Helene Rose-Carson - I have many wonderful memories of my grandmother (Helen-Theis Rose), but I think the first thing that that comes to mind, is something she used to say that made me laugh when I was little...She would ask you if you wanted anything..and if you answered no, she would say
Valerie Theis-Rafferty - I spent many week-ends with my Grandmother, (Mary Feeley-Theis) after my Grandfather (John Theis) died. I was in grade school and she had some quaint Irish sayings such as " I cursed him up fifth and down fourth" and " The dirty scut" and " Christ on the mountain" She really was such a lady. Also a fastidious housekeeper. She would say to me when I cleaned for her "Valerie, what did that corner ever do to you". We really had such good times together. Lee Rose - A memory of my grandmother, Helen Rose . . . not one particular instance, but what comes to mind is when you least expected it, she would say something completely out of character. Occasionally, Helen would "step out of" her sweet demeanor, and voice a very blunt and stinging opinion about something. What I recall most about these instances, is that it would leave her family stunned - and in laughter. Russ Bracco - The things I remember about grandpa and grandma (Sam and Helen Rose) are simple. Like seeing their car parked in front of the house and running home to see them, sitting on grandpa's lap with that flannel shirt he wore, telling me stories and making us laugh. I'd always ask them to please eat supper with us and they always did. I guess I was pretty young when he died but as far as he goes I loved him like any kid could love a grandpa. Grandma... [WATCH OUT] Spunky, outragious, full of life and the most loving person I have ever known. Making us laugh with her one liners and expressions. As kids we used to love when my mom used to bring us to Bloomingdales to see Grandma working as a sales woman, I really couldn't see her taking too much cuff from customers. Sleeping over grandma's house was always a treat.
The woman was a fond lover of Capt. Crunch cereal and peanut butter and bacon on toast, not to mention, would never say no to ice cream. We all loved grandma, and even to this day when I think of her, a smile comes to my face for all the years she made us laugh. These are just some of my memories I have of them and will not ever forget.
As for Helen, she was more of a friend to me than a mother-in-law. One of my most vivid memories of her is how she, very patiently, helped me prepare my very first Thanksgiving Day turkey. She made it seem so easy and we had so much fun preparing that meal, that to this day, Thanksgiving remains to be my favorite holiday. However, through the years, I have learned that meal is not as easy to prepare as Helen made it seem.
Helen always looked so nice too. Her nails were manicured and her hair was always in place. She was also somewhat fashion conscious. I remember when colored dress shirts first came out she bought one for Bob. When he seemed alittle reluctant to wear it she called him an "ole bag" and said, "it's the fashion"! These memories and research are a wonderful tribute to the memory of Sam and Helen Rose.
Sam Rose was a hard worker who also was a very
caring family man. Sam was always there in need. He
also was very proud of his family.
Often when I came home from playing on a summer evening, he would be sitting outside on the front stoop. I'd sit on his knee and he would talk to me or tell me stories. I was twelve years old when he passed on and have many memories of time with him. Grandma was so protective of children. Many a time she saved me from spankings which were probably well-deserved! She had a beautiful garden of roses in the back yard and was very proud of them! I remember Grandma as a very strong individual. She had to be - raising all those children!! She was also very loving to all her grandchildren. In her later years, she even had lots of TLC left for my sons, J.J. and Chris, who remember her fondly. I remember how she wrapped up all the garbage so carefully and even tied it with string! I could never figure out why her garbage was wrapped like a present! She was a great cook and I remember her leaning over the stove basting a roast for Sunday dinner which she served with roasted potatoes and carrots. The house smelled so good! I remember a family trip to an Indian reservation in Florida when an Indian surprised her by wrapping a snake around her neck while my father, Stan, took a picture. We thought she was laughing but finally realized that she was screaming "Get it off of me!!"
I learned a lot from my grandparents and visit
them often in my heart and thoughts and prayers.
As a child, before my teen years, I remember
visiting her and her close friend, "Aunt Marge" in a mobile home park in
Sarasota, Florida. I remember at a family Halloween party, she came
dressed up as a "flapper". Regretfully, I was about three years old
when my Grandfather Sam passed away and have no memories of him. But
through my father, Stan Rose and other family members, I have wonderful
stories of both of them that I will cherish and pass along to my
children.
As parents, Sam and Helen never imposed their religious will on any of their children but left it to each of us to choose. I can remember on occasions going to shul with my father, yarmulke and all. But then I would also go to the Catholic Church with my best friend, Tommy Phillips. "If confused", said Sam, "Look to God, for there is only one".
Yes, Sam and Helen are two very special people and as for me, I am so grateful to have been born their son.
I remember when I suffered a severe leg injury in a boat accident and was laid up for nearly a year. To use the word "caring" in describing Helen would be an understatement for she just couldn't do enough to comfort me and help to ease my pain.
