My Ukrainian, Maternal Great Grandmother and Her Daughter, My Maternal Grandmother, Eva (Pracola) Bendza ~ circa 1912. Excerpt from my autobiography, Sunrise, Sunset, Book I, Chapter 2, Page 3: Born Eva Pracola in Galicia, Austria in 1897, Grandma Bendza immigrated to the United States as a teenager. She married Ignatius “Fred” Bendza soon after, and began raising a family of four children, Joseph, Mary, Helen (my mom), and Stephen. They bought a house at 34 Atlantic Street in New Britain, but lost it during the Great Depression. Eva worked at the Corbin Screw factory during World War II and was a house matron at South Congregational Church in New Britain for many years. She was a talented seamstress, gardener, and cook. I vividly remember her Ukrainian and Polish dinners, delicious fresh pies, Christmas ‘Sputnik’ decorations, colorful quilts, and backyard garden at 45 Rhodes Street in New Britain. Of all the events in my life, only two truly heavenly moments stand out in my memory. The first of these I owe to my Grandma Bendza. It occurred one beautiful spring morning when I was about ten years old. My sisters and I had spent the night at our grandmother’s house, a rare treat. In the morning I woke early and went to the back porch and opened the door. My grandmother’s exquisite garden was in full bloom. Radiant colors and bright sunshine dazzled my young eyes. A symphony of singing birds and the intoxicating scent of flowers enraptured me. I stood there, transfixed by the splendor. It was pure magic! This was paradise on earth, one of the rare moments in my life when I knew true joy and complete peace. I’m sure my grandmother went straight to heaven when she died in 1985 at age ninety. She is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in the same plot as my parents and sister, Kayloy. Thank you, grandma. I will always cherish the memories, values and love you gave me. I love you very much.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 17:13:23 +0000