Thursday, March 3, 2011

In Memory of My Grandma Jane...

I count myself among the lucky for having known all four of my grandparents (and even a great-grandparent!) while growing up. I am greatly saddened though, that my last grandparent still living passed away on Monday night. I'll miss my Grandma Jane very much.

Elnora Jane was born in 1918 near the end of the First World War, or the Great War, as it was known then. She grew up on a farm, was the middle daughter of three girls, and lived the majority of her life in the same Pennsylvania county in which she was born.


Jane (she always went by her middle name) probably never experienced the decadence of the "roaring 20s", but she was teenager during the Depression, the new bride of an army soldier during the Second World War, and a high school "cafeteria lady" in the 1970s and 1980s. In the late 1930s or very early 1940s, Jane, one of her sisters, and a cousin all went to New Jersey to work in a button factory for awhile. I often think that must have been a great adventure for three young women at the time.

Since my Grandma Jane has appeared in a few of my past posts (here and here and here), I thought I'd share some of my favorite photos of her...

On her wedding day in Hugo, Oklahoma, 1943. She traveled there to be
married because my Grandpa Alf was stationed at Camp Maxey in Texas.


All dressed up, possibly for her high school graduation in 1936.


Probably sometime in 1944. Grandpa Alf was likely on leave.
My grandmother still had the vase of poppies picture (in the upper
right corner of photo) hanging in her room at the personal care
home where she lived for the past seven years.


Jane, the middle daughter, seated between her two sisters,
Marge and Helen.
I love the bold print on her dress!


Gone fishin' ... in Canada. (circa late 1950s/early 1960s)
This is one of my absolute favorite photos of my grandmother!


Jane and her granddaughter.
I treasure my memories of the times I spent with my Grandma Jane.


Elnora Jane, 1918-2011
Rest in peace, Grandma.


**I chose "Bluebird of Happiness" as one of the songs to go along with this post because my grandmother was quite fond of those handblown glass bluebirds of happiness that were popular many years ago. She gave me a pair of them when I was younger that I still have.**

9 comments:

Sassy Lassies Vintage Life said...

What a beautiful tribute to Grandma Jane. I am about ready to start crying. So precious. I can feel the love and brightness of her spirit. She will be with you always. She says, "Cherrio".

Caryn said...

Oh, your Grandma Jane reminds me so much of my Grandma Rene, gone for six years now. They shared similar backgrounds and lives,and the photos were wonderful. She was a beautiful woman!

Emmy gave me my first glass bluebird of happiness a few years ago. I love them, too.

That was a beautiful tribute, indeed, and your memories will be the eternal one.

Emily said...

What a lovely way to honor her life. Your Grandma was quick a striking lady!! My thoughts and prayers are with you!!

Emily said...

quite*

Valerie Boersma said...

What a beautiful woman your grandmother was-and I'm sorry for your loss:)
I've often thought that we mainly know our grandparents when we are children-but it's now, when I am an adult-that I would really appreciate having all of them around. I'd help my grandmothers do more cooking-that's for sure.
You are in my thoughts and prayers:)

Kim Campbell said...

(((hugs)))

SusieQT said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. Your Grandma looks like she was a neat person and it's great that you were able to spend so much time with her as an adult. And my husband is admiring that fish!

Miss CherryBubbles said...

Thank you all so much for your kind words of sympathy.

I am so thankful to have had as much time with all my grandparents as I did. Lots of happy memories to hold in my heart.

Steely Images said...

What great memories. I keep a web page on Camp Maxey, campmaxey.blogspot.com, and I would be glad to post something about your grandfather's assignment and how your grandmother made it to Hugo, Ok to get married.