09.30.06
Posted in Daily Journal, Poland at 3:57 pm by Administrator
After my recent posts where I mentioned that my grandfather listed his mother with two different names in two different documents (Xaveria Zygmuntowicz on his Certificate of Marriage and Ksavera Napierkowski on his Application for a Social Security Account Number), I received an email from Drew Smith of the Genealogy Guys Podcast.
Drew found a site with a wealth of information about Polish given names. The site is part of a Polish e-card site and is called Wielka księga imion or The Big Book of Names. In Polish, the word imię is the nominative singular form of the English word name, and imion is the genitive plural form, translated as of names. Imię specifically refers to first names or given names.
The first page of the site provides the researcher the opportunity to select a name from those provided, to jump to another page for names starting with a specific letter, and to search for names by typing a name in a search box and clicking the Szukaj (Search) button.
Drew Smith provided me with a direct link to the name Ksawera. I’ll translate the information on that page here:
The Big Book of Names
KSAWERA
Feminine form of the first name - Ksawery. Diminutives: Kszwerka, Ksawercia. Other forms: Ksaweryna. Foreign forms: Xavera, Xaveria (Latin), Xaviera, Xavier (English), Xaveria (German), Xavière (French), Javiera (Spanish), Saceria (Italian), Ksaverija, Ksavera (Southern Lexicon).
Since the name Ksawera is the feminine form of the name Ksawery, I also took a look at the page for Ksawery, which provides a whole lot more information:
The Big Book of Names
KSAWERY
Nickname of Saint Francis, apostle in India, originating from the name of the place of his birth, the castle Xavier in Spain. Often suitable as a second name in combination - Franciszek Ksawery [Francis Xavier]. Diminutives: Ksawerek. Other forms: Ksaweryn, Zawery. Foreign forms: Xaverius (Latin), Xavier (English), Xaver, Xavierius (German), Xavier (French), Javier, Xavier (Spanish), Saverio (Italian), Ksaverij, Saverij (Russian), Xaver (Czech, Slovak), Ksaver, Ksaverije, Saver (Southern Lexicon). Feminine form: Ksawera, Ksaweryna.
SURNAMES:
Ksawer, Ksawera, Ksaweryna, Ksaweyński
PATRON:
Św. Franciszek Ksawery [Saint Francis Xavier]
WELL-KNOWN PERSONAGES:
Paweł Ksawery Brzostowski, initiator of peasant reforms (March 30, 1739-November 17, 1827). Franciszek Ksawery Dmochowski, polish painter (December 2, 1762 - June 20, 1827). Ksawery Bronikowksi, Polish journalist and statesman (1796-1852). Ksawery Pillati, polish painter and draftsman (1843-January 31, 1902). Frances Xavier Cabrini, first saint in the USA (July 15, 1850 - December 22, 1917). Franz Xaver Josef Conrad, Austrian field marshal (November 11, 1851 - August 25, 1925). Franciszek Ksawery Brziński, Polish composer (September 6, 1867 - August 6, 1944). Ksawery Franciszek Prauss, activist Polish Socialist Party, co-organizer Association of the University of Workers (November 1874 - December 14, 1925). Xawery Dunikowski, Polish sculptor (November 24, 1875 - January 26, 1964). Ksawery Pruszyński, Polish writer (December 4, 1907 - June 13, 1950). Javier Perez de Cuellar, was the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization (born January 19, 1920).
HEROES OF ART:
Ksawery Horsztyński in the tragedy of J. Słowackiego Horsztyński (1835). Ksawery Biliński in the three-volume novel Fame and Glory of J. Iwaszkiewicz (1956-62). Ksawery Kopystka in Of a Bag of Wheat of S. Czernik.
IN POETRY:
There were times, Xavier, where sleepy dreams
Superstition commanded to pick up the world for a gift display.
The age of reason and faith overthrew the altar,
Which the superstition of the idle once dedicated in a dream.
-Cyprian Godebski, “Dream”
I have to admit, my ability to translate Polish poetry is pretty weak. Translating poetry is an art, and I’m sure I haven’t adequately conveyed the intent of the poet in the translation above.
