almost done....

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     Christmasses were wonderful times because we enjoyed them so. I remember way back to the days when we had lighted candles on the Christmas tree. Dad would light all the candles and then we would have a very few minutes to admire the glowing tree and then they had to be blown out. It was dangerous but it was beautiful. When we were older dad would send us to bed and about five minutes later he would ring the doorbell like mad and come to the foot of the stairs and yell at the top of his voice, "Kids, come on down Santa's been here" and of course we were ready. The secret is we went to bed with our slippers and robes on so we'd be ready. We had an early Christmas because dad just couldn't wait. No matter what else we got for Christmas there was sure to be a small but very heavy box for each of us. In it would be coins each wrapped singly. When we were young it was new pennies for me. Nickles for Orrin and dimes for Norman. For Mother and for us when we got older it became gold pieces. He was a good Dad, a successful man and a fine person. His weakness? The bottle. He amassed a fortune and then wasted it, but we never stopped loving him because sober or three sheets to the wind he was never mean or disagreeable to us.

     The little girl sitting helping to cover grandpa's torn pants is Della. Della married Daniel Connelly. They had five children Helen Taylor, Gladys Zimmer, Chester who married Kathleen Mulleavy, Delia Walker and Ruth Montagne. Helen and Hanley had three children Hanley, Mary Helen and James Danial. Gladys and Lynn had five children Diane, Patricia Ann, Daniel Joseph and Michael. Ruth and Arthur had four children Richard, Thomas, Larry and Mary Lou.

     Frederick was the youngest child and married Elizabeth Koselke. They had no  children but adopted a little girl they called Vera. Elizabeth died when Vera was still young but she objected very strongly to her father marrying again. She was only about fourteen but insisted that she could and and should run her father's house. She did not realize that her father needed a wife. Her father finally decided that he would marry Anne Dingeman and she tried to help Vera to find her way but it became more and more evident that Vera was incapable of sustaining normal relationships and had to be committed to an institution. Frederick, or Uncle Fred and Anne had one son Anthony my favorite cousin. Anthony married Marion Dettloff and they had six children Frederick, Daniel, William, Marie Ann, Michael and Judy Ann. Frederick and Daniel are married, William is enjoying life as a bachelor, Marie will graduate from High School in June and Michael and Judy are still in school

to be continued

Comments

[marne]

Thanks again Sharyn!

[Junkyard Jennifer]

I'm enjoying this. Thank you for typing it!