One of the notes my grandmother had written was about how close a family the Morettos were. It’s funny that now that side of the family never seems to get together. This month we lost my godmother, Jane Ann. Her brother Bernie was my godfather and had passed away many years ago. She was brought home for the graveside service. She was an amazing woman! A few family members did make it to the service, but it’s surprising how scattered the family has become – and how little we see each other. Everyone had to be introduced to each other and in many cases either hadn’t seen each other in years or had never met.
Jane Ann was a nurse in the uniformed service and had pioneered programs to help save limbs in diabetics. She also had helped direct hospital programs for lepers. It’s pretty amazing all the things she did during her many years of service. She also though is remembered for almost losing her leg in a motorcycle wreck!
I remember each of the times we visited her and I remember each of the things she gifted me. Each one was special to me – everything from the cross engraved pens to the dual alarm clock and even the rosary made from pressed roses. For our wedding she brought us a waterford crystal container and I still remember her talking about having to unwrap it for airport security (before 9/11) – The lead in the container won’t allow it to be xrayed.
She even came with her best friend Celeste to visit us at our current house. I remember when they arrived (getting lost on the way) – they called for directions. I had no clue where they were! We had just moved here. They finally made it to the school and went to grandparents day with my Kevin and Kristopher. Kris introduced Jane Ann as his other grandma from Florida. Then that evening we all headed out to eat at an Italian restaurant here in town. Kevin was upset that someone was smoking and my mother asked them to stop since Kevin was having trouble breathing with the smother. Afterwards the person said he totally understood since he had asthma. I think that was the topic of conversation for the next hour.
I’d love to see more of my family both the Richter side and the Moretto (and McArdle) sides. It would even be great to see more of the Andrew side. I wish there was a way for people to get together for more than just funerals.
I was recently reminded of when my grandpa Richter passed away. I wasn’t very old, without looking it up, I’d say maybe 2nd grade or so. I do remember other things from when we would visit him, but the day we lost him is not one. I have heard stories though and from memory I wanted to put them in writing. I’m hoping everyone will correct me so that I can get the ‘story right’ in all my family history files.
My grandfather had a live in housekeeper that was taking care of him at the time and grandpa Richter had been outside. As he entered the house through the back porch door he had fallen half in the house, half out. When the housekeeper found him she called my father (We had moved to the old Abraham Illk house that was 1/2 mile down the road) and my dad came with all of us and checked my grandfather. From what I remember my grandfather had died of a stroke or a heart attack. Now with my father having so many issues with strokes, Aunt Margaret and Uncle Frank had aneurysms I think, and even Buddy had a heart attack – I’m wondering if there is more family history I haven’t documented.
The main things I still remember about my grandpa were him giving me the crust from his pot pies – he would sit at the table in the kitchen and give me the crust. I also remember him keeping Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies in the Living Room and giving me one when I would visit. Both these and Concord grapes (there was a grape vine in the front yard) remind me still of going to grandpa Richters and exploring.
I also have a memory of the family party where my father spanked me before the party and said he knew I was going to do something to deserve it later so he figured he’d get it out of the way ahead of time… We had just pulled in and parked in the driveway.
Grandpa also had a pond that Aunt Linda now lives at. There was a place to cook out and an outhouse and lots of places to explore. My memories of family parties there are missing from before grandpa passed away, but I’m sure they happened. I do remember though the parties at Aunt Tooties. We would make a slide out of her stairs with couch cushions and ride down the stairs and then go outside to play with turtle heads the cousins had caught. Snapping Turtles keep biting long after the heads are detached and for kids playing in the country the heads plus a stick could keep us amused for quite a while.
The outhouse is all gone now, and all the family parties have moved locations several times since then. I can’t even picture my kids playing with a snapping turtle head or running around the woods unsupervised. My kids have had their moments of going up and helping grandma clear woods and feeding chickens, but it’s not a normal occurrence. Their outdoor time is more riding bikes and taking walks around the blocks.
I visited my parents last weekend to help take my mother to the Dr. (Okay so delay in posting, it’s now been a little bit) . Can you really go home?
My brother now lives in our old house. It’s amazing how small the rooms have gotten. It really can’t be me. New people live in my grandfathers house, even my dad now cash rents his land out to someone else to farm.