Even though the site is in Polish, it’s easy to find the equivalent of Polish names in other languages, diminutive forms of the names, other forms of the names, and masculine/feminine equivalents. The Polish abbreviations for other languages, as used on this site are:
- łac. = Latin
- ang. = English
- niem. = German
- fr. = French
- hiszp. = Spanish
- wł. = Italian
- ros. = Russian
- czes. = Czech
- słowac. = Slovak
I’ll be spending some more time on this site, looking up other names of my Polish Ancestors.
And, finally, thanks to Jasia of Creative Gene who provided a third hypothesis to explain why my great grandmother seems to have had two different maiden names. The Big Book of Names provides an entry for Janina, showing the diminutive form Jasia.
Permalink
09.29.06
Posted in Daily Journal, Social Security, Niedzialkowski at 11:47 pm by Administrator
Yesterday, I posted the Marriage Certificate for my grandparents, Kostanty Niedzialkowski and Helena Chmielewska. In that document, my grandfather listed his parents as Theophil Niedzialkowski and Xaveria Zygmuntowicz. I found one other record for my grandfather that also lists the names of his parents - Kostanty’s Application for a Social Security Account Number (SS-5).
Kostanty Niedzialkowski’s SS-5
Click on the link for a PDF copy of Kostanty Niedzialkowski’s Application for a Social Security Account Number. The record states that:
-
Kostanty Niedzialkowski received Social Security Number 034-09-4891
-
He was living at 18 Huntington Avenue, Worcester, Massachusetts
-
Kostanty was working for Worcester pressed Steel, 100 Barber Avenue in Worcester
-
He was born on October 28, 1892 in Poland and was 44 years old in 1936 when he applied for his Social Security Account Number
-
His parents were Teofil Niedzialkowski and Ksavera Napierkowski
-
He was a white male
In this document, Kostanty stated that his mother was Ksavera Napierkowski. However, in his Marriage Certificate, he stated that his mother was Xaveria Zygmuntowicz. What’s going on here?
Did Kostanty forget his mother’s maiden name in one or both of these documents and simply guess at her name? The first name could be different spellings of the same name in both documents - Xaveria and Ksavera - but there is no way the surname could be variants of the same name.
Is the name of Kostanty’s mother incorrect on one of these documents? If so, which one?
Clearly, the document that would answer this question is Kostanty’s Birth and Baptismal Record from Poland. Unfortunately, I could not find his Birth and Baptismal Record in the Parish Records where he said he was born, nor could I find the Marriage Record for his parents.
I did find Birth and Baptismal Records for what appear to be two brothers and a sister, and these three records list the mother as Ksawera Zygmuntowicz. However, this is not clear evidence that Kostanty’s mother was the same woman.
Here are two hypotheses on the correct name of Kostanty’s mother. The first assumes that only one of the two documents is correct and the second assumes that both documents are correct:
- Kostanty’s mother’s maiden name was Ksavera Zygmuntowicz and he simply made a mistake on his SS-5
- Kostanty’s mother was married twice, meaning that either Napierkowski or Zygmuntowicz was her maiden name, and the other name was the surname of her first husband
The only Szwelice parish records where I found the surname Zygmuntowicz were the Birth and Baptismal Records for Kostanty’s brothers and sister. In Szwelice, the surname Napierkowski is extremely common. At this point, I assume that Ksawera was from a different parish, and that Teofil married Ksawera and the couple gave birth to Kostanty in Ksawera’s parish, not in Szwelice. Which parish that was, I have no idea.
This document contains two other interesting facts. Kostanty was working for Worcester Pressed Steel in 1936. He continued to work at Worcester Pressed Steel until he retired in 1961. In 1936, the family was living at 18 Huntington Avenue in Worcester. This house was owned by Kostanty’s uncle, Frank Niedzialkosky.
