Motivation Monday - Cherie's Got Her Groove Back

Last Monday I was facing one hell of a week.  There was so much non-genealogy nonsense in my life that I had no time for what really matters...my family and continuing down my professional path.  There was even PTA high-school-I'm-going-to-hold-my-breath-and-stomp-my-feet-until-you-do-what-I-want crap.  It was a stressful week, but just as when my children throw temper-tantrums they don't get what they want, well, this chickie didn't get her way either.

Was that why I got my motivation back? Nope.  It was due to a very good friend who sent me an email via Facebook with a genealogy related question.  She only met her biological father once, but wanted to look into her genealogy.  Not being close with him she didn't feel comfortable asking for his parents' names so she wanted to know how she could find out who they were.  A good (and necessary) starting point for research.  With the experience I have, I saw no really easy answer.  She could always try to contact the Vital Records Division in California and request an uncertified copy of her father's birth certificate, but getting one isn't always easy.  Getting a vital record when the person is still living is not easy even if that record is uncertified so since it was 10:00pm off to Ancestry.com I went.

     The information I knew:

     1) Her father's name

     2) Where her father was born (California)

     3) Where her father lives now (Washington state)

     4) Her grandmother's surname (Stanford...she did not know her first name)

     5) That her grandparents were not married and that they were deceased.

     6) That her father used the surname Angel for a time, but wasn't sure why

The surname of her father was unusual...Piplic.  My search turned up few results, but you really only need one if it's the right one!  I found her father's birth on Ancestry and the record essentially told me everything I already knew, but the second record I checked was very helpful.  The United States Obituary Collection turned up one result:

"Tony Piplic died Dec. 10, 2003, at age 88.  Mr. Piplic was born Dec 10, 1915, in Portland.  He was raised in Jewell and served in the Air Force.  He lived in Eureka Calif., and Tacoma before returning to Portland in 1963...Survivors include his son "living" (Piplic)..."

Well, now we had a name for the grandfather since his son's name was in the obituary.  I was able to find Antone in the 1920 census for Portland, Oregon.

Ancestry.com - 1920 US Federal Census, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, Sheet 22A

In finding this I was able to further tell her that her great-grandparents' names were Lena and Mark and they were immigrants from Austria and that Antone had 2 sisters as of 1920, Anna and Frances.

I sent her information that I found in the WWII Army Enlistment Records showing that he served during the Second World War.  Something that I felt would be of special significance to my friend, since she too is a veteran. 

I finished my email letting her know that I had inquired about the possibility of obtaining an uncertified copy of the birth certificate and that I'd let her know what the state of California said when they got back to me (they still haven't).  Trying to search for "Stanford" and "California" does not provide the best results!  I was going to head to bed, but decided to try one more thing.

Since I had sent her a link to her grandfather's memorial on FindAGrave.com I attempted a search on their website for "Stanford" and "California".  There were 156 matches.  I began scanning through them and opening in a new tab any female with the Stanford surname that would have been likely to give birth in 1953.  There were a few, but it did narrow it down a bit!

I looked through each tab hoping for something that would jump out at me.  Something that would say "This is the one" but instead I was slowly closing each tab confirming a negative find.  FindAGrave is wonderful, but the bottom line is if someone didn't upload her grave, I wasn't going to find it.  As is typically the way with these things, I clicked on the very last tab I had open and saw this picture...

Evelyn Lois Stanford Piplic Cox Angell

I sat there looking at this beautiful woman (without looking at her information, believe it or not), and said, "Oh my goodness, this looks like my friend!" and then I looked at the write up that went along with her memorial:

"Daughter of Delbert & Anna Marie (Desler) Stanford...Twin sister of Everett & sister of Alvey Delbert...When she and her brother were born, they were so small that the family carried them around on pillows!...Mother of "Living" Piplic & "Living" Cox...She was raised in Milton-Freewater, OR...She was married to William Rall, Tony Piplic, Raymond Cox (div all) and in 16 April 1966 married Edwin Angell...She lived in Seattle for many years and returned to Milton-Freewater, after her mother's death...Evelyn was always thoughtful and cheery person. She loved to laugh and enjoyed her family, friends, flowers and gardening...written by her first cousin, Betty."

It was the right woman (and she had been married to Tony after all!).  I was so absolutely excited to be able to share this link with my friend.  It felt like I was giving a gift and just made me so incredibly happy!

