1979

After one year Sharon came back north. She is now working at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck as a physical therapist. She likes that hospital very much. She likes her job because it gives her great satisfaction to know that she is helping people use parts of their bodies that are hard to move. She lives home with her parents. Three evenings a week she works for a doctor in Westwood for a few hours at ten dollars an hour. Sharon is saving her money to get married. She is engaged to a very nice fellow named Paul Jaeckel, whom she met while in college. Sharon and Paul are planning to get married in August of 1979. Paul is working as an engineer for the government. He is working in Alaska; he will be there until they get married.

I have a grandson John. He is 23 years old. He went to school to learn how to work on Mack trucks. He is engaged to a nice girl named Julie. They are planning for a large wedding on November 3, 1979, and a reception at the Clinton Inn.

I will be busy going to showers and weddings next year. The only thing is I will miss having my husband by my side enjoying these family affairs. I'm sure he knows what's going on and will give them his blessings. I thank God I will be here to see it all.

In May, 1979, my grandson Tony will graduate from Delaware Valley College in Pennsylvania. It is a science and agriculture college. He knows how to deal with people. I went to see his college at one time. I try to visit all the colleges my grandchildren go to. That way when they speak about their college I know what they are talking about. I surely wish him plenty of luck on what he decides to do. I'm sure it would have pleased his grandfather to see him choose to be an agriculturalist.

Phyl is now 47. In January, 1979, she was in the hospital for two weeks for foot surgery. She was in great pain after the operation. Phyl was brave and a great soldier. She had to walk with crutches, then a walker and later a cane. While she was in the hospital her mother-in-law cooked all the suppers for Dino and the four girls. She is 80 years old and is alert and active. After Phyl came home from the hospital she was still in quite a bit of pain.

I went to stay with her for one month. I cooked, cleaned and read books to the girls. They loved to play cards. One day the girls asked if I would make a pizza for them. I made six loaves of bread and two pizzas. They loved the pizzas. The girls all hugged me and said, “What a good grandmother we have. She is the best pizza maker.” That compliment pleased me very much. Phyl and Dino plan to take the family to Georgia for Easter in 1979. Dino has a brother living in Atlanta. He is a lawyer with a wife and three sons and a daughter.

Phyl and Dino bought a beautiful 11 room house with two garages about two years ago. The children go to school by bus. Dino is an active man. When the girls get interested in his projects they try to help. Dino always says the girls can learn to do what boys do. Sometimes he buys them tools.

Ann and Dick have six children. The oldest, Marie, is at Hartwick College in central New York. Debby, Ann's second daughter, has been accepted at Marymount College in Tarrytown, N.Y. I have gone to chapel at Marymount, which is ten minutes from Phyl's. Even though Debby's aunt lives close to Marymount, Debby is going to live at college. If she should get lonesome , she can always visit Aunt Phyl. Ann and Dick's first son, Richard, is a junior in high school. In the fall of 1979 Nicholas will be a sophomore in high school and John will enter the eighth grade. The youngest, Brenda, will be in the sixth grade. They all get good grades in school.

Ann is now 44. She is a high school teacher in Parsippany, N.J. She teaches English to three sophomore classes and two senior classes. She likes teaching very much. The money she earns she puts away to help pay the college fees. Dick is a contractor with his two brothers. They build churches, schools, and other big projects. They just finished their basement into a large second recreation room. Dick did the work with the help of his three sons. He did a perfect job. They bought a pool table to put in the new room. The children have their birthday parties and other affairs there. The children put it to good use. The children enjoy living in Mountain Lakes. That's what counts.

John and Rosemarie's children are also growing up. Their daughter, Joanne, is married. John, the oldest son, is getting married in November. Steven, another son, is 20 years old. He is going to school to learn about electricity. He will graduate in September. Steven is very tall, strong, handsome, and a fine gentleman. Thomas, the youngest, is 11 years old. He is a joy to the family. He is going into the sixth grade. Every time he visits me he kisses me. I give him soda and cookies.

I have a special drawer with all the goodies children like. I keep ice cream and ice cream cones. The children love to come to Nana's. I also keep wine, beer and soda in the refrigerator, and cheese and crackers for anyone who drops in.