Forces of Nature

Sheila and Mary Tunney were forces of nature. I became close with these inspirational sisters through my brother, who worked with Mary in eldercare. My brother discovered that Mary spent some holidays alone. When our family first invited her to one of our family's packed holiday celebrations, we were delighted by her sense of humor and sharp wit. Mary kept my brother in line, and always had a quick and humorous retort. She would call my brother, “Old Man,” even though he was much younger than her. When Mary introduced our family to Sheila, her sister, we were amazed by the similarities between the women. Sheila was sharp, an avid reader, and she, like Mary, didn't put up with anyone's shenanigans. Having worked in government service for presidential administrations, Sheila shared interesting anecdotes about her job and life without providing specifics that would contradict her code of honor. She had a knack for putting people in their place in the most polite and gracious way, which was incredibly fun to watch. Sheila was a captivating storyteller, and I think that manifested from her love of books. 

Mary and Sheila were from New York City, but moved to Pittsburgh where they volunteered in the community and shared their knowledge and kindness with others. No challenge was too small. When I had shoulder surgery for an injury, Mary drove my mom and I to the hospital. She stayed with my mom, made sure that she had meals, and took me home when I was discharged. Sheila was in New York, but made sure to reach out to my mom and I for extra support! 

One Christmas with Mary and Sheila was particularly memorable. Gifts littered my large living room floor and spilled into the dining room, making it impossible to use the front door. That year, we all entered the house through the backdoor! When each sister shared stories from their lives and their families, we were silent so that we could catch every word. With wrapped gifts piled high in my home, the most important gifts were the time we all spent together and how we bonded with the Tunney sisters.

The caring nature of Mary and Sheila was so special and important for this world. When my job required me to move away from Pittsburgh, I sadly lost touch with them. I heard that Mary had left us, and I recently learned of the passing of Sheila. My heart is broken, but I know that the best tribute I can provide is to emulate their love and kindness and share my blessings with others. I hope that I can live up to their ideals and inspire others in the way that they made a difference for me.

Rebecca Merlo is from Pittsburgh and currently lives in South Carolina. She has worked in tech support for most of her life, which makes her deeply cherish face-to-face interactions with other people.