Kreiser and Miller (Mueller). Ancestors of Fritz.

Ya know, when tracing my Grandma Rita's ancestors, I quite often think about these little backwood villages in Germany and the Netherlands that they came from and don't think too much of them. They were poor farmers. BUT...then you come across Great-Grandpa Fritz's maternal Grandma, Helena Bendle Miller's birth place, and you're awestruck. Eguisheim, Alsace, France (at one time, Germany!) is probably the most beautiful, picturesque village I think I've ever seen. When you read Brothers Grimm fairy tales, your imagination quite often wanders to this make believe village in your mind, and then you discover that this make believe place really does exist...and it's Eguisheim. Hold on. I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start with Fritz and go from there.

Above are my Grandma Rita Youker's parents: Francis Rudolph Kreiser and Mary Louise Steinebach. Fritz and Louise to everybody else. Both born, raised, and buried at St. Mary's of Hannah. I call Hannah "The Little Rhineland" because 95% of it's founders were from Western Germany. Yes. There were Irish, Italian, and Polish in the mix but they were in the minority.  I'm lucky to have French and Dutch blood out of these two, as so many of the families married other Germans.

Behold! Beautiful Immaculate Conception in Ottoville, Ohio. Home parish of Fritz's mother.

Fritz was born January 23, 1900 to Ralph Kreiser and Mary Catherine Mueller (Miller). Ralph grew up at St. Mary's, New Salem (near Grand Rapids), and Mary was born and raised at Immaculate Conception parish, in Ottoville, Ohio. Many of the Germans in Hannah were in Grand Rapids prior to migrating north to Hannah, and those Grand Rapids Germans, many were in Ohio before coming to Grand Rapids. The Millers bypassed Grand Rapids all together, and came straight to Hannah.
Fritz was a very witty, upbeat guy. Loved his wife, children, and grandchildren. Enjoyed being the trickster, and telling jokes. He was the Grandpa that would have you pull his finger and then farted. No Kidding!

The only family photo I have of Ralph and Mary Kreiser!! 

Fritz spent his whole life farming, growing primarily potatoes. In fact, all of the rural, southern Grand Traverse County, Michigan kids got two weeks off every October to harvest potatoes. It was called "Potato Vacation"! Whoo-hoo! Sign me up! Ironically, the VanDyke side of this family, when they lived in the Netherlands, were also potato farmers.
Fritz and Louise married in June of 1923. They eloped to the Grand Traverse County Courthouse in Traverse City and were married before a Justice of the Peace. When the family was told, they were immediately drug before Father John Grinzinger at St. Mary's, Hannah who married them. Little harm done. They were young. Fritz 22 and Louise 17. Ralph Kreiser was not very fond of the situation. He apparently scowled through the entire church ceremony and afterwards, went off to plow a field, while the rest of the family members had refreshments.
Fritz and Louise were living with Ralph and Mary Kreiser afer they married. Little conversation passed between Louise and her inlaws, lots of slamming doors, and dirty looks. My Grandma, being a little girl remembers this. Not very nice memories for a child!
Both Fritz and Louise were practicing Catholics. Louise would take a close pin and string it full of holy medals and wear it attached to her bra. During severe storms she would burn blessed palm branches. Fritz made sure the family was in church a half hour or more before Mass started in order to get in five decades of the rosary.
 Back to Fritz's parents: Ralph Kreiser was apparently a very stubborn fellow. Grandma Rita said that her grandfather had relocated from Hannah to Grand Rapids (New Salem) after the death of his wife. He had a stroke, the entire family gathered around his death bed. He recooped and lived another decade. Grandma said he spent his golden years "peddling onions" and had a veggie stand. Her Grandma Mary was tall and skinny. Grandma Rita remembers her making delicious little cakes for the Grandkids, and when she attended Mass on Sundays as an old woman, she sat with her sister, Susan Bartz. Ironically, I have a picture of Susan but not one of my own Great-Great Grandmother. I assume they looked similar.
Fritz's sister, Anna had caught TB. Their mother, Mary nursed her back to health, caught TB herself and died shortly afterwards. When Anna caught TB her husband up and left her and the children. At the deaths of Anna and Grandma Mary Kreiser, Fritz's other sister, Lena took in and raised the children in Grand Rapids. With Mary's death, Ralph Kreiser eventually remarried, and in order to get the farm back, the Kreisers had to take their stepmother to court. Fritz and Louise ended up with house and property in the end.