Permalink
09.28.06
Posted in Daily Journal, Marriage Records, Niedzialkowski, Chmielewski/Meleski at 10:36 pm by Administrator
My grandparents, Helena Chmielewska and Kostanty Niedzialkowski, were called “Ma and Pa” by their descendants. The proper Polish spelling of Pa’s name was Konstanty Niedziałkowski, but for most of his life he spelled his name Kostanty Niedzialkowski. For his marriage record, he used the English equivalent of his first name: Constantine.
The Marriage Record for Constantine Niedzialkowski & Helena Chmielewska
Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Marriage Certificate. This record states that:
-
Constantine Niedzialkowski, age 25, residing in Worcester, Massachusetts married Helena Chmielewska, age 22, also residing in Worcester, Massachusetts on July 10, 1918 in Worcester, Massachusetts
-
Both Constantine and Helena were white, they were both born in Poland, and they were both single at the time of this, the first marriage for each of them
-
Constantine was a machinist and Helena was a mill operative
-
Constantine’s parents were Theophil Niedzialkowski and Xaveria Zygmuntowicz
-
Helena’s parents were Vincent Chmielewski and Anastasia Wolnowska
-
The intention of marriage was entered by W Henry Towne, City or Town Clerk or Registrar, in the records of the city of Worcester on June 26, 1918 and the marriage certificate was issued on July 1, 1918
-
The couple was married by B A Bojanowski, a priest residing at 15 Richland Street in Worcester who certified that he joined Constantine and Helena in marriage in Worcester on July 10, 1918
-
The certificate was received by the city or town clerk on August 10, 1918
-
This marriage was registered no. 870, intention no. 793
The Certificate of Marriage doesn’t list the village in Poland where either Constantine or Helena was born, but at least it provides the names of their parents.
They were married by Father Bolesław A. Bojanowski, who was the fourth pastor of Our Lady of Częstochowa Church in Worcester, suggesting that Constantine and Helena were married in that church. The 1920 US Federal Census enumerates them living in a rented apartment at 42 Perry Street in Worcester, in an area served by Our Lady of Częstochowa Church and home to Worcester’s thriving Polish community. This area was on the east side of Worcester and was called “The Island”.
The proper Polish spellings of the names on this document are:
- Constantine Niedzialkowski = Konstanty Niedziałkowski
- Helena Chmielewska = Helena Chmielewska
- Theophil Niedzialkowski = Teofil Niedziałkowski
- Xaveria Zygmuntowicz = Ksaweria Zygmuntowicz
- Vincent Chmielewski = Wincenty Chmielewski
- Anastasia Wolnowska = Anastazja Wojnowska
As mentioned in previous articles, Constantine was the nephew of Frank Niedzialkosky This means that Constantine’s father Theophil was Frank’s brother, and Theophil’s parents were Wojciech Niedziałkowski and Julianna Gutowska.
Tomorrow: Not everything on an official document is necessarily correct - or is it?
Permalink
09.27.06
Posted in Daily Journal, Vital Records, Marriage Records, Niedzialkowski at 11:49 pm by Administrator
My great-great uncle Frank Niedzialkowski married Cecilia Bonislawski in 1904. Certified copies of Massachusetts vital records are available from three places: records after 1915 are kept at the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester, records up through 1915 are kept at the Massachusetts Archives in Dorchester, and all records for a particular town are maintained at the town level. In Worcester, Massachusetts, the Worcester City Clerk has copies of the vital records from 1686 to the present.
In addition to these records, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City has various microfilmed copies of Massachusetts vital records up through 1910. The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) in Boston has microfilmed copies of Massachusetts Vital Record in their library in Boston, and has an online index and some digital images of Massachusetts Vital Records up through 1910 on their website (access is restricted to members of the NEHGS).
I obtained a copy of the marriage record for Frank Niedzialkowski and Cecilia Bonislawski from the Massachusetts Archives. The cost for a Certified Copy of the Record of Marriage from the Massachusetts Archives was $3. The City of Worcester charges $8 for the same record if ordered in person, $11 if ordered by mail. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics charges $18 for records ordered in person and $28 for records ordered by mail.
The Massachusetts Archives not only provided a Certified Copy of the Record of Marriage, but they also provided a photocopy of the relevant page from the original record book. Frank and Cecilia’s marriage is recorded as the last record at the bottom of page 483 in the original record book.
