Something Special

Recently, on one of the Family History sites someone sent my wife a message that they have a school book with my grandmother’s sister and my grandmother’s schoolwork in it with the grades.  They said it was mostly Jean’s (my grandmother’s sister) schoolwork.

Now, Jean was one of those ancestors you learn about but not a lot… you see her life ended tragically and my grandmother would beam when she mentioned her and give us some tidbits then she would get sad and clam up and move on to another topic.

Through the years I finally got my Grandmother to talk about Jean and I found out she was a beautiful young woman full of happiness and would make a room light up when she entered.  Unfortunately, she had diabetes and in September, 1921 she became very ill from it.  At this time experimentation was going on with the insulin unknown tot he family.

After three weeks of laying in the parlor suffering Jean finally passed away.  My grandmother remembered her mother and her cleaning up Jean and dressing her for the visitation and funeral all of which happened in their parlor.  Jean died on September 21, 1921, one day after my birthday which happened 40 years later.

So, this wonderful woman who is sending this book to us is sending us something I will treasure. I never got to meet Jean who died in the flowering years of her life…..  my grandmother missed her dearly and it was hard to learn a lot about her for she would beam so happily when she thought of her and then after a minute or so she would get sad….. all too understandable.

Below is a picture of Jean….

Jean as a baby….. around 1904 or 05.

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Less than a year before her death….. in 1920….. I love that smile……  To You Jean.. you are with your sister, my grandmother now….. RIP

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Perhaps you have even met my Trevor…… RIP ol’ boo….

 

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