Ed: My father was born in 1902. His father was killed by a streetcar when he was 6, and because his mother couldn’t afford to keep him, he was sent to live with an aunt. At 10, he ran away, hopped a train to Chicago, and worked on the docks. At 15, he lied about his age to serve in the Cavalry during WWI. He fought at Château-Thierry, Belleau Wood, and the Marne. He survived a devastating attack where those around him were killed and he was machine-gunned across the legs. He spent over a year recovering in a French hospital, cared for by nuns, which later influenced his conversion to Catholicism. He earned two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts and was discharged around age 18 or 19.
After the war, he worked for the post office. He owned five trucks during the Depression, using them for Federal hauling jobs and helping feed many families. He eventually sold them to John Keely Construction, where he worked as a foreman.
Dad was married three times; his third marriage was to my mother, and together they had four children. Dad was tough on us, and my mother often said he “didn’t know how to be a dad” due to his upbringing. Dad lived to be 95. He passed down values of patriotism, work ethic, independence, honesty, and directness. My father was not a saver and used a “limited income and no formal savings” approach. Eventually, my mother handled the money.
On my maternal side, there was a strong Baptist influence. Mom was an elevator operator at the Broadview Hotel, then worked for several judges and lawyers before becoming a homemaker. She lived to be 100 years old.
Marge: My father was born and raised in Belleville, and my mother in Millstadt, Illinois. My mom grew up in deep poverty. My father left school after sophomore year to support his family, starting work at Stag Brewery at 16. He was later drafted into the Army during WWII, participating in D-Day at Omaha Beach and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. Of nearly 2,000 soldiers, only 14 remained at the end, including him. He returned to the brewery until retiring at 65. He earned his GED at 80.
My parents wrote letters during the war and later married in 1946. They had 10 children (9 surviving), and I’m number 6. We had strong Catholic upbringing and were deeply involved with the St. Augustine Parish. Our family prayed the rosary together every night during Lent and Advent. Three of my brothers entered the seminary, and I once considered becoming a nun. My maternal grandmother also became a nun after her husband died.
Though loving, my parents were stoic, and affection was often unspoken. When I was in 4th grade, my mom once observed a neighbor openly hugging saying “I love you” to her children. This inspired my mom (and my father to a degree) to begin verbalizing affection to us. We grew up on two acres in Belleville, raising animals, tending an orchard, and making apple cider and homemade catsup each year. There was a “no laying around” rule. If we were bored, we were given chores.
My parents instilled strong financial habits: frugality, saving, and detailed recordkeeping. Every dollar we earned was split: one-third to savings, one-third to our parents, and one-third to keep. They lived simply but saved enough to cover my father’s Alzheimer’s care and provide my mother a comfortable assisted living situation. My mother lived to age 99. She loved family gatherings and humor, and she rarely complained. She served as the “glue” in our family and kept us all connected.
*Not employees of Cetera