Certified Copy of the Record of Marriage
Copy of the Original Record Book
Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Certified Copy of the Record of Marriage and the image from the Original Record Book. The record shows that:
-
Frank Niedzialkowski, age 28, and Cecilia Bonislawski, age 18, were married in the City of Worcester on August 17, 1904
-
Frank was a Weaver born in Russia Poland and his parents were Adalbert Niedzialkowski and Julia Gutowska
-
Cecilia was an Operative born in Russia Poland and her parents were Adam Bonislawski and Petronella Niedzialkowski
-
The couple was married by John Moneta, a priest in Worcester
-
The marriage was recorded on August 26, 1904 and was entered as record number 774 on page 483 of volume 548
In this marriage record, Frank Niedzialkowski was still using the “w” in his surname. Eventually he dropped the “w”, possibly because English-speaking people pronounced the name more correctly without the “w”.
Frank’s age in this record indicates that he was born in 1875-1876, which agrees with the date of 1876 on his Birth and Baptismal Record from Poland. The names of Frank’s parents also agree with those on his Birth and Baptismal Record.
Interestingly, Cecilia’s mother’s maiden name was Niedzialkowska. Although I don’t have any idea of where Cecilia was born, the fact that her mother’s maiden name was Niedzialkowska suggests that she may have been born in or near the same village where Frank was born. I’ll have to search the Birth and Baptismal Records for Szwelice Parish for a Cecylia Bonislawska born in about 1885-1886.
Permalink
09.26.06
Posted in Daily Journal, Death Records at 9:45 pm by Administrator
My great-great uncle, Frank Niezialkosky died in 1955.
The Death Certificate for Frank Niedzialkosky
Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death Certificate. The document states that:
-
Frank died at his residence on Tuttle Road in Sterling, Worcester County, Massachusetts where he had lived for 42 years
-
Frank died at 9 P.M. on October 23, 1955 of arteriosclerotic heart disease
-
He had been treated by Walter F. Crosby, M.D. from September 1, 1952 until his death
-
Frank was buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Gardner, Massachusetts on October 26, 1955 by funeral director John W. Bobka of 149 Franklin Street, Clinton, Massachusetts
-
Frank was a 78-year old, white male, married to Ceslevia Bonislawski
-
His usual occupation was that of a moulder in a steel foundry
-
His Social Security Number was not obtainable
-
Frank was born in Poland, and was the son of Wojciech Niedzialkosky and Julia Gutowska, both born in Poland
-
The informant of Frank’s death was his wife, Ceslavia Niedzialkosky, Tuttle Road, Sterling
This record is of great importance in tracing both my own ancestors and those of Frank’s descendants, because it lists the names of Frank’s parents, and Frank’s parents are my great-great-grandparents.
The information on this record agrees with that on Frank’s Birth and Baptismal Record:
- The Birth and Baptismal Record shows that Frank Niedzialkosky’s name at birth was Franciszek Niedziałkowski
- The Birth and Baptismal Record shows that Frank was born in 1876; the Death Certificate shows that he was born in 1876-1877
- The Birth and Baptismal Record shows that Frank’s parents were Wojciech Niedziałkowski and Julianna Gutowska; the Death Certificate lists the parents as Wojciech Niedzialkosky and Julia Gutowska
Frank’s place of death was Tuttle Road in Sterling, Massachusetts, and so he died at his farm, called Sky Farm. I don’t know why the farm was named Sky Farm. Perhaps one of Frank’s direct descendants knows.
The entry for Frank’s Social Security Number states “no obtainable”. Since Frank’s usual occupation was listed as “moulder, steel factory”, I would expect that Frank would have been required to apply for a Social Security Number, but the number is not listed on this Death Certificate. I also find it interesting that, although Frank owned a farm, his usual occupation was a moulder in a steel factory.
The Death Certificate shows that Frank was born in Poland, but does not specify where in Poland. Without a more specific location, it would be impossible to find Polish records for Frank and his ancestors. Fortunately, I knew that my grandfather was from Pomoski, a village that was part of the Szwelice Parish in the Łomża Gubernia in Kingdom Poland, and that’s exactly where I found Frank’s Birth and Baptismal Record.
