{"id":54,"date":"2006-05-04T23:37:06","date_gmt":"2006-05-05T06:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/2006\/05\/04\/aunt-bronislawa-is-missing\/"},"modified":"2019-01-27T16:13:53","modified_gmt":"2019-01-28T00:13:53","slug":"aunt-bronislawa-is-missing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/54","title":{"rendered":"Aunt Bronis\u0142awa Has Been Misplaced"},"content":{"rendered":"

Somehow my family misplaced my Aunt Bronis\u0142awa .\u00a0 Granted, she died 93 years ago, but how could the family misplace her?\u00c2\u00a0 Years ago, my Aunt Helen had prepared a family history and listed a sister\u00c2\u00a0called\u00c2\u00a0Bertha with no birth or death information, just a notation (Hope Cemetery) Worc. Ma.<\/em>\u00c2\u00a0 This entry was the first time I had heard about this child .\u00a0 Soon after I read this, my cousin Joe told me that this child was supposed to be buried in an unmarked grave in Hope Cemetery<\/a> in Worcester, Massachusetts .\u00a0 He had visited Hope Cemetery, but the cemetery had no record of her burial.<\/p>\n

On one of my trips back east, I visited both Hope Cemetery and Notre Dame Cemetery<\/a> in Worcester (the two cemeteries are right across the street from each other) .\u00a0 I inquired about Bertha in both cemeteries, but both told me they had no record\u00c2\u00a0for her .\u00a0 In fact, Hope Cemetery had no record for anyone with the surname\u00c2\u00a0Danko .\u00a0 I’m familiar with both cemeteries since I have relatives buried in both, although most of my relatives are in Notre Dame Cemetery .\u00a0 I have a map of Notre Dame Cemetery<\/a>, and even an aerial photo of the cemetery .\u00a0 Several of my relatives are buried there including my grandparents, Michael and Mary (Dziurzynska) Danko.<\/p>\n

\"Notre<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0\"Monument<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Monument<\/a><\/p>\n

I visited the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records<\/a> in Dorchester and looked through the birth and death indexes there .\u00a0 Sure enough, I found the child and obtained copies of her birth and death certificates .\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0On the birth and death certificates, Bertha’s name was listed as Bronis\u0142awa Danko .\u00a0 She was born in Worcester on 03 January 1912 and died on 13 January 1913 of broncho pneumonia .\u00a0 The death certificate stated that she was buried on 15 January 1913 in Worcester and the undertaker was Lucian Karolkewicz .\u00a0 No cemetery was listed.<\/p>\n

Now, I knew that most of my relatives were buried by Henry Karolkiewicz (Lucian’s son?)who ran Karolkiewicz Funeral Home (later called the Henry Funeral Home) .\u00a0 Relatively recently, Henry sold the business and the funeral home is now called Henry-Dirsa Funeral Service<\/a> .\u00a0 I wrote to Henry-Dirsa and asked if they had any records for the burial of Bronis\u0142awa .\u00a0 I enclosed my phone number, email address, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to be sure they had everything they needed to get in touch with me .\u00a0 Six months later, I still hadn’t heard from them .\u00a0 I wrote a second time, and a few days after I sent the second request, I received a call from the funeral home .\u00a0 They told me that they had no records of burials before the 1950s, but they called Hope Cemetery and Notre Dame Cemetery to try to find where Bronis\u0142awa was buried .\u00a0 They received the same response that Joe and I had received:\u00a0 no record of her burial .\u00a0 I thanked the gentleman for his efforts and hung up .\u00a0 A few minutes later, I received a second call from Henry-Dirsa Funeral Home telling me that Notre Dame Cemetery had just called them to let them know they found Bronis\u0142awa!\u00c2\u00a0 The surname had been spelled “Danka” instead of “Danko” .\u00a0 What luck!<\/p>\n

But here is where the story really gets interesting .\u00a0 Bronis\u0142awa is buried in Notre Dame Cemetery in a single grave in Section 3, Lot 1464 with two other infants<\/em>!\u00c2\u00a0 The cemetery had no record of ownership of the Lot, but had the following information:<\/p>\n

Notre Dame Cemetery No. 01 – Owner: Owner, unknown
\nLot – Sec-3 Lot-1464 Grv-1A-1C
\nUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
\n3\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 3
\n3\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 3
\n3\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 1C\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 3
\n3\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 1B\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 3
\n3\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 1A\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 3
\n3\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 3
\n3\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 3
\nAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU
\nSpace Deceased\/Reserved\u00c2\u00a0 Burial Date\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Age\u00c2\u00a0 Container
\n1A\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Kurpiel, John\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 12\/21\/1912\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 1Month
\n1B\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Danka, Bronislawa\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 01\/15\/1913\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a01
\n1C\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Stonia, Franciszek\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 08\/30\/1914\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 8Months<\/p>\n

AAAEnd of ListAAA\u00c2\u00a0 Perpetual Care Unpaid — No Activity Allowed Until Full Payment<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So here is the great mystery .\u00a0 Who are these two other children buried in the same grave with my aunt?\u00c2\u00a0 Why are they all buried together in a single grave?\u00c2\u00a0 And who purchased the lot?<\/p>\n

Well, I’m still working on this mystery .\u00a0 There is no stone on the grave, so I’m planning to have one set in place this year .\u00a0 I paid the perpetual care fees that had been accumulating for over 90 years, so now I’m the legal owner of the lot .\u00a0 The cemetery requires that I place the names of all three children on any stone I place on the grave, so I’m trying to find the birth and death dates for the other two children .\u00a0 I have had some limited success.<\/p>\n

John Kurpiel was born on 30 October 1912 .\u00a0 Since he was buried on 21 December 1912, I assume he died a few days before he was buried, although I haven’t yet found a death record for him.<\/p>\n

Franciszek Stonia is a\u00c2\u00a0more of a mystery .\u00a0 I haven’t found a birth or death record for him, yet .\u00a0 He was buried on 30 August 1914, so he probably died a few days before then .\u00a0 He was 8 months old when he died, meaning he was probably born in December 1913.<\/p>\n

The last time I was in Massachusetts, I visited the Vital Records Office in Dorchester again .\u00a0 Unfortunately, they had just transferred all the records from 1910-1915 to the Massachusetts Archives<\/a> .\u00a0 So, I went over to the Archives .\u00a0 When I arrived there, they told me that they had just sent all the 1910-1915 death records out to be microfilmed!<\/p>\n

I’m planning to be in Massachusetts in July, so I’ll stop by the Archives again and try to find the missing records .\u00a0 In any case, there will be a stone on Aunt Bronis\u0142awa’s grave by the end of the year.<\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2006 by Stephen J. Danko<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Somehow my family misplaced my Aunt Bronis\u0142awa. Granted, she died 93 years ago, but how could the family misplace her? Years ago, my Aunt Helen had prepared a family history and listed a sister called Bertha with no birth or death information, just a notation (Hope Cemetery) Worc. Ma. This entry was the first time I had heard about this child. Soon after I read this, my cousin Joe told me that this child was supposed to be buried in an unmarked grave in Hope Cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts. He had visited Hope Cemetery, but the cemetery had no record of her burial. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[30,35],"tags":[250],"class_list":["post-54","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-danko","category-dziurzynski","tag-worcester"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pyBfX-S","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20914,"href":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54\/revisions\/20914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stephendanko.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}