Fritz's Aunt Susan Miller Bartz and family.

While Ralph Kreiser's parents, Mathias and Martha (VanDyke) Kreiser stayed in New Salem. Mary Kreiser's parents, Jacob and Helena (Bendle) Miller were at Hannah. I'm not sure if the couple lived with the family, or had their own place? Fritz was close with Grandma Helena and she was full of fairy tales, Bible Stories, stories of the "old country" etc.. Perhaps my Grandmother inherited this love of story telling from her?
Jacob was born in Gerhsheim, Saarland, Germany. If you've never heard of the Saarland, it's no big deal. It's Germany's smallest province and borders France. Gersheim was a part of the bigger, neighboring province of Bavaria at the time the Millers immigrated to Ohio. Jacob's parents, and Grandparents all immigrated together on the same boat. Jacob lost his leg in a farming accident. I'm not sure if this is before or after immigration. He did little jobs such as repairman, shoemaker, etc.. He ended up leaving Hannah and returning to Ohio (Not sure the specifics, possibly for work?) and after death, was buried at St. Mary's, Hannah. His wife, Helena also buried in Hannah cemetery but at the complete opposite end! Yikes.
Also, I never heard my Grandmother refer to this family ever as the Enlgish: Miller. She always pronounced it as the German: Mueller.

Obit and tombstone of Fritz's grandfather: Jacob Mueller/Miller.

Helena. Started life in Eguishheim and passed away in Hannah, south of Traverse City, Michigan. Here are some images of Eguisheim. Click on link for history of village: Wiki Info. on Eguisheim.

Not forgetting to mention, we have this unique traditional dress of Alsace.

See what I mean? Isn't that a charming village?! It's been voted most beautiful village in France, and for good reason. I'm amazed I have connections to such a place! Lucky me!

And I'm ending with a photo of Helena's grave. May she rest in peace. I'm sure wherever she is, she continues to tell stories. 

Martha VanDyke Kreiser 1838-1914

In all my years of doing genealogy, one of my favorite people to research has been my 3rd great-grandmother, Martha VanDyke Kreiser. My great-grandfather, Fritz Kreiser stated he was sauerkraut and pea soup. German and Dutch. His grandmother, Martha was born January 15, 1838 in Usquert, Groningen, The Netherlands to Paul VanDijk and Catharine Slot.

Martha's Birth Certificate (right). Signed by parents and Burgermeister of Usquert.

The family was Roman Catholic and attended the (at that time) clandestine church of St. James, the Great in neighboring village of Uithuizen. Groningen was a very Protestant province, and Catholics, as well as Jews worshipped in buildings that looked like a private home or shop but once you entered looked very much like a beautiful church or synagogue. Only the Dutch Reformed Church had the church buildings in Groningen. Minority religions were granted complete freedom shortly after the VanDykes immigrated to the United States.

In the northern Netherlands, surnames were not adopted until about 1812 when Napoleon forced them to. All surnames up until that point were patronymic. Therefore, your father's first name would have been your last name. My father's name is Bradley, so in those times, my name would be Adam Bradley, as an example. So, any information prior to 1812 is very hard to trace for these people.

Traditional dress of Groningen Province. 

In 1845, Martha's father, Paul passes away at age 42. He was a farm hand, working for wealthy Protestant farmers. Martha is only seven years old at the passing of her father. She has older brothers: Ralph, Paul, Martin who immigrate to Michigan soon afterwards. They were living in Grand Rapids and attending St. Andrew's cathedral. Martha, her brother, Albert, and their mother Catharine immigrate to Michigan in 1854, when she is 16, and resided in Bowne (near Caledonia, MI) and attending the very Irish parish of St. Patrick's, Bowne. Albert fights in the Civil War and marries a fellow Dutch immigrant, Elizabeth Boddema. Note that the names Paul, Ralph, and Albert are still common in the Kreiser line even today! Martha's mother, Catharine passes away in 1865 and is buried at St. Patrick's in Bowne. Her husband, Paul, while buried in the Netherlands, is memorialized on her tombstone.

VanDyke family cottage still standing in village of Usquert.

