Wistful Wednesday : Another Goodbye

One by one my Maternal Grandparents immediate family is dwindling.

There are only three children left…my Mother and two of her brothers Al and Kenny.

This is a photo taken in 1961 at the farm where I grew up.  Those sections of boards going horizontal used to mark the walls of the old pantry. When my parents remodeled the house in 1959-1960 the pantry walls were removed and a picture window was added. The drapes were off white with shades of green tropical plants and small pink flowers…wall to wall drapes.  My Mother sewed the drapes.

This is a photo of my grandparents and their children with their spouses in 1961.

from the left the stars ** are living persons

**Madeline and **Jake (my parents)

Marion and Marvin both deceased in 2004

Vivian “Skip” (2007) and Theron (1978) both deceased

Delbert in back (2009) and Delores (2018)  both deceased.  Aunt Delores died last Friday night/Saturday morning in her sleep.

Dennis in back and **Judy  Uncle Dennis is deceased (2015). My Aunt Judy is Delores sister…brothers married sisters.

Esther “Toots” (1996) and Ray (2004) both deceased

Clarence “Butch” in back (1993) and Kay (2017) both deceased

Elsie and Albert my Grandparents both deceased in 1995

**Al (standing behind my Grandparents)  He wasn’t married in 1961.  He did marry **Pat, divorced and now is married to **Donna.

In front is the Twins

Karen she was married to and divorced from **Al Dean  She is deceased (2017).

**Kenneth “Kenny”  married to **Linda.

Two children died before this photo was taken Alfred 1947 in and James in 1948.

I saw my Aunt Delores a few weeks ago.  She asked “Do I know you?” I said “Yes I am Connie” she replied “Of course you are” and gave me a hug. She had been more confused since moving into assisted living this spring. The funeral is later this week. What a blessing to sleep away during the night. No long drawn out hospital stay or convalescing in “the home.”

Wistful Wednesday: Aunt Marion

This is a photo that is sixty years old. It was taken in May of 1952.

That is me and my Aunt Marion, my mother’s sister.  My Mom had four sisters.  My Mother was child number 2 and Marion was child number 3. 

The photo is taken in my Grandparents yard in the background I can see their garage and directly behind me is the well used clothes line.

My Aunt was already married by the time this photo was taken.  I believe she was married in 1949. 

That is my Aunt Marion and my Uncle Marvin on their wedding day.  My Mom was the maid of honor.  I have no idea who the other people are. In the late 1940’s that double breasted men’s suit was all the rage…along with wild thick neckties. Notice only the bride has a bouquet..the other gals have corsages.  I think my Mother kept her bridesmaid dress for a long time I believe it was a dusty pink color.

My Aunt Marion made the best chocolate cookies..it was a cake like batter.  Then she would cook up a white thick sugary concoction and spread it on one cookie and then top it with another.  It made almost a ball like cookie that was really yummy.

Aunt Marion was diagnosed with breast cancer in about 1966 or 1967.  I was sent over to help out and watch the kids while she was in the hospital and my Uncle Marvin was in the field.  The poor (4) kids had to suffer through my feeble attempts at cooking. Aunt Marion had a long and rocky road to beat that cancer.  They farmed and raised their family in the Wolf Lake Minnesota area.

My Aunt died  in 2004 she was 72 years old.  About a year later my Uncle joined her. They were married well over 50 years…probably about 54 years.  I see some of their children, my cousins once in awhile..usually at funerals:)