Permalink
09.25.06
Posted in Daily Journal, Baptismal Records, Niedzialkowski at 11:30 pm by Administrator
When my grandfather Kostanty Niedziałkowski came to America, he stayed with his Uncle Franciszek Niedziałkowski in Worcester, Massachusetts. Franciszek generally used the name Frank Niedzialkoski in the United States, dropping the “w” from the surname.
I found the Birth and Baptismal Record for Franciszek in the Szwelice Parish, north of Warsaw. As with other documents from Kingdom Poland (the Russian Partition) during the late 19th century, this document is in Russian.
Birth and Baptismal Record for Franciszek Niedziałkowski
Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record. I wasn’t able to transcribe and translate the entire document. I’m not familiar with some of the words used in this document, and some of the words are fairly illegible. Nonetheless, I was able to determine that:
-
Franciszek was born in the village of Pomoski on the 8th day of an illegible month in the year 1876
-
Franciszek was baptized in the Szwelice parish on the 13th day of an illegible month in the year 1876 at 1 PM
-
Franciszek’s parents were Wojciech (Adalbert) Niedziałkowski and Julianna Gutowska, both age 40
-
Franciszek’s godparents were Franciszek Niedziałkowski and Józefa Niedziałkowska
-
Stanisław Kudkowski was present at the baptism
-
The priest who baptized Francizek was a Father Gutkowski
Wojciech Niedziałkowski had a brother Franciszek. Wojciech may have named his son after his brother and asked his brother to be the godfather of his child. Wojciech’s brother was born in 1842, and the Franciszek named as the godfather is about the right age.
I’ll have to work on this document some more to try to decipher the month of birth. I may need to go back to the original microfilm and look at other documents written by this priest in order to figure this out.
Permalink
09.24.06
Posted in Daily Journal, Marriage Records, Niedzialkowski at 11:13 pm by Administrator
The earliest recorded Birth and Baptismal Record that I’ve found for any of my ancestors was that for Cecylia Chotkowska, recorded in 1767. However, I’ve found her parents’ Marriage Record, making this marriage record the earliest record that I’ve yet found for any of my ancestors.
The Marriage Record of Andrzej Chotkowski & Marianna Mossakowska
The entire page, shown above, contains one marriage and a whole lot of deaths (on the right-hand side of the page). Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Marriage Record.
I wasn’t able to translate the entire record. Some of the words were illegible, crossed out, or not in my dictionaries. Nonetheless, I can understand the basic information in the record. This record states that:
-
The marriage of Andrzej Chotkowski and Marianna Mossakowska took place in the village of Rukle
-
Karol Kucharski from the Krasne Parish officiated at the wedding
-
The wedding took place on February 13, 174[1]
-
The witnesses were Józef Milewski, Paweł Krepki and Antoni Krepki
I am not completely certain that the wedding took place in Rukle. It may have taken place in the church in Krasne, while the bride and groom may have lived in Rukle. The exact year of the marriage is illegible, but looks like 1741. The witnesses all appear to be men, but I’m not familiar with the ending at the end of the first names of two of the witnesses - their first names appear to end in ”y” and I’m not sure why. The final line of the document refers to “verbatum” but I can’t understand the rest of the sentence, except for a reference to the priest.
My Latin dictionary doesn’t include words from Church Latin, so I think a dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin will be one of my next genealogy purchases. I also need to take another look at these records. Perhaps some of the other marriage records from this time and place will help me decipher the rest of the document.
Permalink
09.23.06
Posted in Daily Journal, Baptismal Records, Niedzialkowski at 11:41 pm by Administrator
I received an email message today from a second cousin (once removed) whom I have never met. In fact, I’ve only actually met one of my relatives from that branch of my family. Our common ancestor is Wojciech Niedziałkowski, who lived in the Łomza Gubernia of the Kingdom of Poland (the Russian Partition of Poland). Wojciech was my great-great-grandfather.
