God again reached down and plucked another flower from my garden of siblings. Last week my youngest sister answered His call after an over 2 year battle with kidney problems. She surprised us because she was always so full of life and was on no medication. Me and my six siblings were all close with no problems between any of us. In looking for a reason, I can only suggest that part of it was due to the untimely death of our mother at the age of 41. We all had to band together emotionally and share the household work so we could remain at home as a complete family. We lived in a home with a Delco battery light system, with the only appliances being a radio and an iron. If we wanted to fry an egg in the summer time, we had to go get corn cobs, kindling and fire wood to build a fire in a wood range in the kitchen. In the winter time a fire was kept burning constantly to help heat the house. So we had to be concerned and care for each other.
Till and I were united by several bonds. She had just turned 12 at the time and I was 16. Remember how smart you were when you were that age? We always had a standing joke that I taught her everything that she knew, but not everything that I knew! In our later years, we were both widows, me for 30 years and her for 23. So we did a lot of time sharing. I went with her on at least a dozen bus trips sponsored by the Farm Bureau. She would call me and say she was going to Angola, Auburn, Defiance, Kendallville, or wherever and did I want to go along. No matter what I was doing, I just left it and went to her house and went shopping. She would ask me if I were hungry and my answer was always “What has that got to do with it? Let’s go eat”! I have adjusted to missing these jaunts since her becoming a resident of a nursing home these past two years, but they will always be etched in my memory. The only plus side is that at the end of the month I still have more money left.
Her name was Wilma Jean, which I thought was a very pretty name, but my dad gave us all nicknames and she was known to most of her friends as Till. She was so involved with living, never met a stranger, and enjoyed the activities of my kids and grandkids. We went to Ohio Northern to a number of soccer games, basketball games, tennis matches, and other sport events. She made many premature baby burial garments and donated and delivered them to a number of local hospitals to be given to families who lost a premature infant. Another ritual was for a number of years donating ham salad to the Butler blood drive for food for the blood donors. Her death leaves a big hole in our lives, but we will manage on our great memories. See you down the road, Till.
As we go to food, we remember that she made a mean chocolate sheet cake. It was always a favorite of ours and I will pass on to you the recipe, so it can still be enjoyed by everyone.
TILL’S CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE
Bring to a boil:
1 stick butter or margarine
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
4 tablespoons cocoa
Pour over
2 cups sugar mixed with
2 cups flour
ADD:
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup milk
Bake in a sheet cake pan for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.
ICING
Bring to a boil:
1 stick butter
6 tablespoons milk
4 tablespoons cocoa
ADD:
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pound powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
Spread on hot cake.
She had a great following for her ham salad. I am not certain that she had a recipe. But here is the way I would say that she made it. We were partial to Echrich bologna.
HAM SALAD (made with bologna).
1 pound sliced bologna
¾ cup Miracle Whip
½ cup pickle relish
Boil bologna to remove excess fat and salt. Chop fine but do not puree. Add Miracle Whip and pickle relish. Serve in sandwiches made with your choice of rye, white or whole wheat bread. I usually put a bit of chopped onion in mine and some people like chopped hardboiled eggs added. Be creative according to your family’s preferences. I like it grilled occasionally, too.
Rest in peace, Till. You will be greatly missed.
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