So my great uncle died this morning

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Ambersmom
Straight up nasty

Member since 5/05

7740 total posts

Name:
Sharon

Re: So my great uncle died this morning

Posted by Jamie

Posted by Ambersmom

I'm so sorry to hear about your Great Uncle's passing.

Yes, my uncle thought to have my grandmother audio taped six months before she died. She passed in 1999 but didn't tell us about the existence of these tapes until just last year

Although the stories are sort of scattered and not complete, just hearing my grandmother's voice sent me into hysterics Her thick german accent is something I will never forget. There were stories of her family (the loss of her six year old brother to an appendix rupture, her 18 year old brother dying in WWI, saving the family farm from wildfires) that I never knew of. To me, that CD and her stories are one of my most prized possessions.

ENCOURAGE the family (whatever is left) to create those legacies. Once those stories are gone, you can never recapture them :(

See that's awesome. I wish I had done this with my grandparents when they were alive and/or able to. I really think I am going to talk to my cousin about doing this. There are so many stories I have heard her tell about my great uncles. I know of some from reading books that they were in but the family stories are what I want to preserve.

Exactly!! The things we think no one will want to hear/will feel important can mean so much to someone else. Like she talked (briefly) about her 1st date with my grandfather. She even said (on tape) " No one will want to hear this" but my Uncle encouraged her on. So much has changed since their days of courting It was fascinating for me to hear how he walked 2.5 miles one way in foot high grass just to hang out on the family porch (under close scrutiny by her Father/Mother). To hear her stories of coming over to America before WWII erupted; the conditions on the boat, what Immigration was really about back in the day. I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Posted 6/26/08 4:14 PM

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Katie111806
Team Pink!

Member since 12/06

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Name:
Katie

Re: So my great uncle died this morning

Aww I'm so sorry for your loss. Chat Icon

My uncle has been deteriorating with Alzheimer's and his daughter hired a woman to record his memoirs. He was a very prominent restaurateur in NYC and has amazing stories - it's likely the book will be published as well.