I love seeing all my family but all my cousins, aunts and uncles are all busy. As time goes one it’s hard for us all to get together for family gatherings. Also the places to go have even changed! The truck stop was gone! I drove in pick up food and it literally a pile of rubble. There was a new place across the road that had the option to pick up food so I did get dinner.
I remember when the big meeting spot in town was the basement of the new bank. My wedding shower was there! My aunt would have meeting for Watkins and everyone would get together. Now I don’t know if they still have dinners there, but I’m fairly certain it’s been at least 15 years since I’ve been to anything there.
As I walked into the local ‘new’ restaurant to pick up dinner and looked around I didn’t recognize anyone. More than likely i knew someone, the town is only a few hundred and my family has been there about as long as the town, but I didn’t recognize a single person. Same town I went to high school at, my dad did, and all of the rest of his family! So it brought me back to can I really go back home. How is it possible I didn’t recognize anyone? Were they all new people to town? Had they changed that much? Scarier even; is my memory that bad?
It’s funny, this picture came up with Juanita Cheuvront filled into the title when I added it, but the actual name in my files is Frank, Tootie, Howard, and girlfriend. I have no idea where the name Juanita Cheuvront came from. This is one of those things that remind me that it’s always good to write things down when they happen! In this case I should have recorded the source of the name when I found it out. Is it written on the back of the picture, in the album, or did one of my relatives tell me. Without source information it’s the equivalent of ‘iffy’ information. It makes a lot more work to verify the info.
My Aunt Tootie is still around and may be who gave me the information. If I get a chance I’ll have to ask her. I did just google Juanita Cheuvront name and Danville Illinois. A Michael showed up who graduated from Danville High school. He is listed as 57 so it seems there is a large age difference between him and what my Uncle Howard would have been. My Uncle would have been 18 in 1940 – where Michael was a 1973 graduate, so he is definitely young enough to be my uncles children’s age. If he is a sibling of Juanita there was a huge age difference, more even than my dad and his siblings.
As the extra person isn’t one of my family members, for genealogy it isn’t really required to know who the extra is, but the more information the better – otherwise information gets lost over time.
This is a picture of the US Senate Republican Policy Committee. It’s funny that I can quickly pic my Aunt Dorothy out even with a photo so many people.
I found this information about the committee:
About the Republican Policy Committee
The United States Senate Republican Policy Committee (RPC) was established in 1947. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming serves as its 15th Chairman and is the fourth ranking member of Republican leadership in the United States Senate.
The committee advances Republican policies by providing positions on legislation, floor debate, and votes. RPC also provides in-depth analysis on specific issues, policy solutions and alternatives, and strategic guidance. We also provide a recorded vote analysis and run the internal RPC TV broadcast.
In the tradition of past chairmen, the RPC provides a forum for Republican Senators for policy discussions. This is principally carried out through the weekly policy lunch. RPC also hosts Republican Staff Directors and Legislative Directors to discuss the Senate committees and floor agenda.
RPC’s origins go back to 1947 and its founding chairman, Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio. The Committee was created following a bipartisan proposal by the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress in 1946. The RPC was originally composed of nine Republican Senators. They provided all Republican senators with a description of meeting discussions and the chair would hold press availability following the meeting. Policy discussions now include all Republican senators.
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Source: http://www.rpc.senate.gov/about
I suspect this picture is from the late 60s. What I found interesting was that in the pictures in the gallery on their site there are no women, yet this picture shows several women involved (including my aunt). – I’m not trying voicing an opinion on this either way, but did find it interesting. Really it shows the difference in the times. When my aunt was born women didn’t have the right to vote. In the picture I actually only see 4 Men total and 1 African American. I suspect the picture is of the Republican Women’s Group that visited the committee. – Possibly from Illinois, as Percy was an Illinois Senator and my aunt was involved in the republican party in Illinois. I remember my aunt running for Circuit Clerk when I was in grade school. For some reason I think it was the same year our classes got to vote on the state bird. It’s funny the things you remember!
The picture appears to be signed by Charles Percy, a former senator that took office in 1966. (Wikipidia)
