Ancestry Chapter 15
1894-1895 - Norek Children, More Births
Stephen Norek, born December 24, 1894, Chicago, Illinois
Stephen Norek was born on Christmas Eve, 1894. He is Michael and Helena Norek's fourth surviving child, and the first surviving son. Stephen is born three months after the death of his brother John. Uncle Steve later said that Helena was placing the star at the top of the Christmas tree when he "arrived." Hs sisters Lucy and Cecilia thought he was one of their presents, like their Christmas dolls.
Steve
has not one, not two, but three older sisters.
1894 record of the birth and christening of Stephen Norek. St. Paul’s Catholic church, Chicago. Parents Michael Norek and Helena Tybus of 172 Ambrose (22nd Place?)
Stephen is born December 24th and was christened Stephanum Johann, after his deceased broth Johann Franz, on December 30th. (Johann Franz survived only 10 days beyond his first birthday.) Steve’s godparents are Franzcicus and Emilia Brach.
Helena was now 37, a mother with four children -- age 6 and under -- to handle. Poppa Michael Norek is just 30. They have been in the U.S., in Chicago, 2 ½ years. They live at 176 W. 22nd Place, in a neighborhood of immigrants. (The 10th Ward includes ethnicities from several Baltic countries, including Swedes, Lithuanians, and Russians.)
They speak German at home, and English when needed. Helena has always been a linguist, and can speak in Polish and other languages. She freely shops other ethnic areas in Chicago. Michael is also believed to have known other Baltic languages, possibly even Russian.
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