Grandma Tracie is Far Guys Paternal Grandmother.
I have a very old photo of Grandma Tracie’s sisters. I am not sure what year it was taken…maybe the 1940’s.
Emma, Mattie, Tracie, Laura, Frances and Anna
Grandma had 9 sisters, not pictured are Louisa who died in 1903, Lydia who died in 1927, Matilda or Tillie who lived in California, and Minnie who lived in Washington.
Laura died in 1949 so the photo was taken before that.
The oldest was Matilda Louisa or “Tillie” born in 1880 and she died in 1962.
Martha Carolina Sophie “Mattie” born in 1882 and died in 1967.
Laura Marie born in 1886 and died in 1949.
Wilhemina Bertha “Minnie” born in 1888 and died in 1977. ( A Twin)
Anna Martha “Annie” born in 1893 and died in 1978.
Theresa Katherine “Tracie” born in 1895 and died April 26, 1983. (32 years ago today was her funeral.)
Emma Louisa born in 1897 and died in 1982.
Lydia Sophie born in 1899 died in 1927.
Louisa Dora “Lu Lu” born in 1901 and died in 1903.
Frances Henrietta born in 1903 and died in 1993.
The only sisters I really knew were Aunt Emma and Aunt Frances. I may have met Aunt Annie once. Poor Aunt Frances until now I didn’t realize after Gram died in 1983 it was another ten years that Aunt Frances was the soul survivor of this part of the family.
The brothers all died earlier.
Frederick Ernest “Albert” born 1883 and died in 1958.
“Charlie” Henry Frederick Carl born in 1884 and died in 1947.
Ferdinand Theodore born in 1888 and died in 1941. (A Twin)
Fredrick Louis born in 1890 and died in 1967.
Gram always talked about her sisters. I was surprised to learn that she had four brothers.
April 29, 1983 32 years ago was her funeral. It was a packed church and the cars stretched for miles in the procession from the church in Park Rapids to the cemetery in Osage. The congregation sang What a Friend We Have In Jesus that day…I always think of her when ever I hear that hymn. We must have had coffee at the church…I don’t remember, I don’t recall what the weather was like that day either.
You may notice that her name is spelled “Tracy” in the obituary. I think some people may have spelled it that way but I always go by how she signed her cards and letters and that was “Tracie”.
Gram was 87 years old when she died, she was living in her own apartment in Park Rapids. She had not been feeling well…she had a biopsy of her liver and they found out she had cancer. They must have disturbed the cancer because about a week later she died. One of her worst fears was going to the Nursing Home…she escaped because she died in the hospital. We saw her on Sunday afternoon in the hospital and she died early in the morning on Tuesday. She wasn’t afraid of death just the Nursing Home.
She was a good lady. I didn't know Dad was one of the Pallbearers
ReplyDeleteNeat post. I don't think there is an "old" person I know that wasn't or isn't afraid of the nursing home. Both my parents were in the nursing home and both hated it, even tho they were well taken care of. They must have passed this fear on to me as I too don't want to go into the home.
ReplyDeleteShe was a good lady. I was in Louisiana by 1983, didn't know Dad was a pallbearer. She always let us put the duck boat out on her land when float hunting down She'll river. Did that from Hugo's to her place many times.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really neat picture of the six ladies in front of that old car. It's a treasure to have it, and those memories. Living to be that old doesn't happen much in my family.
ReplyDeleteShe was a "sturdy" lady that made her own way - I wish I had known her - she seems to have made a lasting mark on Park Rapids and its souls. My dad's mom was built on the sames lines - and was dear, kind soul too - she had two-three friends that were closer than sisters - and she loved them completely and spoke of them much. The world misses them...today.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great old picture. You can see the family resemblance. I think most of us are scared of the nursing home. My mother seemed to accept it, and never once said that she hated it or wanted to get out of there. Who knows what she was thinking, but she usually spoke her mind.....
ReplyDeleteSounds like most of them died fairly older than most did in those times. I can't imagine being a sister of 9 others.
ReplyDeleteIt's good you are preserving these memories for your grandchildren & their children.
ReplyDeleteI love the old photo and enjoyed the names of the sisters especially. My father was the same way about not wanting to go to a nursing home. He passed at the hospital also. I'm thankful he did not have to go to a nursing home. Your family is fortunate to have this history preserved here.
ReplyDeleteWow, nine sisters, and some brothers, too. That's quite a family.
ReplyDeleteThose families back in the day were large, weren't they? These gals look like some of my grandmother's family, and I am trying very hard to not look quite as well-fed as they ladies, no insult intended. And it's wonderful that you are keeping these things for your children and grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteThese were a vigorous family as they all lived to be very elderly. Maybe early 1940's by the cars in the photo.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me so sad to think of how people fear nursing homes--more than hospitals or even dying. Makes me wonder: do they fear the place? Or the condition? My own mother was that way, as well. I wish there was a different way--a better way--to provide for people's needs at that stage of life...or is it just that people wish they didn't have to face that stage at all???
ReplyDeleteI love the picture and didn't the sisters have pretty names.
ReplyDeleteEver notice how alike most people in those days looked? When ever I see photos of my old time relatives I always marvel at the lack of individuality they were allowed. It seemed that no one was supposed to look different then the other.
ReplyDeleteJen
Ever notice how alike most people in those days looked? When ever I see photos of my old time relatives I always marvel at the lack of individuality they were allowed. It seemed that no one was supposed to look different then the other.
ReplyDeleteJen
I love the shoes they were wearing. I can remember my grandma wearing black shoes with a square heel very much like what some of the women are wearing in the picture. Don't see elderly women wearing them these days though. Wonder why?
ReplyDeleteThat generation had a lot of kids. Grandpa was from 14 altogether and then he had only 10 kids when he had his family. I think that photo is such a classic family shot.
ReplyDelete