(Interview recorded on September 17, 2016 at her home in Millstadt, IL)
I have very few memories of my first mom. I remember she did make me an outfit; made it out of flour bags. Flour would come in sacks, and she made me a skirt and a tie that matched. So I do remember that. So, maybe I get some of my sewing skills from her. The only other real memory I have of her is the night she passed away…
How I see my life in retrospect… I don’t really feel like I was ever a person who had to have “things.” Or I didn’t feel like I had to have something because someone else did. I enjoyed nice things, but it wasn’t something I was driven to…
I think my childhood gave me the backbone of being a hard worker. You know, we were taught to work from a very early age. You always worked. I can always remember my dad having two jobs…
Jeff, if I have to give you one rule of thumb, or one word of wisdom, I would say always do what is best for you… Eddie, what I’d like for you to remember is that you’re a good person, and… Ruth, if I could tell you some words of wisdom…