Martha somehow meets German immigrant, Mathias Kreiser, who was born 1835 in Buchel, Eifel, Rhineland who has already settled at St. Mary's, New Salem, MI with his brother, Nicholas. Mathias and Martha marry in 1858. Mathias could not read or write, signing his name with an X. Martha learned to read and write as a child in Holland, and this was always a source of jealousy for Mathias. The family was very active in St. Mary's, New Salem. I have visited this parish three times, and it is probably one of the most beautiful Catholic Churches I have ever seen. The statues and stained glass windows are breath taking. It's so neat to visit the cemetery and see all those surnames you also find walking through the cemetery at St. Mary's of Hannah. 

St. Mary church and cemetery, New Salem, MI

Martha VanDyke Kreiser passed away 01 February 1914 and is buried in St. Mary cemetery, New Salem beside her husband, Mathias. Her stone is in English, while her husband's is entirely in German. Immigrant Pioneers of New Salem! 

Find A Grave Memorial for Martha.  (Click link!)

Fairy Tales told by Grandma Rita

My Grandma Rita told me some old "fairy tales" that she heard growing up. Both a bit dark. Grandma's ancestry was heavily German, with family coming from Rhineland, primarily. These stories mimic the style of the Brothers Grimm a bit and I sometimes wonder if there is any connection. I'm including them here while I still remember them. Here they are:

There used to be a very beautiful lady. Day after day, she'd sit at the vanity, staring into the mirror. She'd comb her hair, put on her make up, etc.. One day, the devil was staring back at her in the mirror, pulled her in, and she was never heard from again! The End.

One dark, cold night in the middle of winter there was a terrible blizzard. An old man came knocking at the door. He was poor, cold, and hungry. Being fed promptly, he was offered the couch to sleep on. The old man fell asleep, and while he was sleeping soundly, the door came swinging open. The devil came walking in, threw the old man over his shoulder, and walked out with him. The End.

Holy Cow! Talk about dark stories to be telling children! ...and why is the devil included in both of them?! Ha-Ha!

Grandma Rita

So, my Grandma, Rita Louise Kreiser Youker, passed away this last November, a day before her and my grandfather's 70th Wedding Anniversary. She had a rough few years toward the end. December 2013, while I was living in Colorado, she had a perforated bowel, emergency surgery (which they weren't sure she'd get through!), and ended up with a colostomy bag. A few years of in home health aides, and then into a few Assisted Living facilities up until the end. I know in those last years, she enjoyed playing Bingo, received Holy Communion weekly out of St. Patrick's Church by a dear lady, Maxine Steinmiller, whom she knew growing up at St. Mary's, Hannah. Grandma developed Lewy Body dementia, and it was very hard for me to follow a conversation with her and she could be a bit mean at times. I do remember her telling me about a year before she passed on that she missed my Grandfather very much.
Grandma was born on Feb. 15, 1925 on Miller Rd. a few miles west of Hannah, to Fritz and Louise (Steinebach) Kreiser. A brother, Paul was born in March 1924 that passed away of SIDS. A picture was taken of Grandma as an infant, as her parents never had one of Paul.
Grandma's earliest memory, she said, was of her brother, Ralph. He was a baby, and she was about 2 and a half years old. One day, she picked Ralph up out of the crib, and was carrying him out to everyone. "Rita, bring me the baby, bring me the baby!" stated very calmly by her mother, was her earliest memory.

Patricia, Rita, and Vonnie.

Brothers, Carl and Jerry followed. Grandma stated the boys were always getting into fights, and her mother was always having to get in between them and brake it up.  A sister (finally) when she was 9 years old, Patricia, and 13 years old, her baby sister, Vonnie. Aunt Vonnie doesn't remember Grandma being at home. Grandma was out of the house and living and working in the Nurse's dorms at the Traverse City State Hospital at the age of 19.
Grandma attend St. Mary's school at Hannah. Attended Daily Mass throughout her school years, and sang in the choir at the High Mass every Sunday morning. Dances were held at the school, and the Dominican Sisters actually taught the students how to dance! Waltzes, Polkas, two steps, etc.. During WWII years, parish priest, was Father Louis Flohe, and he was very loved by the people of Hannah. Grandma talked fondly about him for years. She had a little bit of trouble with Algebra in school, and Father tutored her in the evening at the rectory. When my Grandpa Jim was taking instructions to become a Catholic in High School, Father Flohe taught him and received him into the Church.
Grandma first met Grandpa, while she was active in her local 4H. Her leader, was Mrs. Frances Youker, my grandfather's mother. She was a woman my grandmother admired greatly. Frances was fun, giggly, social, and very active in many societies, groups, etc. She was also a school teacher. Grandma said that Frances "was always looking to better the lives of children." Unfortunately, Frances passed away in 1946, at the age of 52, from a heart attack. My Grandpa Jim was overseas in the Army at the time, she never met any of her grandchildren.
Grandpa and Grandma were married Thanksgiving Day, 1947 in St. Mary's Church at Hannah. The church that was helped built by both sets of her grandparents. A High Mass was said by Fr. Clement Sigmund (who also baptized my father). Grandma made her own wedding gown, but said "because of the war" she was not able to get the material she wanted for it. Her bridesmaids were her sister, Pat, cousin, Mary Kreiser, and best friend, Mary Ellen Schetek, from Cedar. It was a VERY cold day, so cold that people had trouble starting their cars after the ceremony. The wedding reception consisted of your usual Thanksgiving meal fixings, several raisin pies made by Grandma Louise Kreiser, and a two tiered wedding cake.

