My mother passed away on October 25 after a lengthy bout with Osteoporosis and other age related ailments. She is part of the history of Germania Lodge and we are a better place because of her. -kkueck

HEAVEN JUST BECAME A FUNNIER PLACE

Someone recently emailed me a poem about the dash in between two dates and what that dash represents. For my mother that dash would be in between the numbers 1922 and 2007. She was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho and grew up in McGill Nevada, a copper mining town, where at the time; the company owned everything including the stores. Maybe this is what compelled her to leave and move to Boise Idaho and enroll in beauty school. It must have been an extremely tough decision to leave because she was the apple of her parent’s eye, an only child, who came after 23 years of trying to conceive. This independent streak would serve her well the rest of her life.

She ended up in California where she met my father who was in the Navy and then ended up in a culturally unrecognizable city with strange food, customs and a serious party atmosphere.
-She took to it like a Labrador Retriever to water-
She was mesmerized by Mardi Gras and other strange quirks of this very eccentric city but her parents were getting old and because of her devotion to them she convinced my father to move back to Nevada, at least while her parents were alive, which they did until both of her parents had passed on by 1952 and it was back to the strange city.

By this time there were two kids, Myself and Sallie Ann who was born in Nevada. Mom and Dad purchased a two bedroom house on the edge of a remote place called Buck Town and settled in... briefly. My father, being a member of Germania Lodge #46 in Mid City knew that the lodge needed a live in custodian and we all ended up in the two bedroom apartment in the rear of the lodge. While here, Susan, the 3rd child, was born. Mom thrived here also, always polishing her people skills with an ability to make them laugh. At one time she had a Day Care Nursery at the lodge, I really don’t know why because she always said she hated kids but that was just an act and we knew she loved us and later in life her grand kids Patrick, Lisa, Sara and Brian. There was also a bond forming between her great grandchildren Erin, Ian, Ethan and Ayden at the time of her passing. I think she passed her independent streak to my granddaughter Erin, they were definitely bonding closely when ever they were together. At the lodge she bartended, prepared food and helped clean up after the many weddings, dances and receptions that were held in the hall.

After seven years as custodians we ended up back in Buck Town and it is here that she went back to work at Montelepry Hospital as a surgical tech. It is also here that she became friends with Pat Hillie; 20 something years her junior, but… she didn’t like old people either. She always wanted to be where things were happening. I know she had a lot of fun at that job and that it was the source of many hilarious stories. I am grateful that Pat was with her at the time of her passing.

Mom was a saver and dad was a spender. It’s absolutely amazing to me that she saved any money at all because dad always needed something… but she did. She was very frugal, not a penny pinching tight wad, but frugal. One of her favorite kitchen items was a block of wood with dowels sticking out of it. This was a saran wrap dryer so the wrap could be reused. She would always take the time to pick up a penny she saw or in her case have you pick it up. Of course everything on our plate had to be eaten but strangely, we never had a problem with that because she, with her new found spices from this strange city, always made everything taste delicious. When my father was on Hospice they gave him six months to live, he lasted eighteen months. I attribute this to her care and her cooking. She made fruit cakes annually for as long as I can remember. I don’t care for most Fruit Cakes but hers were the exception. They were wonderful and we couldn’t wait for Thanksgiving when she gave them out to family, friends and special lucky people. She just had a talent to made things taste marvelous.

My mother loved a party and was happiest being in the middle of everything, holding court. When I was in the Air Force and stationed nearby at Kessler Air Force Base many of my airman friends ended up at our house when visiting New Orleans. Of course if there was any partying to be done you could count her in. One night she and my friend Al Bir., from Dayton Ohio, tipped over in my father’s recliner crashing into the wall waking up Dad. Another night, Wally Dysinger showed up at 3 in the morning slightly tipsy. Mom kiddingly told him to jump in bed with her and Klaus – and he did, all 250 pounds of him. The twin beds slid apart and he ended up on the floor in between the two beds and there he stayed. At times she cooked for as many as twenty airmen who came to town for Mardi Gras. The ones I stay in touch with love mom to this day. One of the most important things I learned from my mom is loyalty to friends. Till the very end she was making new ones but she never forgot the old ones. Especially the Gilmore’s, Michel’s and Rome’s, I do know that she refined some of her cooking skills at these homes. She met Sally Rome on a bowling league at the Mid City Lanes back in the 50’s and they were best of friends until Sally’s death a few years ago. I also remember many weekend get togethers with the Gilmore’s. Of course when they came to our house we had the largest living room of anybody, that being the lodge hall. I can see it now, us kids jumping, running and rolling around the lodge hall and the four of them, Mom, Dad, Eldred and Althea, at the bar telling jokes and having a few Jax beers. Of course we also enjoyed some of the most scrumptious food you can imagine.

After dad passed she got active in the garden club in Bay St. Louis and had a good time but when she joined the Red Hat Society she flourished. This was her calling. The chapter in Bay St. Louis loved her so much they told her she didn’t have to drive anywhere; all she had to do is be ready to be her self and tell her jokes, that they would pick her up for all events and return her safely home. She was so recognized that a picture of her in her red hat and attire embellishes a greeting card that is still sold in the Bay.

From Rev. Brenda Kramer – a red hatter mailing she sent to members of mom’s red hat chapter.

Thoughts of this beautiful, loving Sister brings many memories of fun and better times to me, and I am sure to many of you. I can clearly see her riding atop her wooden horse crossing the dance floor to take the mike, sing us a giggly tune, tell us jokes until we cried with glee and the mischievous sparkle of her blue eyes. I, as many of you, loved her dearly. Katrina took my many pictures of Cookie, but nothing can erase them from my memory. With parasol in hand, silver curls topped with the cutest red hat, purple clothes and dancing feet, she seldom missed an Event. She danced with us for Pete Fountain, she sang with us at the Copa when we won first place away from all the other Red Hat Chapters present, and enjoyed the wine (purchased with the $100 prize money) on the beach of Bay St. Louis when/where our Hula dancing made the 10 PM news!

Sisters, I urge you to attend Cookie's service, adorned in your best red hat and finery! Perhaps you can bring a purple and red balloon to release at the internment in her honor. I am so sorry that I cannot attend. My daughter, Jackie, is in the hospital. If any of you know Sisters that do not have e-mail, please, phone them with this information.

In sincere appreciation I thank Joe for notifying us, and I send the family our sympathy for their loss. Sisters, please, join me in prayer of praise and gratitude to our Father for the blessing of knowing this fine lady.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Brenda Kraemer, Queen
Tickled Purple, Red Hat Society

Bro. Raymond Slottness’ wife Audrey Turner Slotness, passed away on Wednesday, November 14, 2007. They were married for 67 years. Bro. Slotness is a 54 year member of our lodge. She was 88 years old and a native of Duluth, MN, a former resident of Kenner, LA. She was an avid sailor and was a member of the New Orleans Yacht Club. She was also a member of the Lacombe Senior Citizens Club. She and Bro. Ray were seasoned world travelers. Bro. Slotness said it was her desire to donate $600.00 to Germania Lodge. Our deepest condolences and thanks to Bro. Ray.