Ancestry Chapter 56
1946-1949 First Missions, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, Grandpa’s Birthday
Tom born, 1946
Dorothy and Vern's third child, Thomas (Tom) was born in 1946. Tom was named after his Tom Norek, an uncle whom he of course would never meet.
Sister Ruth missioned to the South, 1946
Sister Alphonse (Ruth Norek) does not immediately receive the overseas assignment she covets. In January of 1946 she is missioned to the South -- southern U.S.A. -- to (as she put it) fight the evils of bigotry.
Uncle Father Pete missioned to Africa
Because he had been there for years when he returned to visit Chicago in 1951, and because in 1951 I knew him not-at-all and was most upset that people were saying this stranger was my uncle – imagine your own mother and grandmother telling lies – I think Uncle Father Pete must have left for Africa about this time, about 1946.
1946 Great Grandchildren Births: one
Frances born 1947, Chicago
Mike and Vi’s fourth child, Frances (Fran), was born in 1947. Fourth child and fourth daughter. Where or where is Michael III?
Mike Jr., Vi and family are on the second floor of Mozart at the time Fran is born, living above Antonia and Michael, with George still a bachelor.
George was Fran's Godfather.
Photos on and in front of the porch on Mozart Street.
Top photograph. Antonia holding another grandchild. Fran? Then a little girl seated, and then Dorothy. Above, standing, from left, unknown (guesses invited), Josephine, Dolores (dark top, light skirt) and Grandpa Michael Norek.
Bottom photo. Same group on the porch in the background, and posing for the photograph are possibly (guesses include LuBeth Zender, but this girl is too young to be her), Carol and Margie.
Right photo. Head shot of Michael Norek at about this time period, with pipe.
1947 Great Grandchildren births; four
1947. Exhumed ashes transferred, West Prussia (formerly).
In 1947 the inhabitants of Starogard, Michael Norek's birth town, ceremoniously transfer the exhumed ashes of the 7,000 people slain in Szpegansk Forest to the Catholic cemetery.
Mary born 1948, Chicago
Gertrude and Peter's second child, Mary, is born in 1948. Second child, second daughter. If this is a daughter contest, Gert's older brother Michael Jr. is ahead by two.
1948 Great Grandchildren births: one
Michael Norek III born 1949, Chicago
Michael Jr. and Vi's 4th and last child, and first boy, Michael III, was born in March 1949. He has four older sisters. Poor Mike.
Right
photo. This is a guess, but a good
guess - Mike III christening. Photo taken in the
upstairs flat on Mozart.
Vi with baby is seated between grandparents Antonia and Michael Norek on the photo left, and the maternal grandparents (not shown) on photo right. Mike Jr. leaning over the back of the sofa. This "Mike III" will inherit his Grandpa's swords and more.
Towards the background on the photo are, from left, Dorothy with Tom on her lap and Eddie. Photograph on the mantle left of Michael Jr. is of Uncle Father Pete.
Antoinette born 1949
Dolores and Chuck's second and last child, Antoinette (Toni), is born in 1949. Toni is named after her grandmother Antonia, who was also called Toni (unless you were a grandchild, and then you only called her grandmother.)
Vern born 1949
Dorothy and Vern's fourth child, Vernon (Vern), was born in 1949.
Dorothy now has one girl and three boys, which helps to balance out Gert's and Michael Jr.'s preference for girls.
(Both Josephine and Dolores have a perfect balance -- one boy and one girl. And George, now age 23, is still years away from marriage and children.)
Left photo.
Uncle Father Pete with Ed and Vern.
1949 Great Grandchildren
births: one
Michael Norek's birthday, Mozart Street, 1949
I remember this birthday, or possibly more than one of Grandpa's birthdays, but since I was born in 1945 the memories are somewhat like dreams. In the basement on Mozart Street. There are an incredible number of people there. Just a huge crowd, and noisy. Lots of people I did not really know.
As you walk in from the back stairs, there is a long, long table on the right. All the men are at the table playing cards. And drinking beer. Grandpa is at the head of the table, the end closest to the back stairs. They are talking, and playing cards and drinking the beer from aluminum beer glasses.
My Dad is at the far side of the table, somewhat in the middle of the long side with his back to the wall. (He gave me a sip of his beer.)
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