Name: Mary
Born: Croatia, Yugoslavia (now known as Croatia)
September 19, 1907 (100 years old)
Things Mary loved to do: cook, bake, willing to help others, read romantic novels, crochet, play card games
and knows how to “cha cha”.
Physical features: Average height, rosy cheeks, beautiful snow-white hair, soft hands and blue/gray eyes (sometimes they are
green).
Favorite Memories: When I was little I looked forward to spending time up north during the summers and deer-hunting season. Gram would always be cooking or baking something.
Her and Grandpa also taught me a great deal about gardening, growing vegetables and canning them, growing grapes to
make homemade jelly (or wine), or growing flowers. I guess you could say that
is why I enjoy gardening so much now. I can remember Gram telling me one day
in the flower garden how flowers and little girls are very similar; they both start from a seed and grow up to be a beautiful
bouquet, both so sweet and elegant. She used to talk to her flowers like they
were her kids.
Gram loved to
play card games and Yahtzee. I couldn’t wait until after dinner so we could
play games. We would also make our own Christmas ornaments.
She worked part time at a
local restaurant. She enjoyed cooking for people.
Gram would feel very special when people would ask for her to come out from the kitchen so they could say “hi”.
Married to the same man for
over 50 years, she cherished him as much as he cherished her. A marriage and
a love like theirs is truly an inspiration to all of us. She not only touched my grandfather’s heart, but she has touched
all of our hearts as well. With her soft touch and gentle hugs, she will always
make you feel very special.
In the late 1980’s,
Gram took the trip of a lifetime back to Croatia. It had been the first time
she had been back since she moved here. She was able to meet cousins and even
an aunt she didn’t know she had.
Three years after her first
visit to Croatia, she was suppose to take another trip back but was discouraged to make the trip because war had broke out.
Her family consisted of Grandpa
and four sons. One of the sons died at a very early age.
Unfortunately,
as time marched on the family drifted apart. Grandpa passed on at a very young
age. Grams heart was empty. Two
of the sons moved to different states and didn’t visit much. And the youngest
didn’t come around much. My siblings and myself probably saw more of Gram
than anyone else.
One son is still living from what we know, but doesn’t communicate with anyone.
A daughter-in-law and her
three children still visit Gram, along with her great-grandchildren.
