Tuesday, March 6, 2012

My Mother

My mother grew up in Belleville, PA. She was born in 1920, which was the beginning of the Roaring Twenties, grew up during the Depression years that lasted into the early years of my parent's marriage. She had two brothers and two sisters and was a second-born child between her two brothers. She loved school and wanted to attend high school but her mother needed her at home. Mother is standing between her brothers.
She loved school and wanted to attend the local high school but was needed at home.
(school picture, unknown age)

There was a strong love of horses in the family.
Pictures from her teenage years.
I love this one - a little shy but a tad flirtatious.
But mom was not a flirty woman!
I knew her as almost extremely reserved and quiet but cheerful. And she sang a lot!
I'm thinking she was married in this picture but it's undated.
My parents were both twenty when they got married and soon began a family.
At Niagara Falls.
This was taken at the same time as the one below it of all of us.
One of the few professionals that was taken of them in 1997.
This was taken two years later at the beginning of her thirteen years of dementia.
The 'lost look' in her eyes is already evident here. My mother had a very real sense of what is proper and a composed dignity even in her dementia. Her death at 85 was one of a joyous homecoming when she again knew who she was...that was so important to me - her death was a new beginning!


13 comments:

Marylu said...

love the pics. Your mother was a lovely woman. I have many good memories of her.

Marylu

Wendell said...

Thanks, Aunt Esther, for taking time to scan and post these very special pictures.

Kathy said...

Enjoyed these pictures!!! Our moms were the same age!!!

Anonymous said...

wow, in her younger years I can see Roy's smile, Myron looks like Grandpa and C. looks like Elvin!

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

This made me cry.

She is a dear, what a neat post.

My own sweet Mom died before the age of 60! And HER mother died when my mom was only 10.........

So your Momma lived a long life indeed....and may she truly find joy in the Risen Lord.

God bless.

Hugs.

Rachel B said...

Loved the pics. What a wealth of parenting your folks did thru the yrs. You are blessed.

Anonymous said...

she was a dear!She liked to give birthday cards to church people Rhoda N.

Unknown said...

Oh what beautiful memories of your loving Mother. She looks like the kind of mom you could climb on her lap and have a soothing moment..lovely pictures..

Colleen said...

Thank you Esther for posting these photos, the older I get the more precious my history becomes. I didn't know Grandma loved horses. My Megan does too and I could never understand why or where that passion came from.

Chenille Cottage said...

Thank you, for sharing this precious tribute about your momma. It is clear that she was loved by her beautiful family. And, what comfort you share in knowing she is with the Lord and that you will see her again.
My Mother turns 90 in May and I am so aware of the blessing of still having her with us.
Warm wishes, my friend,
Carolynn

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

Thirty years of dementia. My. But what a precious treasure you were given. Beautiful mother. Beautiful post.

Joy in the Journey said...

Wow. How interesting that your mom was from Belleville. My parents still live there and I live only 40 min east. Lovely valley!

Passionate for White said...

What a wonderful post - thank you for sharing your Mom and family with us all.

Post a Comment

I love hearing from you - thank you for taking the time to do so!