A CHRISTMAS MEMORY REVISITED THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE WORKERS IDENTIFIED My Christmas Day post focused largely on the long ago Christmas season during which my dad had been out of work and some then unknown to me distant relatives suddenly and unexpectedly provided the abundance of gifts that were typical of the Christmas Eves of my and my siblings youthful years. Today through my mom and my brother, Bob Reiser, who spoke to mom today before I did, I have come to learn the identity of these generous individuals who made that Christmas Eve, and more importantly, the lasting memory of that Christmas Eve, so special. I would like to identify them to you, and in particular, to their descendants, but first, a little history. My dad had an Aunt on his moms side of the family whom we called Aunt Jo. Aunt Jos husband was Charles Heidelberger, known to us as Uncle Charlie. I am not certain if Uncle Charlie passed before I was born, or shortly thereafter, but I have no recollection of meeting him. I do however, have fond recollections of visiting Aunt Jo at her home in Ozone Park, Queens, that she shared with her children, my dads cousins, William (Billy) Heidelberger and Dolores and her husband Willie Timchisen. My cousins, Barbara Dalton and Ed Scott likely remember these relatives as well as their mom, our Aunt Margie, was also Aunt Jos niece. I have today learned from mom, through Bob, that it was Aunt Jos in-laws, Uncle Charlies family, the Heidelbergers, who then resided in New Jersey who were the kind, generous distant relatives who provided the Christmas Miracle that long ago Christmas in the 50s or early 60s. Although the Heidleberger family may have been distant relatives in degrees of familial relationship, and distant in terms of geography, (New Jersey not exactly being a short ride from Ridgewood, Queens today, much less in the 50s and 60s, and particularly on Christmas Eve), they were not distant in terms of love, affection and generosity. Aunt Jo had apparently explained my dads plight to her in-laws, and they, in the goodness of their hearts, and I suspect an abundance of Christmas Spirit as well, undertook on that particular Christmas Eve, without notice to my parents or anyone else, to supply and deliver the extraordinary Christmas gifts that my siblings and I were accustomed to receiving each year. In doing so, they left us with not just material presents, but with a Christmas Memory that has remained a highlight of our Christmases for more than half a century. I have no doubt that my mom and dad expressed their overwhelming gratitude to the Heidelberger family for their thoughtfulness and generosity that long ago Christmas Eve. For myself and my siblings, however, the passage of time and the circle of life being what it is, it is no longer possible for us to directly thank these generous people who have long gone to their final reward, as have Aunt Jo, Uncle Billy, Dolores and Uncle Willie. However, Dolores and Willie had three daughters, Regina Marie Timchishen Bradley, Bernadette Timchishen Petrizzo, and Mary Anne Timchishen who are our cousins, (First cousins twice removed might be the proper legal terminology, but if I am incorrect, lawyer or not, those who know better can feel free to inform me accordingly). Regina, Bernadette and Mary Anne were our contemporaries, (but may have the advantage of being a few years younger than me and my siblings), and I can recall the fun times we shared with them during our visits to their Ozone Park home when mom and dad took us to visit. While we have not seen each other in many years, we have kept in touch as facebook friends. I noted with appreciation that my cousin Edwards daughter Theresa Brown mentioned in a comment last night to my Christmas Memory posting that it had ended her Christmas on a perfect note. And so, during this Christmas season in which I, my siblings and my cousins Barbara and Edward are able to reflect on those Christmas Eves of bygone years, I am thankful to be able to express to Regina, Bernadette and Mary Anne my and my familys thanks and appreciation for the Christmas Memory that their grandparents family has endowed upon us, a memory that shines as bright today as it did when the event itself occurred over half a century ago. I hope that this posting and my earlier one, A Christmas Memory will allow this Christmas season to end on a perfect note for them as it did for Theresa Brown. Merry Christmas to all of you from all of us.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 22:00:44 +0000
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