Wojeciech was the son of Antoni Niedziałkowski and Karolina Milewska, and Antoni was the son of Tomasz Niedzialkowski and Cecylia Chotkowska. Cecylia’s birth and baptismal record is the oldest birth and baptismal record I have for a direct ancestor.
The Birth and Baptismal Record for Cecylia Chotkowska
Cecylia’s record is the second record from the top of this page, and the record, written in November 1767, states:
Franciszek Przedpełski, CRL
56. Mosaki Rukle, the 22nd of November, Cecylia
I, who am named above, baptized and infant by the name of Cecylia, daughter of the nobleman Andrzej Chotkowski and Marianna, a legally married couple. The godparents in the sacred font were the nobles Katarzyna Grochowska and Stefan Mosakowski.
Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record for Cecylia Chotkowska.
Cecylia’s parents are called nobles in this record, and this is the first documented evidence that any of my ancestors belonged to the Polish nobility. Because the only records for Polish peasants were church records, and because the church records rarely began before the early 1700s, it is generally not possible to trace the ancestors of Polish peasants further back than the church records extend. The Polish nobility, however, maintained records back much further in time. Although I haven’t explored records that might document the genealogy of the nobility, there is at least a chance there might be earlier records for the Chotkowski family.
Note that this record is written in Latin. Later records from this part of Poland were written in Polish, and after a rebellion against the Russian government, the records from this region were kept in Russian.
Note also that the name of the month, November, was abbreviated 9bris, a historical reference that November was once the ninth month of the year, and the word November actually derives from the Latin word for nine - novem.
Permalink
Posted in Daily Journal, Danko at 12:28 am by Administrator
Nanny Danko died 37 years ago this month. Today, in her memory, I’m publishing a few photographs of her.
During World War II
This photograph is apparently related to my Uncle Joe’s service in the Army during World War II. I’m not sure of the exact date or location, but since Joe enlisted on January 16, 1941 and World War II ended in 1945, I assume the photo was taken in that time period in or around Worcester, Massachusetts. From the left, in the back are Grandfather Michael Danko, George McGinn, Bertha (Danko) McGinn, Joseph Danko, Grandmother Marianna (Dziurzyńska) Danko, Michael Danko. From the left, in front are Marguerite McGinn, and Geraldine McGinn.
The 50th Anniversary Party
This photograph was taken at Marianna and Michael Danko’s 50th Anniversary party in August 1948. The photograph was taken in my Aunt Statia (Danko) Iwaniec’s house on Knox Street in Albany, New York. The knife my grandparents are using to cut the cake was made by their son Michael.
My First Christmas
This photograph was taken at my parents’ house in Albany, New York in December 1955. Nanny Danko is holding me on her lap and my sister Beverly is standing next to us.
My Confirmation
This photograph was taken at Nanny Danko’s apartment in Albany, New York on April 25, 1965, the day of my Confirmation (hence, the robe I’m wearing). In this photo, you can see the picture of Jesus that Nanny kissed so often. I was a geek.
Permalink
09.21.06
Posted in Daily Journal, Biographies, Danko, Carnival of Genealogy at 11:30 pm by Administrator
I knew my grandmother for 14 years before her death in 1969, and even though I remember her well, I honestly can’t say that I knew her well. The problem was that my grandmother never learned to speak English.
My grandmother, Marianna Dańko, was born on August 14, 1881 in Sielnica, Galicia, the Austrian Partition of Poland. Her maiden name at birth was Dziura, but while she was still in Poland the family changed the surname to Dziurzyński (the feminine form of this surname is Dziurzyńska). She married my grandfather, Michael Dańko, on August 14, 1898. I’m told that my grandparents met for the first time not long before their wedding. The wedding itself was probably held in Dylągowa parish, which was the parish for the village of Sielnica. After their marriage, my grandparents lived in my grandfather’s home village of Nienadowa. They had three children while they lived in Galicia, one of whom died there.
My grandfather immigrated to the United States in 1905 and left my grandmother and her children behind. My grandmother and the two surviving children immigrated in 1909, arriving at Ellis Island on May 24, 1909. The family reunited in Worcester, Massachusetts, where my grandfather had secured lodging between the Rural Cemetery and the railroad tracks.
