Whose Ashes are On My Shoe??

Today's post is not a birthday post but is related (pun intended!) to my next birthday post scheduled for October 31.

During the summer of 2012, my siblings and I had the difficult chore of emptying our mother's home after her passing in December 2011. Our family, the original owners of the ranch home, had lived there since 1959. My mother, an only child, had inherited not only her mother's personal items but her aunt and uncle's as well. The attic, which ran the length of the house, was chock-full of "goodies." I had finally worked my way to the section where Tante Vally (see Vally Lichtenthal) and Uncle Paul's boxes lay.

As I emptied the contents, I noticed two handkerchiefs, each tied in a knot.

Sigmund Lichtenthal - Expert

 Sigmund Lichtenthal was my maternal great-grandfather. While I don't remember him at all, I have definitely formed an impression of his personality. My mom used to tell me that Sigmund's business card identified him as an "expert" - no mention of what he was an "expert in, however. 

I figured she was exaggerating. After all, who would have had such a high opinion of himself that he would print up cards purporting to be an expert?

Then....I found it. 

My Omi - Rosa "Rose" Spiegel Lichtenthal

Warning!! This will be a longer post than usual. Rose was my grandmother!! I have a lot to share.

Rose Spiegel was my maternal grandmother. Born in Semarang, Java on October 19, 1903, she was the second daughter of Herman Spiegel and Sophie Weiss. Her sister, Claire Theresa had been born on January 3, 1901. Her brother, Emil Gerrit, would be born on July 7, 1905.

Rose Spiegel - Semerang, Java - approx. 1904

Constance "Connie" Kesner

Constance Kesner was born on October 18, 1911 to Harry George Kesner and the former Estelle Byk. Her older sister, Hortense was born several years earlier in 1907. Constance, nicknamed “Connie” lived with her family in Brooklyn, New York at 277 Eastern Parkway. Years later (1945) Hortense would raise her family just down the street at 284 Eastern Parkway!

Connie (right)  and sister Hortense (left) about 1916

Valerie "Vally" Lichtenthal

VALERIE "VALLY" LICHTENTHAL

Valerie Lichtenthal was born on October 11, 1902 in Vienna, Austria. She was the second child of Sigmund Lichtenthal and his wife, the former Rosa Berger. Their first child, Paul (b. Dec. 10. 1900) was my maternal grandfather.

Valerie Lichtenthal

Do you want an "S" on that?

Yep - it's true....this really happened. At least I think it did. I've told the story so often I can't remember if it really did happen...or if it happened to me...or if it happened to my sister Jeanne. At any rate, it's a funny story and is a great segue to today's topic: Why do some of our Samuel relatives have an 's' on their name and others don't? Read on to find out.......

Benjamin Samuels - That's right....there's an 'S' on that!

Today’s blog post is inspired by BENJAMIN SAMUELS who was born on October 7, 1878 in London, England. 

He and his father before him, both have added an ‘s’ to their last name. Today's post will share information about Benjamin's life. A future post (maybe tomorrow if I'm lucky!) will deal with the 'S' question.

Katherine Pearl Seeley Holman

Katherine Pearl Seeley was born on October 4 in Albany New York. Her birth year is in question. The 1880 census lists her as “Kitty”, born in 1871 and the Illinois Death Certificate states her year of birth as 1867. In the family history book, Our Archipelago, her son William “Bill” Holman listed it as 1869, with her birthplace incorrectly listed as New Canaan, CT. (Note: all information written “within quotes” is taken directly from Bill’s book.)