Brittiany Kathryn Lorraine PHILLIPS
Brittiany's last name at birth was "Zapawa" and was changed to "Phillips" before her 3rd birthday.
I remember my Grandpa Jorgensen with fond memories. We had huge Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, when all of their children would bring the grandchildren (us) to their home to celebrate the holidays. We would share presents and eat our family feasts together. Those were happy days full of crazy and loud moments.
I was just starting my senior year in high school when my grandpa died. He had a stroke when I was ten years old. It paralyzed him. He also had diabetes that caused circulation problems that later led to an infection and amputation of his foot and then up to his knee. During those years, he resided as Rivergate Nursing Home in Riverview, Michigan. My grandmother spent everyday at his side - singing songs, playing cards, sitting with him, holding his hand, and helping him eat. All of us visited him often. My escort and I would visit my grandfather before we went to the formal dances such as Homecoming and Prom.
Before grandpa became ill, I remember how much he loved to play cards. He taught me how to play Solitary before I was eight years old. After his stroke, I helped him to re-learn how to play cards. We played Solitary together often.
When I was much younger, my grandparents had a bowl of ice cream and later sherbert ice cream ready for me to eat when I visited (actually for all of their 11 grandchildren). Grandma Jorgensen told me when I was a baby and tripped over her feet, it was her fault for having them there according to my grandpa.
Grandpa Jorgensen was raised by his grandmother, Mary Fleming Fraser because his mother died at an early age and his father abandoned him and his siblings. He never knew him. According to his children, he went and visited his father one time as an adult and never spoke of him. My grandfather spent many happy years married to my grandmother. They had four wonderful children together. He was a loving and caring father and devoted husband. He drove a taxi for a short time and served in WWII. He worked for the railroad most of his adult life until he retired.
He use to drive the family everywhere. He was very close to his sister and her husband, Doris and Lloyd Black. They visited each other during family vacations because Aunt Doris lived in Marquette, Michigan.
According to his children, grandpa was fond of cars. He bought a new one every couple of years. He loved the Detroit Tigers and was an avid fan. He went to see as many games as he could between working and raising his children.
With these little stories, I am hoping to preserve the memory of my grandfather for future generations for those that never knew him.
It is still very painful for me to write about my grandmother. I have many countless happy memories of the times that I shared with her and they can't all be written down here. I don't know if it was because I was the oldest granddaughter or because I lived with her for a year during my troubled teens, but I always shared a special bond with my grandmother. She was like my second mother. When she became sick this year, it tore my heart in two to see her struggle with the need to stay the strong independent woman she always was to depending on us for everything that she needed.
Grandma was the foundation of our family -- the rock -- steady and true. She held our family together with unwaiving and unbaised love thru years of happiness and episodes of pain and sorrow. As she grew older, her siblings and friends died, leaving her alone with just her own children, grandchildren and great grand children that were raising their own families and working. I think the last couple of years were the hardest on her because everyone from her generation that she loved was gone.
My grandma was a very private person and she did not discuss her private business with other people. What happened in the home, stayed in the home. She did not like knick knacks or buy things that she did not need. She kept her home spotless and clean, but unadorned of clutter. She had her opinions and stated them clearly.
A few years ago when we were talking, grandma told me how blessed she was and how good of a life she had. She couldn't believe she lived past the year 2000. What changed her life was a work fire she was in when she was 18 years old. She had to jump from a burning building into the arms of a fireman. Many of her co-workers died that day. She appreciated her life and was thankful for every year since that dreaded day which became an annual anniversary date for her.
Grandma was very involved in the Democratic Club and Senior's Club in Lincoln Park, Michigan. She use to love taking trips with the Seniors. When a governmental issue bothered grandma, she would write the person responsible (before the time of computers and email). Grandma and I graduated in the same year of 1986. She graduated from Southgate High School. We had our graduation party together at the American Legion Club at Bishop Park in Wyandotte, Michigan.
Grandma was baptistized at St. Casimer Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan. Her Godparents were Cass Szymanski and Agnes Zalewski. The church listed her name as "Loretta." She was legally named Lorraine, but due to the church, it was changed to Loretta, and later she had to legally change it back to Lorraine, the name she always used. Her father died from "blood poisoning" when she was a child, she never knew much about his family. Her mother became mentally ill when my grandma was in her late teens.