Now, I did leave out the part about how I thought Evelyn looked like her.  Knowing that this family was essentially a family of strangers, I did not want to offend her.  The next morning I received a response from her saying that it was nice to be able to see some of her features in Evelyn because she hadn't seen many in her mother's side of the family.

A strange little twist...when I performed the search again on FindAGrave to see the number of hits I got, Evelyn didn't turn up this time.  Odd how that happens sometimes.  Maybe Evelyn wanted to be found...

I know that everything can't be researched on the internet, but I've got to tell you that being able to find both of my friend's grandparents with the information I had in less than an hour made me feel pretty darn good!  Having an unusual surname helped, and having a family member that posted so much information on FindAGrave was lucky, but those factors didn't change how I felt about it.  It was a triumph to know I could pull it off.  It put a smile on my face to know that I had helped a dear friend begin her genealogical journey and as she said it "feels like Christmas".

It all gave me the motivation to get back to where I belong.  This week I'm focusing that motivational energy and I'm getting my genealogical groove back!  No volunteer group is getting in my way!

Sunday's Obituary - Woman Found Dead in Tub

Hazleton Standard Speaker - 26FEB1962, pg18

"Woman, 42, Found Dead in Tub by Husband, Son

Mrs. Florence Tabor, 42, wife of Clarence Tabor, 230 East Broad street, West Hazleton, was found dead in the water-filled bathtub of the family's apartment at 4:45 p.m. yesterday.  About an hour earlier she had told members of the family she was going to take a bath.

Chief County Detective Charles Connelly last night said he is satisfied the death was either from natural causes or was accidental, unless the results of a post-mortem prove otherwise.

Dr. Julius Foldes, local pathologist, performed the post-mortem last night at Hazleton State General Hospital.

Tests today indicated she had fallen asleep and drowned, it was reported.  According to Dr. Foldes, her death was attributed to pulmonary edema.

Lieutenant Edward Waitkus of the West Hazleton police said members of the family told him a telephone call came fro Mrs. Tabor while she was in the bathroom and a son went to the bathroom door and called to his mother that she was wanted on the telephone.  When she did not come out of the bathroom in a few minutes, Waitkus was told, both the father and son went to the bathroom where they found her submerged in the water.  They carried her to a bedroom, began artificial respiration, and called Dr. George B. Dornblaser.  The West hazleton ambulance crew and the physician used a resuscitator on the victim for a half hour but their efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.

Deputy Coroner Louis C. Fierro, who was summoned to the home, notified District Attorney Stephen Teller and Dr. Herman L. Feissner, county coroner, who dispatched the county detective to this city.  Detective Connelly witnessed the post-mortem, and later interviewed members of the family.  Trooper Ralph Cameron, Bureau of Criminal Intelligence operator at the local state police barracks, was also called on the case.

Born in West Hazleton

Mrs. Tabor was born in West Hazleton, a daughter of Mrs. Ceclia (Kozlowski) and the late Anthony Bronsavage Sr.  She resided in this area all her life and was employed at Argo Sportswear.  She was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church.

A sister, Anna, prededed her in death.  Surviving are her husband, Clarence, two sons, Paul and Leonard, at home; and the following brothers and sisters:

Mrs. Vincent (Margaret) Wolchesky, Hazleton; Anthony Bronsavage, West Hazleton; Joseph Bronsavage, Hershey; Adele Bronsavage, Hazleton; Michael Bronsavage, Weatherly; Mrs. George (Martha) Zimmerman, Hazleton.

The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock from the Bonin Funeral Home, Second street, entrance, with Rev. Dr. Frederick B. Crane, of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating.  Interment will be in Mountain View Cemetery.  Friends may call Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 10 p.m."

This article most likely came from the Hazleton Standard Speaker.  I'll be looking for the article when I return home this summer so I can find out the publication information.  According to her death certificate, Florence died on February 25, 1962 so finding it shouldn't be difficult.

Florence was my paternal grandmother.  She died 10 years before I was born.  My father was the son that found her in the tub.  What the article does not reflect is that it was believed by my father that Florence intentionally took too many sleeping pills and then took a bath in order to kill herself.  I imagine it's a difficult subject for my father (I no longer communicate with him).  He had commented that she killed herself, and then other times he would merely state that she fell asleep in the tub and died.  I have little doubt that this event affected him enormously.

