Alice (McGinnis) Schiavon – Page 3 – Many Branches, One Tree

Thankful Thursday: Simple Pastimes of Times Past

Joan Joyce (Schiavon) Huesca 1928 – 1987 In her own words (Part Nine) My mother with Santa Claus, about 1931, Chicago In this final episode from her (unfinished) book, Joan Joyce Schiavon Huesca: an Autobiography, my mother remembers her life as a child of the Great Depression in Chicago, Illinois. The footnote at … Continue reading

Wisdom Wednesday: The Spanking that Never Was

Joan Joyce (Schiavon) Huesca 1928 – 1987 In her own words (Part Eight) In the episode that follows from her (unfinished) book, Joan Joyce Schiavon Huesca: an Autobiography, my mother recounts a poignant memory of the wise way her father, Ralph Schiavon, understood that sometimes the fearful anticipation of a consequence for one’s actions … Continue reading

Motivation Monday: How Could I Compete with a Genius?

Joan Joyce (Schiavon) Huesca 1928 – 1987 My godfather and Uncle, Ralph Thomas “Tom” Schiavon, United States Army Signal Corps, Camp Crowder, Missouri Ralph Thomas Schiavon 1924 – 1993 In her own words (Part Six) We have been following my mother’s account of her life, written a couple of months before she died … Continue reading

Little Blonde Joan Lost in the Woods

Joan Joyce (Schiavon) Huesca 1928 – 1987 In her own words (Part Four) My mother at about a year old, Chicago, Illinois On June 24, 1987, a couple of months before she died of cancer, my mother, Joan Joyce (Schiavon) Huesca began writing the story of her life, Joan Joyce Schiavon Huesca: an Autobiography. … Continue reading

Summers in the Wilds of Michigan

My mother, 18 years old, Big Blue Lake, Michigan, 1946 Joan Joyce (Schiavon) Huesca 1928 – 1987 In her own words (Part Three) On June 24, 1987, a couple of months before she died of cancer, my mother, Joan Joyce (Schiavon) Huesca began writing the story of her life. In the first and second parts … Continue reading

Treasure Chest Thursday: Early Memories

Joan Joyce (Schiavon) Huesca 1928 – 1987 In her own words (Part One) On June 24, 1987, a couple of months before she died of lung cancer, my mother, Joan Joyce (Schiavon) Huesca began writing the story of her life. The following is an excerpt from the first chapter of her book, Joan Joyce Schiavon … Continue reading

Born Going Up in the World

Joan Joyce (Schiavon) Huesca (1928 – 1987) 1928 was a year of prosperity, hope, and bravado. It was the middle of the Prohibition era, and Calvin Coolidge was president of the United States. The U.S., along with 14 other countries, signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, also known as the Pact of Paris, a treaty that condemned … Continue reading

Amanuensis Monday: “This is the Wish of their Mother”

[Note: Amanuensis is an ancient word meaning one who performs the function of writing down or transcribing the words of another. Derived from the Latin root manu- , meaning manual or hand, the word also has been used as a synonym for secretary or scribe.] Inside cover of my mother’s baby book, as inscribed by her mother, Alice (McGinnis) Schiavon ca. July … Continue reading

Amanuensis Monday: A Grand Aunt

[Note: Amanuensis is an ancient word meaning one who performs the function of writing down or transcribing the words of another. Derived from the Latin root manu- manual, or hand, the word also has been used as a synonym for secretary or scribe.] Benita Elizabeth McGinnis (1889 – 1984) From my Grand Aunt Benita … Continue reading

Talented Tuesday: The Great Gene Sheebo

Francis Eugene McGinnis (1891 – 1961) Because both Irish immigrants and Irish-American were, in general, looked on with disdain during the late 19th century and even into the early 20th century, many are said to have taken to appearing in vaudeville as a way of gaining recognition and respect. It is said that by appearing … Continue reading