Posted on 09/12/2024 5:58:20 AM PDT by bert
My Aunt Ethel died and today is her memorial service. She was a month or so older than 101. She was the last in a family series of sisters and husbands and brothers.
She was not really my aunt, but the foster sister of my mother. Ethel was like my mother and father, a child of the depression. Her family though was literally torn apart by the ravages of the Depression. My grandmother’s church stepped in and absorbed the five children into three of the church families.
She and a younger sister became my mothers sisters. They were truly a family in a real sense. Thy all three lived at home until they were married.
Ethel’s husband and my dad became very close friends and fishing buddies. Although we actually lived a hundred miles apart, the brothers in law frequently met for fishing on the lakes in between. I remember taking many camping vacations together at far flung but special fishing spots far from home.
Up until she was 100 or so, Ethel was active in her church and senior activities. The last time I spoke to her she was almost 101 but spoke well and seemed to possess a sound mind.
She had no children. Her original family coalesced when they were in their 60’s and local nieces and nephews looked after her.
Living today, we can’t possibly comprehend the difficulty and challenges of the Great Depression followed by the world at war. And yet I can look at Ethyl and see how she survived and then surmounted adversity on an unimaginable scale.
Great story! You ought to write and publish an obituary for her!
Regards,
In the 1930s, my mother's parents took care of an invalid aunt, a drunk uncle, and cousins. They had 11 people in their 1600 sq foot house, living on her Dad's salary from the local saw mill. They grew most of their own food. Mom says she didn't know they were poor, and yet it was the happiest time of her life, having everyone together
On the contrary, today we live in a highly atomized, centralized government, demoralized, consumerist, and valueless society. The death toll from drug addiction, homelessness, suicide would be considered a holocaust 100 years ago. Governments in Canada and Western Europe offer free euthanasia clinics for those who want to check out.
In spite of our material prosperity, I think we suffer from a worse kind of poverty. I can't imagine what future generations will say.
Yours is an inspiring story, thank you for sharing it.
When I reflect back on how much society has changed with the passage of time, I am filled with awe and wonder, and a sense of foreboding.
I am sorry for your loss. Hope today’s service goes well.
My Dad did well in his career but still saved and straightened bent nails...
What a wonderful thread. Wonderful to read about good people who lived with the love of so many.
Each person you meet has the potential to make you a better person or to hurt the character you want to become. When you meet one of the good ones, you’re blessed. And all of you have obviously met so many good people throughout your lives.
The Depression affected so many of our parents in ways we only learned as we, ourselves, aged and could look back with experience. My mother and my grandfather worked long past the age when others retired just because they remembered when jobs were precious privileges that had to be worked for and cherished. It’s too easy to remember the facts of history and forget the personal stories.
Thank you, Bert, for helping us all remember. And thanks for letting us care about Ethel today during her service.
My condolences for Your loss.
My Paternal Grandmother (we called Her Mom-Mom) made it to 103. She outlived all 3 of Her Sons. She was born in 1901 and over the years she saw a lot: WW-I, birth of Great Depression, WW-II (worked in a Bomb Factory), had 6 children, Korean War, Cold War, JFK Assassinated, Viet Nam, Space Flight, Moon Landing, Balkan Wars, countless Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren, traveled the world with 1 of my Aunts while she was in the Army as a nurse, rode Camels, and things that I haven’t heard about. Mom-Mom was sharp as a tack up until the last year or so. She smoked unfiltered Camel cigarettes, drank a Bloody Mary or Screwdriver almost every day and Her idea of a rare hamburger was scorching hot pan put the burger in the pan, grab the spatula and flip it over and a few seconds later out of the pan and She was happy with it. Also had Bacon and Eggs almost every day.
Lovely tribute. RIP.
Prayers up that was a good run
Prayers up that was a good run
Sounds like an amazing woman. Sorry for the loss.
I remember my grandmother never seemed to lack for anything but she kept a booklet for her expenses.
She got $78 in SS and at the end of most months she had
$.88 left. I don’t know how she did it, but God bless her.
And something funny all her money was kept under he dining room tablecloth. $1’s on the side of the table you walked beside, $5’s on one end, $10’s on the other end & $20’s on the side against the wall.
She came thru the depression.
RIP, Ethel.
And God Bless you, bert.
—a precious tribute to your aunt, and your family.
The years ahead will be greater than a depression for this whole world (all who dwell on the earth). May Christians pray for more and more people to see what and Who our Creator has provided for them to be saved eternally, and live in the
presence of God eternally.
John 3:16
As for the hardships of the 1930's, we have see some hardship though not as bad. I remember President Ford's WIN buttons (for Whip Inflation Now).
The inflation rate in the United States in 1974 was 12.30%. Inflation remained high for nine years, averaging 9.2% during that time. This was much higher than the average inflation rate of 3.3% between 1946 and 1972.Then in the years just past, President Trump had set an example of how things should be.
U.S. inflation rate for 2022 was 8.00%, a 3.3% increase from 2021.I enlisted in the USAF in 1974, because the manufacturing plant where I worked organized and the layoffs that had to happen left no prospects for any of us.
U.S. inflation rate for 2021 was 4.70%, a 3.46% increase from 2020.
U.S. inflation rate for 2020 was 1.23%, a 0.58% decline from 2019.
U.S. inflation rate for 2019 was 1.81%, a 0.63% decline from 2018.
Touching story.
Soon, few will remember the Christian society that democrats destroyed.
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