Grandfather worked as a wire straightener at the nearby American Steel and Wire Factory, and Grandmother kept house. My grandparents had eight more children, one of whom died of broncho pneumonia at the age of one. For a period of time, the family shared their house with as many as seven other Polish immigrants, and Grandmother’s brother, Jan Dziurzyński lived with the family for a while, as well.
Marianna Danko and Her Children
On January 2, 1953, my grandfather died.
For many years after my grandfather’s death, my grandmother lived with my Aunt Helen on Colonie Street in Albany, New York. I remember their apartment well - it was low-income housing in Arbor Hill, one of the poorer sections of Albany.
The best memories I have of my grandmother were from the 1960s. On Sundays after church, my family would go to my grandmother’s apartment and spend the day with Grandmother, whom we called “Nanny Danko”. We celebrated birthdays and holidays with Nanny Danko, and my Aunt Helen would cook szynka (ham), kielbasa, pierogi, and ziemniaki (potatoes).
Birthdays, especially Nanny Danko’s birthdays, were some of the most festive occasions for us. Nanny loved to hear us sing “Happy Birthday”, and she loved to watch the lighted candles on the birthday cake, so much so that she refused to blow them out. She would just sit, watch the candles, and smile. Finally, when we couldn’t stand it any longer, my sisters and I would blow out the candles, and Nanny Danko loved to watch that, too.
Nanny never quite grasped the concept of television. She was convinced that, if she could see people on the television, they could see her, too. She absolutely loved to watch Mitch Miller’s program “Sing Along with Mitch” even though she couldn’t understand the words. Before she would watch Mitch Miller, she would get dressed in her best clothes, do her hair, and place her rocker squarely in front of the television so Mitch could have an unobstructed view of her. I think she may have been sweet on Mitch.
Many times when we visited, Nanny Danko would sit in a hard, wooden chair in a corner of the living room, next to a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Periodically, she would pick up the picture and kiss it. I suspect she may have been praying. My father told us that she kissed that picture so often, he was surprised she hadn’t worn the picture completely away. I sometimes wonder what became of that picture.
Nanny Danko had a special sweet spot for her sons and grandsons. Even though she could only speak a few words of English and I could only speak a few words of Polish, I remember spending time alone with her. I remember she would run her fingers like a spider crawling up my arm and across the back of my neck. I would laugh (after all, it tickled!) and she would smile.
Every now and then, just as we were leaving for the night, Nanny Danko would go to her bedroom and emerge with three crisp, new dollar bills, one for me and one for each of my sisters. For years my father couldn’t figure out where she got these brand new dollar bills until one day he caught her washing and ironing her paper money. She told him she hated dirty money!
For much of the time I knew her, Nanny Danko was not in the best of health. At one point, she slipped on the ice and broke either her leg or her hip (I don’t remember which) and she had to use a walker thereafter. Even though she saw a doctor for her ailments, she wouldn’t take her medication and preferred to flush the pills down the toilet. Even so, she lived to age 90.
Nanny Danko (with Me in the Baby Carriage)
I remember that Nanny Danko was always kind and gentle with her grandchildren, but she was very strong willed and she made sure that her own children knew what was on her mind. I seldom knew what she was talking about, since I couldn’t understand Polish well enough to follow the conversation. She called me Staś, the diminutive name for Stanisław (Stanley), but nobody ever corrected her. She was not well schooled, and she couldn’t read and write. Even her spoken language was not well refined; she tended to use Polish slang rather than the proper Polish words. I’m told that instead of the Polish word twarz (face) she used the word gęba (mug, kisser). But, I guess she never needed a better education - she was a Polish farmer’s daughter who married young, had eleven children, and whose responsibilities were limited to raising the children.
Nanny Danko died on September 8, 1969, shortly after I started High School. I wasn’t allowed to go to the funeral in Worcester, and it wasn’t until years later that I was able to visit her grave. I think of her often, and fondly. Kocham ci, babciu!
Permalink
« Previous entries ·
