Phone calls

Hello?
Hi Mom! (It's Lisa's Mom on the phone)
Hi Jim. You're awake?
Yes. I had to get up to answer the phone.
Sorry.
I'm kidding. I just got home. Lisa went to breakfast with her friends.
Okay.
I called Tante Resl this morning to get some blog information.
Did she yell at you? She isn't very good on the phone.
Yes. I did notice that in the first few seconds of our conversation.
She gets a lot of sales calls.
Do you want to sign her up on the "do not call" list? Are you near your computer?
Okay. Hold on. My emails get lost. It puts all the names together instead of the date.
You need to click on the 'received' button to organize them chronologically.
Okay. Hold on. Just a moment. Yes! It worked. Okay, now what?
I just sent you a link for the national do not call list. You have to hit the send/receive button.
Okay. I got it.
Click on the link.
Okay.
Put in Tante's phone number and hit the submit button.
Okay.
Tante didn't want to reveal her favorite color this morning. She gave me both blue and yellow. She kept asking me "What else you want to know?" with an impatient voice. Where were you married? She said at the Justice of the Peace. Where? I asked again. I don't remember. What else? When was Eugene's birthday? He was 12 years older than me. Do you have a date? No. What else? How did you meet Eugene? I used to go to the dance hall. Otto introduced us. They worked together at Bohacks. What else do you want to know?
See, she isn't very good on the phone.
I was looking for a story. Something I could twist around and exaggerate with funny details.
It's better to talk to her in person.
I'll tell Lisa you called.
Good bye.

Theresa

Mondolf Germany, 1918


In the middle of World War One, George Kainzbauer and his wife Francesca gave birth to Theresa. Theresa is one the youngest of eleven siblings. She would spend the next 19 years working on her parents farm.

In 1937 Theresa hopped on a ship and cruised across the Atlantic Ocean. One of her siblings picked her up from Ellis Island.

Living in the German area of Ridgewood, Theresa made friends at the local dance hall. At that dance hall Theresa was introduce to Eigen by a mutual friend named Otto. Otto and Eigen worked as bakers at a supermarket called Bohacks. Eigen, 12 years older than Theresa, fell in love. In 1942 they married at the 'Justice of the Peace'. The Catholic Church wouldn't marry them because of Eigen's previous marriage. (Eigen had two sons from that marriage)

One of Theresa's brothers fought in World War Two on the German side. He was listed as missing-in-action was never found.


Theresa and Eugene (American for Eigen) moved to a 'cold water flat' at 19-19 Greene Avenue in Ridgewood. Theresa found work by a sign in the window of a store which read "Girl Wanted". She applied and was immediately hired as a seamstress. Her work ethic would be considered by most as insane. When ever anyone describes Theresa her strong work ethic gets mentioned. At the knitting mill Theresa was the fastest worker. She was promoted to Forewoman.



Around 1950 Theresa and Eugene viewed a house in Floral Park for $11,000. Although nervous about the price they took the plunge. Theresa lived there for 52 years.



Vacations were always spent with their friends Otto and Elsie Reich. Card games were very common among the close friends.


The worse of times came in 1981 when Eugene died of liver cancer.


With no children of her own, Theresa became known as Tante Resl. Many of the younger kids only know her as Tante. Tante's tradition of Thanksgiving dinner went from a small family gathering in the 1950's to a huge two-turkey feast as the family grew. The finished basement was the only area large enough to feed the 30 plus family members. An additional stove was added in the basement to help keep all the food hot.



At 78 years old Tante would drive to North Babylon to spend time with her great great nephews Andrew and Gregory. Walking with the strollers, Lisa had trouble keeping pace. Even outpacing the much younger family members while picking up leaves!


Tante sold the small, well kept, house in 2003. The kitchen had original white tile, floor and walls, which looked brand new. No cracks or scratches. It is more a tribute to her housekeeping than to the workmanship.


Last week, at her 90th birthday party, she took the "Surprise!" in stride.

The ongoing family tree library needs more history of Tante Resl. Where was she married? Church? Please share your favorite Tante story.... How many family members are shorter than her? At what age did she migrate to America? What was her cats name? What was the name of the company she worked for? What did her husband, Eugene, do for a living? Was he in WW2? Favorite color sweater? I'm guessing white. Eventually the entire family tree will be uploaded to an online website that everyone can view. I'm searching for one that keeps information private and lets us upload photos. I know I can ask Tante all these questions but she is still recharging her batteries from her 90th Surprise party. Jim

Hello James. I do not know when or where Tatnte got married. I think Diane is the only member shorter than her. She had a dog named Tippy. Her husband was a baker at a bakery called Bohacks. She worked in a knitting mill. The fastest worker in the place. Not the best but the fastest. I remember A diner story of her and her husband trying to swat a fly and causing a commotion because they couldn't get it. Love you,Lisa

Dearest Jim,I am not sure where she was married. I don't have a favorite Tante story,just wonderful memories.The most special are the many, many Sundayafternoons playing "31" with her and Uncle Eugene. I do not believe I am shorter than her, we will have to put it to the test the next time we areall together. Lisa is just jealous. I think she was 17 years old when she came over, but I could be wrong. Her mother told her and her sister that only 1 of them could go because she needed the other one at home to help.Tante Resl quickly said she wanted to come and so it was decided. (good thing she didn't hesitate). When she first came to America, she took a job in a coffee shop, serving donuts and coffee (there wasn't any lunches). She was paid very little but she also got free room and board. It is there that she met Uncle Eugene. He came in to help at lunch time when it was busy. The woman that owned the shop told Tante when she first met Uncle Eugene that she was going to marry him. She was right. Uncle Eugene has two sons from his first marriage. She only met them a few times, mostly before they were married. His ex-wife remarried and he adopted the boys. Their best friends were Otto and Else. She has many wonderful memories with them. They took all of there vacations together. The 4 of them always shared a hotel room to save money on their trips. They had to take vacations predicated on Tante Resl's shut down at the mill because the"men' could take it at any time. They had union. She did not. Her boss told the employees at the knitting mill that he wasn't getting the union and if you wanted one you could find work elsewhere. They played cards fora little money often with Otto and Else. The winning would go into a kitty to save for the next vacation. Otto and Else lost their grandson to suicide. It was very difficult for them. I will try to think of some more stuff, but that is all I got for now. Talk to you soon. Diane

Here's a few more memories:Tante, uncle eigen, elsi and otto went dancing almost every weekend. She worked for Mr & Mrs Smidt. She was nice, but he was tough.The last couple of years, she was promoted to for women. Too much stress. She hated it and had to quit. She was the fastest seamstress (no kidding), but according to Tante not the best.Her dog was "Tippie". Her car was "Betsy". Tante's mom(our great grandmother) never got over the 'missing in action' of her son Alfonse. All her brothers that went to war never returned, except one. However, he came back, disabled and died at an earlier than a typical Kainzbauer age.- Donna.