Final Reunion Pictures

These friends I had not seen for MANY years - Sue, Naomi and Joy.  I have been in touch with Joy by mail, and we met twice when we lived in Rockford. It has been at least 43 years since I last saw Sue and Naomi.  The time together was all too short.  I didn't even get time to chat about family and grandkids.

This is Priscilla's friend, Debbie Jett. She and her mother, Pat, were at the reunion as well as her aunt and uncle, the Meeders.

Priscilla used to babysit for Sam and Faye Todd's children.

Gail used to babysit Lou and Erika Kendrick's children.

Dawn Plachy and her husband came from Arizona.  She looks like her mom.

This is the group picture in the auditorium of the First Baptist Church of Burbank.   There were several that had already  left.  Tom Lavin looks like he is ready to preach or sing.
It was a great blessing to be able to meet with friends that share the love of the One Who purchased us with His blood.  Before we gathered for the picture, we all joined hands and sang "Blest Be the Tie That Binds".  It was a very precious time. What a heritage to pass on to the next generation!

One Week Since the Reunion

The trip to Chicago took me back to the old neighborhood.  This is Hurley Elementary School where I went from Third Grade through Eighth Grade.

This is Bogan High School.  It looks alot different than it did in 1964 when I graduated.  In fact, 79th and Pulaski looks totally different.

Ludwig Lanioz and Sue Augsburger.  She really does look like her Mom.

Jim and Karen McCarty did a great job in organizing all the mailings and information. 
That is Debbie Jett to the right.

These ladies would have been in the young marrieds category when I was in school.  Shirley Meeder is on the left and Bernice Shephard on the right.  Both of these ladies had fantastic voices and sang in the services often.

The Old Church MMBC

This is the present pastor's study.  In years past, it was the church nursery.

This was our Father's study many years ago.

The auditorium for the Traveler's Rest church is the old fellowship hall.  This is the old kitchen that has become part of their auditorium.  The kitchen has been moved downstairs.

The junior department and the teen Sunday School rooms are now their fellowship hall.  The lighting made this room very attractive.

This was the old Intermediate Sunday School room (Junior HIgh).

The walls must have been taken out of the classrooms to the left of the main SS room.  This is now the kitchen.  They moved the stove and all the cupboards from upstairs.

Still More Reunion

This is the group that toured the old church building on 60th and California.  The main entrance now is the "infamous" door that I put my arm through 50+ years ago.

Jane Norton came from Florida. I didn't mean to cut off her nose.  Larry Thomas came from Colorado and John and Marlene Szeney came from Springfield, MO.

 This is the pastor of Travelers Rest Baptist Church (the old Marquette Manor)  talking with Erika Kendrick.  She appreciated Mother so much and Gail babysat for her children.

This is Diane Kamberg.  I vaguely remember her.

Bruce Horecek and his sister came as I was going off to college.  Dr. Bill Schroder visiting with Bernie and Marcia Augsburger.

Reunion Continues

I haven't seen these two friends for over 40 years.  Naomi Kostelny Wieringa and Bernie Augsburger.  Naomi lives in Lombard, Il and Bernie lives in Washington, Il.  It was good to have a short time to talk and visit.

It was such a surprise to seeJim Wolf and his sister Joan.  Joan lives in Peoria and Jim lives in the Chicago area. It is amazing how much Joan looks like her mother.  Jim was telling me that he had a crush on sister, Gail.  I told him that I had a crusch on him.  We laughed and laughed.  In fact Joan and I plus two other friends often got in trouble for giggling at the wrong time - during church.

One of the first people I saw was Ludwig Lanioz.  He told me how much he appreciated my mother.  She hired him as a teenager to do work around her home and always fed him such good food.  She even gave him goat cheese and he liked it! Behind Ludwig is Tom Lavin.

Billy Lavin was always so much fun.  She hasn't changed except for her red hair. It was so good to see her.  She lives in Indiana now.

Marquette Manor Baptist Church Reunion

Kari, my dear daughter, agreed to drive me to Chicago.  The trip took place without any snags or problems.  We began the activities of the day at the Frist Baptist Church of Burbank.

Jim McCarty welcomed everyone and gave us the directions to the old church on 60th and California.  We were chauffered by Roy Vasquez.  He even drove us past old schools and our old house. 

There is Roy and his 50 gallon hat.   This is where the old auditorium was.  It is now the parking lot.  The streets around the church are now one way, but back in our day they were not necessarily one way but VERY narrow.

Larry Thomas was taking my picture.  You can't see his beard, but he has had it for 40 years.

The pastor greeted us warmly.  That is Karen McCarty going in the door and George Phillips.

The church has been renamed.  They have done an amazing job of remodeling the educational wing of the old church to their purposes.