December 2, 2009
Day 2 of the Advent Calender asks: Did your family or ancestors serve traditional dishes for the holidays? Was there one dish that was unusual?
I grew up in a divorced family and we split our holidays with each parent. Christmas Eve was spent with my Mom and her family, Christmas Day was with Dad and his family. So there are different traditions on each side.
Christmas Eve at Grandma Richmond’s meant hot italian beef sandwiches. I am sure there was a ton of yummy food to go with the beef. But the beef was my favorite part! Sometimes, if we were lucky, the beef was homemade (and not from the Italian store)! I need to get this recipe from my Grandma. To this day, when Christmas Eve comes around, I crave the beef sandwiches. Unfortunately, most of this side of my family has moved away and this tradition does not go any further. Hopefully, one day when I have grandkids, I can start it up again.
On my Dad’s side, we would have the traditional dinner or turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, bread, and I am sure many other good things. Don’t forget dessert, Aunt Betty always had homemade cookies and fudge, lots and lots of goodies! My goodness, did we eat. I love the holidays and these great dinners. I am getting hungry as I sit and write this….
December 1, 2009
© Copyright 2009 Terri O’Connell
Gary J Collins
December 1, 1970 – December 27, 2003
(buried at Rosehill Cemetery – Chicago, IL)
Gary is my brother in law. He is one of 11 children, with 2 younger brothers, 2 older sisters and 7 older brothers. The Collins family is large and loving. They accept everyone into their hearts and family, I am truly grateful for this!
Gary died in 2003, in a terrible car accident. He was on his way home for a family celebration, a nephew had been married out of state and the family was coming together to celebrate his union. Gary was less than a mile from his apartment when his car was struck by a drunk driver. The drunk driver had minimal injuries and was taken to the local hospital. Gary was not that lucky, he died at the scene.
Since this tragic accident our family has become supporters of MADD and I ask all those reading that through the holidays (and any day) please have a designated driver. Keep your friends and family safe. Life is short, make the most of it now!
Happy Birthday Gary, we love and miss you!
December 1, 2009
Growing up, we had different types of trees. I recall many years of fake trees and many years of real trees. The tree that stands out most for me, was the tree at my Grandma Ida (Jaeger) O’Connell’s house. After my Grandfather had passed, me had moved into a two flat in Chicago and we lived on the first floor, Grandma lived on the second floor.
As Christmas came around, the furniture would get moved around. The coffee table would go under the picture window and the tree would be set up there. Of course, this was one of the fake trees. I really do not remember who set up or decorated, my guess would be my cousin Tracy would set up the tree and probably put the lights on as well. Leaving the decorating for Grandma and whoever else was there to help.
What I remember most is the lights that twinkled in the living room! I remember laying on the floor at night and falling asleep near the tree. To this day, I love to sit in our living room, watching TV with nothing but the Christmas tree lights on. I am one of those people who leave the tree up way too long, because I do not want to take the lights away. I have some friends who laugh when they come over and ask when the tree is coming done. My reply is “I am hoping to start a new tradition where the tree stays up and we just change the decorations for the current holiday!” This always gets a good laugh.
November 29, 2009
Last night, Randy Seaver at Genea Musings posted his SNGF, I have finally made it work for me. Thanks Randy for the idea. I will have to go back wit a picture from when I was younger to see if I get the same celebrities.
November 25, 2009
What a wonderful gift I was given this afternoon. I am most thankful for it. In my mailbox was the usual, unwanted mail, magazines (excited to get the new NGS Magazine and New England Ancestors), but the best was a letter from Beckley, WV. As I looked at it, I was not sure what it was. I had recently been to Beckley, but did not remember anyone saying they would mail me something. As I stared at this letter, it occured to me that the envelop was one I addressed, months ago. I had sent a letter to the local Order of the Eastern Stars to see if they had any information on my Great Great Grandmother, Nettie Ann (Warden) Richmond. I had given up hope for a reply because it has been a few months.
So I am extremely excited, I opened the letter before I even took my coat off and got comfortable. Inside was a letter, on OES letterhead from their current Secretary. It gives me the following bits of information:
- Nettie was initiated 20 May 1926
- Her husband, John E Richmond was a member of Beckley Lodge No 95, A.F & A.M, Beckley, WV
- Her petition shows address as Riley, WV and dues record shows address as Stanaford, WV
- She was the Chapter Worthy Matron 1 Jul 1939 – 30 June 1940
- Charles Tongue served as Worthy Patron with her.
- She was given life membership 26 Feb 1967
Nettie died 3 Feb 1968, almost a full year after she was given her life membership.
I have recently spoken with a Granddaughter of Nettie, who referred to her as Granny, she said that the OES was very important to Granny and she thought she would not get into heaven without her OES ring she wore. Unfortunately, she was not buried with the ring. I look forward to more conversations with this cousin, she has shared many family stories and I hope with my urging she will commit these stories to paper. I have only been able to collect historical facts, and she has the personal, together we can create a wonderful history of the Richmond’s life.
November 25, 2009
In this holiday week, we take the time to remember all things we are thankful for. For my family, this has been a difficult week. We lost a very special person last Friday and laid her to rest yesterday. Aunt Mae was the oldest of her sisters and the storngest women I know. I have always enjoyed visiting her family in Ohio. Fun was what the family ordered, and it was always there. The love that filled her house was endless, and it was offered to all! She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to take the time to say that I am thankful for my family and friends. For the love that surrounds us and keeps us up when we need it. For the family that has gone before us and made us who and what we are today. Also, for my genealogy friends that are always there to help when we need it.
If it was not for my genealogy friends, there would be a lot of information missing in family files this year. I am eternally grateful for all of the help you continue to give on a daily basis.
Most of all, I am thankful that in this sad time, I was able to spend a few days with my Mom. She lives out of state and I have not been able to see her for the past two years.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
November 9, 2009
© Copyright 2009 Terri O’Connell
My son and I recently took a trip East to look at colleges. On our way home we stopped in Beckley, WV to visit a few cemeteries and to show him where his Grandma was born. We only had a short period of time to visit, but we made the most of it. I believe we saw about 4 cemeteries that day. My son got to stand at the grave of his 6th, 4th and 3rd Great Grandparents. It is all in a days work. I am grateful to Bob, who is a distant relative on my Warden side, for taking the time to show us the many different cemeteries.
John and Nettie Warden are my Great Great Grandparents. They are one of the main reasons I made sure we stopped in Beckley on our way home from this road trip. I have recently found out that John Richmond was a 3rd degree Mason and Nettie was in the Order of the Eastern Star. I wanted to see of their tombstone had any symbols on it. Unfortunately, there were none.
Though there were no symbols on the stone, the trip was well worth while. I met a few relatives and enjoyed my breif stay. I have learned that the Warden side of the family has a yearly family reunion, down the road from John and Nettie’s house. I hope to be able to attend one soon.
November 4, 2009
Home of John and Nettie Richmond, Stanaford, Raleigh Co, WV
©2009 Terri O’Connell
November 3, 2009
©2009 Terri O’Connell
S. Martha Warden is the wife of Thomas. Thomas Warden’s headstone was featured in my last Tombstone Tuesday post. Both are buried at the Warden Family Cemetery in Raleigh County, WV.
Many of their descendants still live in Raleigh County today.
