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In Mother’s Memory
Doris Jean Meyer nee Dollen
12 July 1927 – 8 September 2008
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Four weeks into my project, my mother was
diagnosed with Lymphoma. Her cells were fast growing. She chose to undergo
chemotherapy, which was not an easy path for my octogenarian mother. My
genealogical finds entertained Mom throughout her battle with cancer.
Realizing that the window of opportunity
was rapidly closing we began hearty discussions about our family. My mother and
I poured over old photographs. These walks down memory lane comforted us both
as I watched mother decline.
As I discovered bits of the past, I brought
them to her sick bed. Here is an article detailing her Auntie Lou’s bridal
shower. Reading it gave my mother a case of the giggles. We just loved the
creative writing.
“A
Surprise Shower For A June Bride”
“April
showers began in advance for June brides,
when
last Friday night, Miss Lucille Dollen thought
she
had said, “Number Please” for the last time,
that
night, when suddenly a group of her associates
in
the telephone office burst in upon her like rain out
of a
summer cloud. Yes it was a pre-nuptial show,
a
regular pour down, sure to bring the orange blossoms
in
June, when Miss Dolllen is to be a bride.
From
the office the merry party went to the home of
Mr.
and Mrs. W. G. Meyer on State Road. There a
bountiful
supper was served. A delicious mountain of cake
made
by Mrs. Meyer, salads and all the choice dainties
young
ladies enjoy. After answering a multitude of calls.
The
color scheme in decorations was prettily carried
out
in pink and green.
The
game played was “Progressive Fifty”.
Miss
Lorraine Ayer won first prized, the second
prize
was won by Miss Eleanor Cronin.
Consolation,
Miss Lucille Dollen.
These
prizes which were kitchen utensils the winners
Gave
to the guest of honor, Miss Dollen.
Miss
Dollen is leaving her position soon for her home
at
Des Plaines and plans to be married in June.
After
that all calls over the line will receive a busy signal.”[1]
Throughout our discussions, Mom had one
recurring question. She wanted to know what happened to her cousin, Leroy
Dollen. “Had I found him?” she would ask. Yes, I thought I did but cared not to
share that he had passed on. Well, she kept on asking and I kept replying, “Not
yet, Mom.”
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| Leroy Dollen |
My mother passed away on September 6, 2008.
One week later, I discovered that someone had downloaded my entire tree on Ancestry.com. Who could possibly be
interested in my tree? To my delight and surprise, they were the daughters of
Leroy Dollen! My mother missed meeting them by just one week.
Almost four years have passed and I have
become fast friends with my second cousins. We share genetics, family stories,
research trips and are committed to gathering Dollen relatives wherever they
may be.
Chills run down my body, each time I read this post. I continue to be grateful for the gifts of my mother and her Dollen family.
Chills run down my body, each time I read this post. I continue to be grateful for the gifts of my mother and her Dollen family.
I am blessed to have had that moment . . .
The Moment I Knew . . . Genealogy had become my passion!
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| Linda Dooley and LeRoy Dollen's daughters: Mary Leah Dollen Bergdahl and Elaine Dollen Clark |
[1] “A Surprise Shower For A June Bride,” Cook County Herald, 1 April 1930, p. 2, col.3; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com
: accessed 27 September 2011).
Linda Dooley
Linda Dooley is a family historian with an
itch to become a professional genealogist.
Her genealogical journey started with the
gift of her paternal grandmother’s family Bible. This gift rested on a shelf
for two long decades before Linda actually dove into genealogy. She is glad she
did.
Linda is vice-president of her local
genealogical society. She is a member of the National Genealogical Society, The
New England Historic and Genealogical Society and BIGWILL (British Interest
Group of Wisconsin and Illinois). She is also a graduate of Boston University’s
Genealogical Research Certificate Program.
Linda and her husband have three grown
children and five month-old puppy named Riley. In addition to genealogy, Linda
enjoys reading, exercise, biking, knitting and traveling.
You may visit Linda at her blog: 1625 Lincoln Avenue
