Cherished Family Stories for Our Cherished Children
A Celebration of One American Family’s History through Its Stories
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Stories play a significant role in our lives. As children we enjoy stories about fairy tale characters, about imaginary friends, toys and animals. As part of growing and learning, we also enjoy bedtime stories, holiday stories, around-the-campfire stories and sometimes even religious stories which teach us to behavior in responsible and caring ways. We are also encouraged by our parents and teachers to “make up” stories in an effort to develop verbal skills and to stimulate our imaginations. Stories are part of every culture and can tell us about different historical periods as well as diverse people who live in different parts of the world. For the author, some of her most treasured stories relate to memories of family members and incidents, some happy, some tragic. In this book she has chosen her most memorable stories which have been shared by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, but most especially communicated to her throughout her childhood by her beloved and articulate mother. She vividly remembers asking, “Please, Mommy. Tell me again the one about….” These stories span several generations and are part of the lore she has tried to share with her “cherished children” including her grand nephew, Aidan Michael Schuck and her grand nieces, Allison Schuck and Mimi O’Donnell Berrera. Hopefully they will share these stories with their children and eventually create and collect stories of their own for future generations! The author eagerly invites readers to enjoy a glimpse of her family through these deightful and cherished stories.
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About the Book
Inspired by her mother’s numerous tales of growing up in Nebraska during the Depression, and as her life as a young bride and as a nurse, Mary Jane began compiling these anecdotes years ago when she began to realize their significance to her family’s history. With the birth of nieces and nephews and the death of her beloved mother came the realization that life does not last forever and the imperative to preserve these family treasures became even greater. With generous and enthusiastic contributions of photos, facts, details and insights, family members enhanced these stories and provided depth and luster to this glimpse into an American family descended from immigrants. Although it is typical in many ways, this family is unique – as perhaps all families are unique – and the author’s gratitude to her parents, her sister and each of her relatives is boundless.