Obituary of Aida Bellinger

Aida Bellinger, In Memoriam 1918-2013My mother was 95 years old when she passed away. As a child she was frail, and always felt she wouldn't live to see 40. She was continually surprised at having outlived all of her sisters. Her mother, Florence Cessna, was widowed in her 20's, left with five young daughters to raise alone. One daughter, Grace, died in childhood. The others, Aida, Ruth, Isabel and Tessie, all lived to a long age. During the depression Florence scrubbed floors to provide a home for her headstrong daughters, joining a history of strong women in our family who have persevered, often without a mate at their side, through great adversity.As a youngster, Aida's passions were walking and dogs. She often walked miles and miles from the center of Denver to the countryside, with a dog (of course) at her side. Her love of animals led her to apprentice during her teenage years to a veterinarian as his assistant. She said that the anesthetic fumes and blood in his operating room often caused her to faint and another assistant would carry her out of the room. When she awoke she'd go right back into the operating room to continue assisting with the operation. In her 20's she got a job at a local radio station providing dog and cat sound effects on a western show called "The Old Ranger," and later on other shows as well. She could even do dog and cat fights, which she demonstrated to the delight of my friends! At the radio station she met and later married a young singer, Virgil Bellinger, my father. She also became a strong Christian and her faith sustained her throughout the rest of her life.I came into the picture after World War II. She was a devoted mother, and she always regretted that she couldn't have more children. During the time she was married, she worked as a secretary and raised me while also helping my father with his real estate business.My father died when I was 12, leaving only debts, so it became my mother's turn to continue what seems like a family tradition of raising a child alone. Money was always tight, but she paid for my piano lessons and even bought me a beautiful spinet piano, making payments every month for years to pay it off. She pushed (and sometimes shoved) me to go to college. I benefited enormously from her love and guidance, often not welcomed or recognized at the time! She had a lifelong love of learning and bettering herself. She was shy in public and joined Toastmasters to improve her speaking ability, winning several prizes in Toastmasters competitions. In her career she pursued training and achieved the position of hearing assistant to Social Security appellate judges, traveling all over the western states to hear appeals. After retiring, she continued learning, even taking classical Greek so she could read some of the earliest editions of the New Testament. Throughout the time I knew her, and especially after she retired, she lived her faith, providing whatever assistance she could to those in need. She gave rides to church and doctor's appointments, visited shut-ins, befriended many, started bible study meetings in her senior residence, and witnessed to others by her actions. In her final years, dementia increasingly took away her memory and ability to communicate, but she was always a good sport, enjoying events at her care center, often smiling and laughing. I'm told the staff often did extra things for her, because she was so kind and gracious. She taught me many things. Always leave a place better than you found it. Don't hold a grudge; life is too short (still working on that one). Create beauty wherever you are. Keep improving yourself and learning new things. Spirituality is an integral part of life. Look for ways to help others. Always do your best. Thanks so much, Mom. Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Monday, April 8, 2013 12:00AM The Springs Funeral Services 3115 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Phone: 719-207-8855