Grandma enjoyed all things music: dancing, polka, country western (Jim Reeves), Lawrence Welk, Elvis, Bobby Vinton. She enjoyed traveling, and seemed to really enjoy trips that they made to Mexico, particularly Cozumel. She was quite proud of the fact that while in New Orleans, she walked up and down Bourbon Street, which she was warned was "very dangerous".
Grandma Rita was a great cook. Delicious coleslaw, chicken, pork roasts, baked apples, scalloped potatoes, raisin pie, sticky buns, etc..
She told me once that as a teenager, she dreamed of running off to New York City and becoming an interior decorator. She enjoyed art, and many flashy, colorful things. She loved the color red.
A meticulous housekeeper (much like her mother), everything was neat, clean, and had its place. Everything smelled clean and fresh.
She was also a talker. She'd tell you everything you'd ever want to know about her parents, grandparents, great-grandparents. Old stories about Hannah, and surrounding area, she had several.
She was also always giving. She'd give you advice, sometimes it wasn't always what you wanted to hear or would agree with, but she was more than willing to give it!
As I said, her last few years on this earth were rough, but glad that she's finally at rest.

John R. Dixon

Meet my mother's mother's mother's father. Ha-Ha! Better put, my 2nd great-grandfather, John Robert Dixon. I just recently received this picture of him from my grandmother's cousin after asking her several times over the last few years to see it. He was born Feb. 23, 1858 in Wellington, Ontario, Canada to Adam Dixon and Matilda Howes who were both immigrants to Ontario from England. Adam's family from the province of Northumberland, and Matilda from Northamptonshire, bringing the family to Grant Twp., Grand Traverse Co., MI around 1870 when John was about 12 years of age. 

I know very little about him. My Grandma Pearson never talked about him, other than the family was poor when her mother was growing up. He married, Ida May Cook 8 Apr 1885 at the Methodist parsonage in Bartlett (near Buckley), Ida also being of English ancestry.  I heard much more about Ida than I did of John. He passed away from "Acute Indigestion" April 22, 1922. 

Posting a family picture of John and Ida Dixon, my great-grandmother, Carrie Adeline being the little girl with the dark hair, pulled back, in the center. 

With this picture I have finally seen what all of my 2nd great-grandparents looked like, other than Ralph and Mary (Mueller) Kreiser, whom when I asked my Grandma Rita if there were any pictures of her Grandpa and Grandma Kreiser around, she said that at one time there probably were but her mother either threw them away or burned them! When Fritz and Louise (Steinebach) Kreiser were married they were living with his parents, and there was some tension between them and Louise. So, if any Kreiser relation is reading this blog and comes across any pictures of Ralph and Mary, please share! 

John and Ida Dixon and children. 

Grandma Kreiser's Raisin Pie

Grandma Kreiser's Raisin Pie

My Great-Grandmother, Louise (Steinebach) Kreiser was famous for this pie.  Both her mother and grandmother also made this pie and my Grandmother, Rita Youker (her daughter) handed it down to me.  My Grandparents got married on Thanksgiving Day 1947 at St. Mary's Church in Hannah, Michigan and this pie was served at their wedding reception, as well as at all holidays.  It has a custard filling with raisins and a meringue top.  It is delicious.  Make it and try it!

