter with tears running down our faces the way that you did. No one could have been a more gracious host; no one could have had a more endearing soul.

Championing a cause, you gave birth to this list and gathered us around your virtual kitchen table – a round table where just about any topic was open for discussion as we drank our tea, coffee, or hot chocolate and ate cookies. You gave us the opportunity to share not only our family history, but our heartbreaks, our celebrations, and everything in between. You taught us how to be cheerleaders, how to give of ourselves; how to be kind and caring, yet strong and committed to a cause.

We miss you, Dear Vee. There will always be a spot at the virtual PA-Dutch kitchen table for you; and no matter who sits at the head of that table, you will always be Number One in our book. Thank you for all that you gave us: the lessons of how to laugh at ourselves; how to lift others up; how to share with others so we all knew we were not alone; how to live life to its fullest, no matter what; and last, but not least, how to love one another! We dedicate this to you, Dear Vee. Hoo- ah!

See also her obituary.

Submitted by Mary Sayman