Taylorstales-Genealogy: Arlene Guinee

Showing posts with label Arlene Guinee. Show all posts

Friday, April 9, 2010

One thing leads to another...

My parents, Norbert and Arlene (nee Guinee) Wozniak, divorce became final when I was about ten years old. I say final because in the early sixties it was not easy for a woman with three children to divorce her husband. My mother had a difficult time finding an attorney who would represent her-the way she wanted to be represented. She needed to keep her children and she needed housing for the four of us. In the end, it was a priest from our church (yes, a Catholic church too) who put her in touch with an attorney who handled her case until it was finalized. It took almost four years. My mother received custody of us girls and ended buying back our house from the bank.

I had no relationship with Norb after the divorce. When I was 26 years old, I searched for him and discovered he lived not far from me. So, in 1981, I had a visit with him at his home. I met his wife Shirley who seemed like a very quiet and nice woman. The visit was pleasant enough, but for reasons of our own, Norb and I never saw each other again. In 1989, I was informed through a cousin in Wisconsin that Norb had died three weeks earlier.

Recently I was searching Google, and discovered that Shirley had passed away last November. I was wondering what would have happened to the "stuff" of Norb's that perhaps no one would want and the executor of Shirley's estate would donate to a charity or even toss out. So, I wrote some letters to all the people mentioned in her obituary. I probably wouldn't have done that except for a wonderful friend who belongs to the New Lenox Public Library Genealogy Club, of which I am also a member. She constantly comes to our monthly meetings tellings us stories and showing us pictures some new found relative has shared with her. Thank you Mary! You inspired me!

One of the people I wrote to phoned me and left a message that she contacted a good friend of Shirley's and that that woman was willing to send me some photographs! Now, I haven't received them yet, but I am looking forward to the mail each and everyday! I have less than a dozen pictures of my father and several of his parents. I am hoping that the photographs I receive will include some of his parents and grandparents. Now, that would be a real family treasure!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Fealess Females Blog Post: March 22-This is "her" life

Thanks to Lisa at the Accidental Genealogist for suggesting a month long list of blog posts honoring our "Fearless Females!"

Arlene Guinee

ca. 1945-1947

March 22 — If a famous director wanted to make a movie about one of your female ancestors who would it be? What actress would you cast in the role and why?

If they ever made a movie about one of my female ancestors I hope it would be about my beloved mother- Arlene Guinee! Of course it would have to be a comedy for my mom did have a sense of humor. Katherine Hepburn or Audrey Hepburn would have been perfect to play mom. They both were absolutely beautiful. Katherine Hepburn would have easily captured my mother's determination and independence with a sense of humor to top none. Audrey Hepburn was so pretty and petite, just like my mother! That would be one Oscar worthy movie too!