Paul, Florence (Bronsavage), and Leonard Tabor

I had previously asked my mother why she would have killed herself.  Her response was essentially that my grandfather was a miserable man (that's phrasing it politely).
Whether the death was accidental or intentional, it's sad that Florence died so young and before I could ever have a chance to meet her.

Something I noted from the above transcription that was a bit odd.  The body was found "yesterday" and already the coroner had finished his autopsy (complete with toxicology...really????) and the funeral was set.  Were things really taken care of THAT quickly back then?  I've seen few articles where the death and funeral are announced so quickly together!

I may have to see if I can lay my hands on the coroner's report.  Not to be morbid or anything, but between my father's need to change history every 5 minutes and my need to know the truth, I feel that I must locate as much information as possible on why Florence died much too soon.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - And Her Name is "Marshmallow"

Week 7: Toys. What was your favorite childhood toy? Is it still being made in some form today?

I so easily could have posted this blog under "Treasure Chest Thursday" because this toy will always be a dear treasure to me!  My favorite toy was a doll that I called Marshmallow...Marshie for short.  I still have her (obviously).  She looks nothing like she did when I first got her.  My father told me that he got her for me because he saw her in a store and said that she looked just like me.  No giggling out there!  I was a baby at the time and my eyes were never made of felt! :)

Apparently, Marshie had some wisps of blond hair for bangs where the hoodie starts (my hair isn't blond, but it was when I was little...now it's safely dyed red).  I vaguely remember that her face was painted on pink/beige cloth and her body wasn't always made of terry-cloth.  What you see now is the beautiful handiwork of my mom.  That's no sarcasm.  It's pure love for her daughter and understanding her daughter's love for her dolly.


My mom had to give Marshie several face-lifts and tummy tucks.  It was either that or throw her out and that couldn't happen.  I couldn't sleep if I lost Marshie!  I remember one time she couldn't be found at bedtime and my parents tore the house apart until she was found!  So, as a result, mom would give her a complete make-over time and again so I could continue to love the stuffing out of her!

I don't know what type of doll she was.  I don't know what she was called or anything about her.  All I know is she was bought around 1972 and that she has wires in her arms and legs so you could pose her.  Nothing like posing a Barbie, but I thought it was neat.  I'd love to find a version of her in her original state, but I wouldn't know how to begin.  I'd never replace her.  Just want to know what the original was like.  Surprisingly there are no pictures of me holding my dolly when I was little.  I may have to look harder.  A sort of "Where's Waldo?" search through family photos!

There's no little girl to pass Marshie on to, but I'll be keeping her forever.  I wonder if my husband would think it odd if I cuddled her tonight?....

Wordless Wednesday - Hellooooooooooo Nurse!

OK..she's not a nurse, but what a looker!  My gorgeous maternal grandma, Mary Brown nee Quirk.  Hubba! Hubba!

Tombstone Tuesday - Where It All Started

This probably should have been one of my first "Tombstone Tuesday" posts.  Adam and Jadwiga Tabor are the ancestors that first got me into genealogy.  When I was using my trial membership on Ancestry.com 10+ years ago their names were the first I entered.  I figured with a name like Jadwiga it would be an easy find.  It was and I remember sitting there in our apartment in Honolulu staring at the computer screen and I couldn't believe I had actually found something.  I ran into the other room to rave about it to my husband and I...was...HOOKED!

Adam and Jadwiga Tabor with Clarence and Aldona Tabor

I've since realized that just because someone has a name that I think is unusual, like Jadwiga, doesn't mean it actually is unusual.  Genealogy is a constant learning curve, but I like that.  It keeps you on your toes.  You can learn so much just by going back to the same information and reviewing it days, weeks, months or years later.  A clear head and fresh set of eyes.

Anyway, Adam and Jadwiga are my paternal great-grandparents.  I never met them and really never heard much about them at all until I started researching.  They are buried in the Lithuanian National Cemetery in Chinchila, Pennsylvania.  It took me years to find the cemetery.  My father didn't know where they were buried and I couldn't find the cemetery when I searched.  I had information from their death certificates, but I couldn't seem to find it.  I was searching long distance so it was mainly through emails and internet searching that I finally came across the address for the cemetery.  It's on a winding back road and if you blink, you miss it.  It's a rather small cemetery.  I made sure to not the grid coordinates when I found it though!