While doing genealogy research, we discovered grandma was married for a short time to Albert Craig. The marriage was never discussed. Her occupation was listed as a governness and his as a soldier. They had one son together, Gerald Craig, that was born handicapped.
Grandma married James Jorgensen. They were married for 40 years when grandpa died. She never remarried. They raised four children together buying a home in Lincoln Park on LeBlanc in the late 1940's residing there until her death.
Grandma, I love and miss you. As you gasped life's last breath, I held you in my arms, shedding tears of pain of losing you. Your journey ended here on earth and began again in Heaven with grandpa. We were blessed to have you in our lives for as long as we did.
From Lorraine Jorgensen's research from Dec. 1987, she discovered her father was born January 4, 1890 and was baptized on January 5, 1890 at St. Casimir's Church. His Godparents were Joseph Szesta and Frances Jeka.
Per research obtained from Dorothy Mateja, Joseph and Mary Gaffke lived on 2486 24th Street, Detroit, Michigan in 1926. In 1914, they lived at 626 24th Street, Detroit, Michigan.
Joseph Gaffke died when he was 36 years old, 10 months and 4 days. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetary, 17100 Van Dyke Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, Lot 315-15.
He helped build St. Casimer's Church and the Hudson's Building in Detroit.
Per a letter written to Jennifer Phillips by Living Gaffke, Clem Gaffke's second wife, in May of 2004, Joseph was 36 when he died. He was working as an Architect on the Art Stadium in Detroit. He injured a spot on his arm. It got blood poisoning and he died quite suddenly.
Mary Zelewski was young when her husband, Joseph Gaffke died. It musted have been hard on her because it was during the depression and she had four children to raise on her own. Her children had to quit school and seek employment to help manage the bills in the home. She seemed very close to her sister Bertha. Her sister was a bridesmaid for her wedding and was in many family photos with her.
Mary Zelewski died in Eloise Mental Institution, Michigan. She became mentally ill when Lorraine Gaffke was about seventeen years old. No documentation stating her diagnosis.
From Lorraine Jorgensen's research from Dec. 1988, she found her brother's birthdate and baptism record at St. Casimir's Church. His Godparents were Atto Jeka and Sophia Zalewski. Atto Jeka was the son of Anton's sister, Francisa, she is listed in 1880 census. Sophia Zalewski was the first wife of Lorraine's Uncle Frank.
Mary Zelewski was young when her husband, Joseph Gaffke died. It musted have been hard on her because it was during the depression and she had four children to raise on her own. Her children had to quit school and seek employment to help manage the bills in the home. She seemed very close to her sister Bertha. Her sister was a bridesmaid for her wedding and was in many family photos with her.
Mary Zelewski died in Eloise Mental Institution, Michigan. She became mentally ill when Lorraine Gaffke was about seventeen years old. No documentation stating her diagnosis.
Lorraine Jorgensen researched from the Detroit Census, Anthony's residence for 1882, 1883, 1887, 1888, and 1890. She notes on January 8, 1988, that Anton aged 37, died Dec. 2, 1890. Mary, his widow, was living alone. She notes the house number of 626 24th changes to 2486 24th. During her research, she found his gravesite at Mt. Elliott, Tear 1, Section D.
Lorraine Jorgensen researched the Detroit Census for 1890 on January 9, 1988, obtaining where Mary Gaffke was residing. She found Mary's gravesite at Mt. Olivet. Per Jennifer Phillips research on April 14, 2004, she discovered that Mary's father name was spelled different than what the family now spells it. Found them on the 1880 census. Also, she found shipping records of Anton and his family arriving on August 13, 1879 from post of departure: Hamburg, Germany and Le Havre, France from PreuBen. The ship was Westphalia and port of arrival, New York.
Lorraine Jorgensen discovered her father, Joseph, had siblings. Anthony was born and baptized on May 27, 1888. From Sharon Dancer's research, she provided with the original records from St. Casimer, his Godparents were Joseph Zyta(Zytor) and Christ(ine) Roggenbach.