From the Editor-in-Chief
Like many of my generation, I spent countless Friday nights watching The Brady Bunch as a kid. And like many American boys, I had a crush on one of the Brady girls -- not the predictable Marcia, but the unsung, underappreciated Jan. Looking back, however, I can see that my real crush was on Alice. Growing up, I’d always wished my family had our own Alice -- who wouldn’t? So maybe it was fate that I’d meet JoElla Johnson Sigler one day, the “Alice” who stole my (and my wife’s and children’s) hearts. We met at the dry cleaners where JoElla worked, and we’d chatted enough for me to know that she was quitting her job to have back surgery. So it was goodbye, it seemed, until she mentioned that she might go back to her former business, housecleaning, after the surgery. I gave her my card and told her to call me any time. That call came a few months later, and she came by one morning to meet my wife and have a casual interview. Jo asked where the kids were, and I told her that they were upstairs in their rooms. She asked if she could bring them hot chocolate, and we said sure (our kids, spoiled from traveling, adore room service, and they had met Jo before). She came back downstairs a bit later, beaming like the grandmotherly soul she was. She asked if we minded if she made the kids breakfast too, and we were charmed. There was no turning back after that, and for the next seven years or so, Jo was like family and fit in beautifully with our “let the good times roll” philosophy. I guess it’s my New Orleans roots, but we like to be the house on the street where friends gather. That translates into a very easygoing atmosphere -- we’re known for welcoming people to our home with a glass of wine and Jo was no different, though it led to some funny moments over the years. I remember one day when Jo opened the door to the furnace repairman, wine glass in hand, as he said, “Hello, Mrs. Cohen, I’m here for your furnace checkup.” Jo replied, “I’m JoElla, not Mrs. Cohen, come on in, what are you drinking?” Flustered, the guy explained, “Oh, no, ma’am, I’m working,” and not missing a beat, she responded “So am I!” Jo loved to clean and our home sparkled like never before, but that wasn’t why we loved her. We loved her because, well, she loved us. Although she had her own children and grandchildren whom she adored, she always treated us like her own, and helped look after our kids when they were sick, going far above and beyond when she saw we needed some extra help. Heading off to Paris last December (oh, those pre-Covid days!), we left our house in the midst of remodeling, confident JoElla was at the helm. I remember her sending us texts of progress photos while we were on a river cruise, and feeling excited to get home to see the remodeling work, but also to see Jo. Then, another text, this one from her son, and I knew something was wrong. As I called him back, I had a terrible feeling, and when he answered crying, my worst fears were confirmed. JoElla had passed away in a car accident. I had the heartbreaking task of telling my wife and kids that Jo, our beloved Alice, was gone. Of course, our loss pales to that of JoElla’s real family, her son and daughter-in-law, grandchildren and husband. I’ve never been to any funeral that was as much of a celebration....the room was filled with photo collages made by Jo’s daughter-in-law and grandchildren; everywhere you looked, there was evidence of love and a life well-lived. Though housekeeping was never the reason we cherished Jo, her daughter-in-law has insisted on filling in until we find someone. It’s an amazingly generous thing for her to do, especially since she’s a Purdue grad with a marketing degree... but it lets us hang on to Jo awhile longer, and maybe for her, it does too. And my wife has kind of taken on a bit of the role of grandmother to Jo’s grandchildren, sending gifts and little treats home for them. Looking back, I’m comforted that we made the most of every day we had with JoElla. As the past year has certainly shown us, life can change in an instant and we need to appreciate and enjoy the moments we’re in, and the people we’re with, right now. Have the wine, share the joke, revel in the laughter….I know our Alice would certainly toast to that.
Jeffrey Cohen jeff@slmag.net
30 slmag.net