Grandma Kreiser's Raisin Pie

1 cup raisins, packed in measuring cup.

1 cup whipping cream

1 tbsp. flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

2 eggs (seperate yolks from whites).

Stew raisins.  Drain raisins and add to sauce pan.  Combine with sugar, flour, salt and cream.  Set on medium heat until thickened.  Add egg yolks until done (abt. 1 minute); don't cook much longer than a minute or two otherwise your yolks will cook and curdle!  Cool and place in baked pie crust.  Use your two egg whites to make meringue.  Meringue is easy.  Whip egg whites on high until foamy, gradually add a half a cup of sugar and 1/8 tsp. of cream of tartar.  When meringue is "peaky", place on top of pie.  Place in oven and bake until meringue is a light brown.  Tada!

The lives and times of John and Phoebe Steinebach.

My Grandma Rita talked all the time about her grandparents, John and Phoebe (Ebare) Steinebach. They owned a little grocery store across from St. Mary's Church in the little German farming community of Hannah, MI. The parish priest and Dominicans Nuns were friends with this couple frequenting their store, which also served as the "hang out" for everyone before and after the two Sunday masses. They were pillars of the parish. Little did anyone know that there was quite a history behind this couple, particularly surrounding their marriage. Here's a little bit of information about the both of them.

John Joseph Steinebach

1879-1948

John Steinebach was born December 07, 1879 in North Dorr, Allegan County, Michigan to Joseph Steinebach and Anna Mary Vogt. His father was a German immigrant from the little village of Hartlingen in the Westerwald region of the Rhineland. His mother, Mary was born in Ontario, Canada but her parents were from the province of Hesse, Germany. North Dorr and the little villages surrounding it (New Salem, Byron Center) were settled by Catholics primarily from western Germany. The Steinebachs belonged to Visitation parish. Later on, there were tensions between the different families, the parish priests, etc. which caused many of these people to relocate to southern Grand Traverse County, to a little area west of the village of Kingsley, which was named Hannah. Visitation parish would burn to the ground and families gathered together to rebuild. When the Bishop (who was rather rational) informed these folks that there were two neighboring German parishes (St. Mary in New Salem, St. Sebatian in Byron Center) that they could attend and that there was no need to continue building, they kept on and finished the church. The families gathered to read their missals and pray their rosaries on Sunday mornings even though a priest was not provided for them by the Bishop. This went on for quite some time and the parishoners were threatened with excommunication. Eventually, a parish priest was provided. This gives you and idea of how strict and stubborn these Germans were! 

Steinebach Family 1891 

Grand Traverse Co., MI

(John standing behind his father, far right)

John's parents came to Hannah via covered wagon. The Steinebachs lived in this wagon while their home was being built. John and his older sisters helped their parents clear the land, gather timber, and build their home. The first Mass ever said in Hannah was said in this house and it is still standing today in 2018. The parish priest would come from Traverse City or Grand Rapids and would stay with them, always saying Mass until St. Mary's Church was built. Even as an old woman, John's mother would walk daily to church to attend Mass. 

German, of course, was spoken in Hannah up until the time of the WWI in 1914.  Mass was in Latin, but the sermons and announcements were always in German. John served as a translator for the community. His sister, Anna Steinebach Petit had married an Irishman. He was not well liked by the family as he was an alcoholic. Whenever Mr. Petit was in their company, they would purposely speak German so he couldn't understand them! 

John was an accomplished carpenter and businessman. He built several homes in Traverse City, as well as the Detroit area. 

How John met Phoebe Ebare, my Great-Great Grandmother, is unknown but she was not too far away living in Traverse City, where her family came when she was a little girl, to the Long Lake area from upstate New York. 

A little about Phoebe...

Phoebe Ebare Wares Yeomans Steinebach

1875-1956

Grandma Phoebe was born 22 June 1875 in Clyde, Wayne Co., NY. Her father, Felix (A Civil War veteran) was the child of French Canadians, David Ebare and Euphemie ("Phoebe") Patrie. She was named after her paternal grandmother. Her mother, Sarah Elizabeth Hutchins was from NY, family being of British ancestry. 

The Ebares came to Long Lake, Grand Traverse Co., MI near Traverse City when Phoebe was about 8 years old. At one time, as a teenager, Phoebe was living in what is currently North Peak Brewery on Front Street in TC, which at the time was a candy factory, working as shop girl. 

