Du Page County Genealogical Society

On Saturday, February 25. 2012, the Du Page County Genealogical Society will host their 37^th annual conference at the Hilton Garden Inn, 4070 East Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois. This one-day conference has a tradition of providing excellent educational opportunities for genealogists. Conference information can be found at their web site: www.dcgs.org.

I attended this conference two years ago and had the opportunity to hear Elissa Powell and Philip Colletta, Ph.D. lecture. They are top-notch genealogists! This year’s conference once again is filled with quality speakers: Maureen Brady, Tony Burroughs, Jennifer Holik, Paul Milner, Juliana Smith and Loretto (Lou) Szucs.

I am particularly excited to hear Paul Milner’s lectures. This native of England has an impressive biography. It reports that he is a past president of BIGWILL and currently serves as product review editor of the society’s newsletter; which is of particular interest to me. BIGWILL is an acronym for British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois. It just so happens that I have a Membership Application for BIGWILL sitting on my desk!

My British interests lie in the County of Somerset and am confused with the British jurisdictions. I have learned of the Civil Parish of St. Decumann, The Hundred: Williton and Freemanners, The County of Somerset and the Country of England. Additionally there is a registration district and a sub-registration district both being Williton.

 

Paul Milner will be speaking about the English Parish Chest. An English Parish can be both ecclesiastical and civil jurisdictions. Records were kept in what is called a Parish Chest. I plan on spending most of the day listening to this gentleman and learning about this Parish Chest and British jurisdictions.

I have heard Tony Burroughs speak on the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. He offers insight into finding those surviving records in an interesting and entertaining manner.  

I would love some company at this year’s conference. Please visit the web site and review the program schedule. You might find something of interest. Let me know if you do!

Linda

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

 Today’s Advent prompt is Charitable and Volunteer Work. This is an appropriate thought for the day as I prepare to volunteer tutor this afternoon.

I volunteer tutor in an after school reading program that provides one-to-one reading instruction targeted to the specific needs of at risk children in third and fourth grade. The lessons are designed for each individual child by reading specialists. The volunteer tutors attend annual workshops to improve tutoring skills with the hope of shrinking the literary gap for forty at risk children. Our program has been in existence for thirty three years!

First and second grade children attend Tuesdays and Thursdays.Third and fourth grade children attend Monday and Wednesdays. We do not help with homework or work on math skills. The program focuses on the specific reading needs of each child.

Last year, my beautiful student began the year reading at a second grade level. Her reading level dramatically improved and she finished the year at a fifth grade level! This year my student comes from Burma! She is a quick learner and I have big hopes for her success!

The Christmas Advent Calendar and Holiday Parties

Sometimes I feel a bit like Scrooge. My tired, worn-out self is usually fighting a cold this time of year. A nap on the sofa and a date with the Hallmark Channel seems much more inviting than a holiday party. I really like the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies. They are wholesome movies that always have a happy ending! 

My favorite holiday parties occurred a number of years ago. We used to gather with our dear friends, The Hammans, on Christmas Eve Eve. The Hammans and the Dooleys have a long history. Somehow both our families share the same names: Dave, Linda, Jim, Charlie, variations of the name Chris and Will!

We would celebrate our families’ friendship on Christmas Eve Eve with a dinner of roast turkey and all the trimmings. It was not a fancy party, just good food to nourish our bodies and our friendship. That tradition has passed on, but I fondly remember those days!

Merry Christmas,

Linda

The Sixth Day of Advent means It Must Be Santa!

 Christmas Wishes circa 1927

The Fifth Day of Advent = Outdoor Lights

Chevy Chase’s antics in the movie Christmas Vacation makes me chuckle every Christmas season! My Dad was our family’s “exterior illumination specialist.” He always did a great job lighting the outside of our home minus Chevy’s antics.

Dad decorated our home with strings of beautiful red, green, yellow and blue colored bulbs. They were the big, old fashioned bulbs not the tiny ones of today. Dad pulled out his trusty ladder and decorated our home in all kinds of weather transforming our little home into something magical. Oh, how we waited in anticipation as he worked away.

As we grew older, kids in the neighborhood changed. They started spoiling Dad’s fun by cutting the strings of lights. Out he marched wondering what on earth happened only to learn the truth. Never fear, out came another string of lights to replace the damaged ones. No one would stop our lamplighter from brightening the Christmas sky!

What better day to pay tribute to my lamplighter, Father! On December 5, 2005, Dad passed quietly away. The Apostle Paul tells us that what we see is temporary and what we don’t see is eternal. God Bless my Father, Marvin Otto Meyer. While I no longer see him in person, his light shines in all whose lives he touched.

With Loving Gratitude,

Linda

St. Johannes Cemetery Revisited

My November 7-10, 2011 posts focused on the relocation of St. Johannes Cemetery. Following the November 10, 2011 ceremony of Christian and Millizena Duntemann, I received a phone call from the City of Chicago. They had located another grave. This unmarked grave belonged to Herbert J. Sheldon and I was his closest known relative. Thanks to a plaque on this coffin, his remains could be identified.

Herbert married Eveline Duntemann, granddaughter of Christian and Millizena. Herbert was my great, great uncle. His remains were located in a plot that had belonged to the Franzen Family. This connection seems logical as Eveline’s parents were Frederick Duntemann and Mary Franzen. Today Herbert J. Sheldon was re interred in Eden Memorial Park located at 9851 Irving Park Road, Schiller Park, Illinois. May he rest in peace.

 

The First Day of Advent = Christmas Trees

Everyone one loves a Christmas tree. I made a quick search of my family photographs and found several Christmas tree photographs. Photos of trees, trees surrounded by gifts and trees surrounded by happy children and gifts seem to cross generations.

I remember my paternal grandmother telling me about Christmas trees of her childhood. Her childhood trees were decorated with homemade ornaments and real candles! The candles would be lit on Christmas morning and her family would enjoy the beautifully lit tree. After a brief look, the candles would then be snuffed out!

My mother remembers Christmas Eve. She and her brother would be tucked snug in their beds. As they slept, her parents would decorate the tree for their Christmas morning surprise!

There are no natural trees in our home. Many years ago, our son had an allergic reaction to our “real” tree. A trip to the pediatrician sold us on the idea of artificial trees.

We enjoy our Christmas tree in much the same manner as parents and grandparents did. Christmas ornaments become treasures handed down from one generation to the next. When my mother passed away, our family gathered and everyone took turns choosing favorite ornaments. We are all happy to have them.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Linda