After that she became more my friend, more so than my mother-in-law. We shopped together in Helen's favorite store, K-Mart. She was a party person and was always ready to be on the go. Time has a way of turning things around so when Helen became afflicted with Alzheimer's I knew paybacks were here, for now it was my turn to care for her. And you know what...I wouldn't have had it any other way.
My father (Sam Rose) worked long days but Sundays were "family day". We would all pile into the car and take long drives, very often winding up in Connecticut. I don't know what the facination for Connecticut was, but it was a nice place to go. Supper at our house Sunday nights was usually waffles and sausages or waffles and ice cream. In my grown-up years my mother and I did so many nice things together. When we, my husband Mike and I had our family and our own home, my parents came over almost every Sunday for dinner. We lived closest to them. They loved all their grandchildren and loved to be with them.
My parents were "the best". A day almost never goes by that I don't think of them. Wish they were here to see what a wonderful family we have - they would be proud of us.
I remember the Sundays we used to go to the Valencia Movie in Jamaica, L.I., Captain Blood, Mutiny on the Bounty, Errol Flynn and all those sword weilding wonders, I don't remember how old I was, but I remember those days. I remember Dad's Sunday car sales, we never knew what would be parked in front of the house, a Caddy, a Lasalle, color of the car, green, black, who knew. It was something to see my dad in action, giving his sales pitch. Then there were the houses in Upstate New York, Hurlyville area, Liberty, mostly outside the area called "The Jewish Alps". Then there was mother....marching us to the barber right after school ended, I was nine, ten, eleven...The barber was just off of 111th Ave., just off Leffarts Blvd. The hair cuts were crew, minus hair, almost baldies, all three of us. Somewhere I have a picture of us. That was our summer cut, as we went away most summers. When I was young I really did not know my father that well, as he worked from early morning and arrived home mostly after we were in bed. I really got to know him and appreciate him after I went into the Army. I would receive a letter from him atleast every other week, while I was overseas. Strange way to get to realize how much I missed knowing him in those earlier years. While still living with mom and dad in Cambria Heights, before getting married, sitting on the stoop with mom, waiting for dad to come home, here it was hot and muggy and this gentleman would come walking down the block, tie on, neat as a pin, with a bounce in his step.
My mother Helen was a "mean lean ice cream eating machine"
As far as Grandma (Helen Theis-Rose) was concerned I also remember going to visit her at Bloomingdales and she would let me try on the tiara from the jewelry case. I remember the day of my wedding, Grandma was all dressed up and looked beautiful, a very classy lady and if you look closely at my wedding pictures you can see she decided to forego the stocking and went for knee-hi's instead!
I guess what I remember most is as feeling that when you were
around both of them you always felt wanted and loved. There is no finer
legacy to pass on to your family than that.
One of my best times with Grandma was when I spent the summer with Uncle Stan working @ Mary Lu (Remember Uncle Stan, the summer I drove the tractor into the river). We took a trip to Orlando to visit the parks, one night we went to Lake Buenivista for dinner (the Riverboat restaurant) I was maybe 15 yrs old. We had a long wait for a table and were waiting @ the bar, Grandma kept on ordering cocktails and sneaking them to me. Finally the bar tender caught Grandma out of the corner of his eye and told Grandma that she could not do that. Grandma looked at him and said OK and then proceeded to had me her next drink, that did not go over very well. Grandma always would give you that look, the smirk and then smile and you knew all was OK.
I spent many wonderful summers in Paradise Bay
trailer park and I was lucky to spend them with Grandma Rose, Marge and
Grandma & Grandpa Hansen. All very happy memories I will always keep and
share with my kids and grandkids.
I remember how clean & neat the whole house always was. I remember Aunt Cookie & Uncle Bob living upstairs too. I remember always playing in grandma’s basement (there really wasn't much to it though). Then I remember when grandma lived in her apartment, it was so luxurious to me. I remember once dad took Nancy & I in for a visit and on the way home stopped at "White Castle" for hamburgers and decided then I really didn't like them. I remember grandma having boxes & boxes of stockings and stocking bags too. When Grandma moved to Bradenton, FL. across the street from my other grandparents, I remember her 3-wheeled English racer bike and how that was the most fought over bike to ride (it was so cool) and when I spent a summer there with both my grandmas I remember every day like clockwork, grandma & I cook a steak, potato and watch "The Big Valley".
but mostly I remember a strong, independent, wonderful, funny & wise woman
who loved her children and her grandchildren. She had just the right arms
to wrap around you & hold you real tight. Her smile and laugh, her silk
stockings and she was so classy too. Yes, this is the Grandma Rose I
remember and miss.
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