At the age of 15, May 10, 1891 in Traverse City she married Myron Wares, who was 13 years her senior. It is has been said that her father arranged this marriage. No children were the result of this marriage, and Phoebe ran off to Kalamazoo, MI in order to escape this unhappy situation. 

A few years later, 25 Feb. 1894, she was married to George Yeomans in KZoo. Three sons were born to them: Gordon, Floyd (who died in infancy), and Clarence. 

The Rev. Snelgrove

Anglican clergyman who married John and Phoebe in Ontario, Canada.

Where and how John Steinebach and Phoebe Ebare met, we're not sure. For a very long time, it was believed that the date (claimed in both their obituaries) May 17, 1904 was the date of their marriage. Their eldest child, Louise came along in March of 1906. It has been discovered that despite the couple living together as man and wife, having children, that Phoebe's divorce to George Yeomans was not finalized until 1910, and that John and Phoebe snuck into Essex, Ontario, Canada where they were married in an Anglican ceremony in September of that year. The first few children were born under the name of Yeomans, NOT Steinebach, which was quite a shock for my Great-Grandmother, Louise to discover years later when she came across legal paperwork. Interesting note, 1910 Census for Grand Traverse County, has John Steinebach listed as a "Boarder" while living with Phoebe and children. 

Some have thought that perhaps these children were not John's, but children from George Yeomans. DNA has proven that descendants of the older children, are indeed Steinebachs, matching us to descendants of John's siblings. So, technology and science has ruled that out of the question. 

There does seem to be a mystery surrounding Phoebe's youngest Yeoman boy, Clarence. He was born in 1903, quite a few years after his older brothers, particularly, the elder. My Grandmother was of the strong opinion that Clarence very well could have been a child of John Steinebach. Ancestry DNA may soon give us an answer and settle that question once and for all.

1911 the family is living in the Detroit area. The children are attending Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, and John is working in construction. Phoebe was raised a Protestant, and eventually will become a Catholic (as will her 2 living sons from previous marriage), with the marriage finally being recognized and blessed by the Roman Catholic Church in 1913. I assume a lengthy annulment process had taken place prior. My Grandmother felt that because John's parents were so devout, that the family relocated to the Detroit area in order to not cause scandal to them and his siblings. 

Once the marriage was recognized as such, the family relocates to Hannah.

St. Mary's of Hannah

Altar as it appeared in 1940

John and Phoebe return to Grand Traverse County to the little village of Hannah, where John was raised and where his parents have been living. Building a home directly across from the church, they also build and operate a small country store where they sell groceries, farm implements, gasoline. Ontop of this, John is farming, serving as a County Commissioner, and still serving as a translator for the Germans in the area. The families become pillars of the parish. The local families gather in the store before and after Mass on Sunday, including the Dominican Sisters. People would get so engrossed in conversation that they would trickle into Mass late, causing Father Joseph Grinzinger to become irrate. He had the church bell rung 10 mins. before Mass and made a point of telling people that they were to get into church as soon as they heard it! The store was successful, with money being given by the family to donate two new stained glass windows. One for John's German Immigrant father, Joseph Steinebach and the other for Gordon Yeomans, oldest child of Phoebe, who passed away of pneumonia while serving in WWI in France. 

Gordon was much loved by Phoebe. She had went to the mailbox to gather the mail one afternoon, Opening a letter right then and there which gave her word of Gordon's death. She collapsed right on the spot and was inconsable for a long time after. 

John passed away in 1946. Phoebe continued to keep up the store until she couldn't do it anymore.

My great-grandmother, Louise attended school and made her First Communion at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit while they were living down there. As they were "city kids" when they relocated to Hannah, country life was a bit of an adjustment. When they were asked by someone to help "weed the garden" they had no idea what they were talking about!

My Grandma remembers John having a wonderful sense of humor, with a slight German accent. He would play Rummy and other card games with her, and would cheat on purpose to tease her. Her Grandma Phoebe was a wonderful cook and baker, and did beautiful lace work, making many intricate baptismal gowns, doilies, etc.. As her grandparents lived right across from church and school, my grandma would stay with them during the week as a small child as it was so close. They would tuck her in at night, and two little terriers that they loved, would snuggle up with Rita in bed. 

I could ramble on for hours, but in the end, it all worked out for this couple and their family. More posts to come on this blog and soon! 

Thanks!