A little memorial today to the two who started it all!  Rest in peace Adam and Jadwiga!

Sports Center Saturday - It's in the Wedding Vows

My two little Packer fans before Super Bowl XLV

"...To love, honor, obey, and raise little Packer fans as long as you both shall live."  I do.

Our 2007 Family Christmas picture

It sounds so silly, but being a Green Bay Packer fan is no part-time job.  Fans live up to the term "fanatical", but in the positive meaning of the word!  Wisconsin Packer fans are even more passionate about their team (which includes those from Wisconsin that end up elsewhere in this great world!).  My husband is from Green Bay.  Born and raised.  So you know what that means...it was an unspoken part of the wedding vows...

I never watched football growing up, so I became a Packer fan by marriage in 1999 and never looked back.  It's easy to get caught up in the love of such a team.  When I took my Packer vows they were not far off from 2 Super Bowls, a win and a loss.  Losing seasons and the Brett Favre drama lay ahead, but we enjoyed the ride!

Outside Lambeau with our 1st born.  It....was...COLD!

Packer fans don't abandon their team when they are losing.  They support them during the best and the worst of times.  They are extremely loyal...and why wouldn't they be?  The Packers aren't owned by any one person.  They are owned by, well...their fans.  They are a non-profit organization and unique in the NFL.  How could the fans not be proud of that?

Both of our sons had their hospital pictures taken in Packer gear and if we have another child that one will be too.  Our oldest son was born and we flew from Hawaii to Green Bay to have him baptized in my husband's church.  After the baptism we drove to Lambeau Field and put his name on the waiting list for season tickets.  My second son was born, we drove from Tennessee to Pennsylvania to have him baptized in my church and then drove a few days later to Green Bay, stopped by Lambeau and put him on the list for season tickets.

Family photo by the Lombardi statue

Why you may ask?  It can take 40 or more years to get season tickets.  You used to be able to bequeath your place on the waiting list to someone in your will, but no more, so you've got to get on the list ASAP!  You're still permitted to pass your season tickets on in your will, but you need to get them first!  Hopefully, someday our kids numbers for tickets will come up and they'll have their own.  For now, we're blessed to have family members with tickets and usually get to make the pilgrimage to Lambeau once a year for a home game.  We'll brave the frozen tundra any time to watch our team play!

Needless to say Super Bowl XLV was a big deal in our house and we celebrated!  Super Bowl Champions one more time and the Lombardi trophy is back in Green Bay where it belongs.  Yeah, I guess you'd say I'm a full-on convert.  You kind of have to be when you marry into a Packer family!

Thanks to Wendy Muha-Cayemberg for the inspiration for this post!

Son, nephews and S.I.L. tailgating and staying warm

Packers vs. NY Giants game - 26DEC2010

Great action shot! Go Pack! Packers vs. Giants 26DEC2010

The Packers' rivals "Da Bears" who, I'm told, suck

Wednesday's Child - Thomas Beck

Last Thursday I blogged about Edwin Beck and the loss of the majority of his children.  I was going to post this funeral card on Friday and stick with the theme, but figured that I'd save it for Wednesday's Child instead since I've got the obituary to go with it.  I haven't figured out the relationship between Thomas and Edwin, but I must say that the Beck's hadn't had the best of luck.  It's so sad when any child is taken from us, but when a family has gone through so much loss!  My best guess so far, and I haven't done anything yet to confirm this, is the Thomas may be the nephew or grand-nephew to Edwin.  Edwin's father's name was John, so it's possible that John had a son, John, that would be Thomas' father or grandfather.  I'll have to check into that one.

"Thomas Beck

Funeral services for Thomas Joseph Beck, 11, of Route 2, Campbellsport, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Miller's Funeral Home, 215 Forest Ave., Kewaskum, and at 10 a.m. at St. Kilian Catholic Church, St. Kilian.

He died Wednesday after being struck by a milk truck while riding his bicycle near St. Kilian.

The Rev. Adrian Trost will officiate and burial will follow in the church cemetery.  Friends may call after 4 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

He was born May 20, 1964, at West Bend, the son of John and Patricia Wiesner Beck.  He was a sixth grade student at Wayne School.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Steven and Robert both at home; a sister, Sharon at home; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Wiesner of Kewaskum; and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Beck of Milwaukee.

(hand-dated, Aug 6-75)"