Leaving & Living On

As best we can tell from the various Q&A sessions we've had with my Mom and her siblings, the rose bush in the pic above and below was planted at least 50 years ago. The hostas in the background - still flourishing - are even older...perhaps 80+ years. 

More than likely within the next 30 days, this property will be sold...outside the family.

 

The rose bush, a few pots of the hostas, perhaps a few lily of the valley plants, and a lifetime of good memories will leave that 40' x 100' lot and live on elsewhere.

 

We will send a few pics before we lock the door one last time and give the keys to someone else.

 

P.S.: Here's a pic of my Mom taken in 1953, when she was 21. You can see the hostas to the left and the 80+ year old privet hedges to the right.

 

 

    

 

The Rest of the Cradle...

In the last section of the basement that we are finally cleaning out...we found the following piece, which I immediately recognized as the other half of the cradle I found over a year ago.

 

This is very old, folks.

 

 

More to follow.

 

Another Family Heirloom Found...on Facebook?

The picture below, original frame and all, was delivered to me on Saturday by a friend and former neighbor from Meade Street who was in town for the day.

 

She acquired it, many years ago, when the family homestead ( my g-grandfather Stanley Rajkowicz's house across the street where she grew up ) was being emptied out. Through Facebook, she found out about this blog, told me about this picture, and asked if I would like it back. After confirming with my mother & Aunt Helen that they remembered the picture from the middle room of Aunt Sophie's home...I replied yes.

 

Yesterday, we swapped pics. I had found a very old picture of St. Cecelia - which no one seemed to remember - carefully wrapped and stored in the shed, and offered that in exchange for the pic below.
 

I think everyone was pleased with the outcome of a simple Facebook connection.

Best I can find about this pic on the web?

Sometime after 1900. 

 

 

Sorry about the recent slowdown in posts, folks.

 

Things will pick up once we get past September.

 

Be well.

 

Raykovitz Family Mass

A mass will be celebrated on Sunday, January 11, 2015. Special prayers will be offered for all members of the Raykovitz family, living & deceased.

 

The time: 11:15 a.m.

 

The place: Our Lady of Hope ( the former St. Mary's on Park Ave. )

 

Details in the weeks ahead.

  

Marymount High School: 5 x 80

For the record, and this may very well be one, there are FIVE siblings that attended Marymount High School in Wilkes-Barre, PA that are still alive and well...all in their 80's!

 

Additionally, one of them - Rita - is from Marymount's first graduating class!

 

To all the octogenarians from the Raykovitz family:

 

Rita, Stanley, Helen, Mary and Bernard Michael...

 

CONGRATS!

 

More in a few.

 

Memorial Day Service @ St.Mary's Cemetery

I attended the annual Memorial Day service for the first time. Helen (Raykovitz) Bolacker was there, along with many longtime friends from the old Mayflower and Heights sections of Wilkes-Barre. I'm glad I went, and I hope to be back next year.

Memorial Day 2014; Remember

 

To all:

 

The pics above, of my mother kneeling at the grave of her brother Raymond @ Arlington, span almost 57 years. In 2007, we took her to Washington to help celebrate her 75th birthday.

 

There's not much more that I can add.

 

Before the backyard cookouts...remember the reason for the holiday.

 

 

 

 

 

While in the service, Ray wrote an incredible number of letters to his parents.

 

I believe I have most of them.