After 9/11, a woman finds family bonds endure
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In Los Angeles, a woman reflects on the loss of her Aunt Daphne in the September 11th attacks and the unexpected role she now plays as a maternal figure to her niece.
The author lost her aunt, Daphne Pouletsos, who worked at AON in the World Trade Center’s south tower, when she was 25 years old. Daphne was a joyful presence in the author’s childhood, creating special memories during holidays and everyday moments.
After moving to California and leaving her career in New York news, the author found purpose in being an aunt to her sister’s daughter, born in 2020. Her niece recently referred to her as a “substitute mother,” a phrase that resonated deeply given the author’s own experience with losing her aunt.
The author understands that the impact of a person extends beyond simple biographical details and that the loss of someone like Daphne means the loss of all the future moments she would have shared with loved ones. The author feels Daphne’s presence in her life through the joy she shares with her niece, recreating the warmth and connection she felt as a child.
She imagines the happiness Daphne would have felt knowing her namesake and finds comfort in continuing a legacy of love and family.
