I have previously mentioned Jeannette in several family blog articles, however, I never focused specifically on her. I suppose part of my reticense was because there is SO MUCH TO SAY and so many stories that could be told. Now that she has preceded me to Heaven, it's time to reflect on the way she lived her life.
I was born January 27, 1952. Less than a month later, Jeannette turned fifteen! I have no memory of her living at home. I also have no memories of her that do not include her (late) husband, Bob (known to most as Lib). Her oldest son, Tom, is just four-and-a-half years younger than me. He has a younger brother, Bob, as well.
Jeannette and Lib always lived in Beaver Falls or Chippewa. Since the other Haire children moved away, she played a vital role in our Mom and Dad's lives. When I was growing up, she would flit in and out of their home on William Penn Way in New Brighton at least a couple of times a week. Her visits were on-the-run, but were thoroughly enjoyed - mostly by our Mom. We also made fairly frequent trips to their various homes.
Jeannette loved our parents so much and cared for them attentively even in the midst of her very busy life. She was the only one of the four children who took after the Walton side of our family. This lineage afforded her two outstanding characteristics: a nervous, hyperactive personality type and a phenomenal sense of humor!
The stories abound! As we gather to celebrate her life, I'm certain many of them will be retold followed by animated laughter! Allow me to give a few examples:
In August of 1961, my brother, Ira, married Joyce Twitchell in Willow Grove, PA. That's near Philadelphia. Jeannette and Lib started out on this journey along with our cousin, Olive (who was - at the time - married to Lib's brother, Johnny). [Olive was a co-conspirator with Jeannette in many of their escapades.] Not even halfway into the trip, they had car troubles along the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
When Lib was unable to quickly fix the car, Jeannette declared that she wasn't going to miss her brother's wedding. She and Olive grabbed their suitcases and flagged down a Greyhound bus. They convinced him to allow them to ride along to Philadelphia. Upon arriving, they called Joyce to arrange a ride. Joyce sent her uncle to the downtown Philadelphia bus station. They all arrived barely in time for the wedding. Unfortunately, the bus had passed quite close to Willow Grove, which could have saved a lot of time. However, this was a time previous to cell phones.
Meanwhile, Lib was left alongside the Turnpike with two very young boys and a broken down car!
Now picture two crazy, hyper, determined women flagging down a bus and then climbing on board carrying their suitcases. It became part of the legend that was MY SISTER
An even earlier story illustrates the kind of faux paus that she could stumble into.
One of my father's sisters lived in southern Ohio along with the branches of her own family. At least once a year, my Dad would load us up for a visit "down-the-river" to see Aunt Goldie and Uncle Eber - who lived in a hollow and had a dairy farm.
It was quite an experience for us city slickers! Things were done a lot different down there!
On one occasion, Aunt Goldie gave Jeannette some letters and asked her to take them down the lane to the mailbox. As Jeannette walked away, Aunt Goldie reminded her, "Now don't forget to put the flag up!"
Some moments later, they observed Jeannette walking down the lane with the letters and struggling to carry the American flag with her!
One more that I'll have to clean up a bit.
One evening after the boys were grown and gone, Jeannette and Lib went to a steakhouse in Chippewa that featured a salad bar. After eating, they went to the laundromat to do several loads of clothes.
Part way into the washing cycle, they both realized that had had an urgent need to use the restroom. They pulled the soaking wet clothes from the washers, threw them into the car and took off for home.
Meanwhile, their son, Bobby, saw them and followed them blinking his lights to get them to stop. When they did, he jogged up to Lib's window to talk to them. Lib simply said, "We have to go home to..." Then, he squealed tires as he pulled out - leaving Bobby standing alongside the road!
But the best part of the story occurred when they got home. Lib was a big guy at this time and wasn't capable of moving very quickly. Jeannette took advantage of this and hopped out, running ahead of him to their only bathroom!
I can only tell you that these are just a sample of the MANY stories that characterized my sister!
She was always in a hurry; always near frantic.
Oh, I can't resist the temptation; one more story!
Lib didn't always attend church with Jeannette. When she could, she brought the boys with her. Sometimes she came alone. One Sunday, they had all come, but Jeannette was on automatic pilot and got in the car and drove home without Lib and the boys.
When she got home and found no one there, she remembered that they had gone to church with her! Franticly, she flew back toward the church, only to find Lib walking with a boy on each hand across the Beaver Falls - New Brighton bridge.
I think we'll skip the video of that encounter for now...
She made life fun! She peppered life with shenanigans. She lived life in the fast lane! But no one can bring allegations that she ignored her family! She was dedicated to them! And they knew it! Her boys brag about how she attended not only all of their sports games, but most of their practices, as well. It is only fair to say that during these years, her life was totally focused on her boys!
She adored our parents and stayed in close contact with them always. After our Mom died (1981), our Dad eventually needed help because of some physical challenges he was facing. Jeannette oversaw his care and visited him regularly. Eventually, she moved him into their house so that she could care for him even better! He and Lib established a close relationship during that time.
She stayed active all her life in the New Brighton Free Methodist Church. Sadly, after her health failed, pastors failed to visit her and care for her. However, several lay members did visit her periodically. She loved the Lord and used her influence to point her boys in the right direction! She believed in prayer and trusted the Lord for all her family's needs.
She was also highly regarded in her workplace! She started out as an employee in food service at the Blackhawk School system. Gradually, she learned and grew in skill and knowledge to become the overseer of the entire system. It was a huge responsibility that garnered her a ton of respect and admiration.
There are two things I learned about my sister that made me appreciate her even more:
First, she and my brother, Ira, knew our Grandma Walton. Our Mom's Mom had given each of her three daughters a home in Beaver Falls. She gave our folks her own home on Mt. Washington upon their marriage in August of 1934. However, with our Mom, Grandma Walton added a stipulation: that she be allowed to live with them until her death.
Ira remembered that she had a desk in the parlor that was not to be touched. It was where she transacted her business. Jeannette and Olive remember being sent around to various properties to collect rent. Some of these properties were in the area of Brady's Run Park. She was apparently a shrewd businesswoman. She and our father must have gotten along pretty well; we never heard him make a negative remark about her.
The little I know about the Waltons (for instance, Grandpap Walton had the first automobile in Beaver Falls), came from Jeannette and Ira!
Second, she - like me - was spoiled! :-) Being the first child and having our parents to herself for three years before Ira was born, she enjoyed the complete focus of our parents! When I visited Jeannette about ten years ago, she showed me photo albums filled with pictures of herself! I have about three pictures of myself as a baby or young child! [I know - this is common in all families!]
In addition, she talked about our Dad spoiling her with pretty dresses and clothes! Beverly also tells of special attention from our Dad. It's possible that he may have favored his daughters over his sons. I'll have to talk to him about that someday... ;-) Of course, Beverly left when I was eleven, so I had six years where I had Mom and Dad all to myself. My siblings accused me more than a few times of being spoiled! Shear jealousy!
I loved my sister! The only time she was ever mean to me was during a ten minute tirade when she informed me that all the privileges that I enjoyed with our parents had been paid for by her endurance in breaking the ground for me Bev and Ira! I still have the birthday gift that she gave me when I turned ten! It was a vinyl album by a new group. It's title was: INTRODUCING THE BEATLES!
Thanks, Jeannette! Thanks for all you did for so many of us! Thanks for loving Jesus! Thanks for giving the world two great sons, two grandsons, one granddaughter, and seven great granddaughters (so far)! Thanks for the legacy of laughter! Enjoy your rewards...
And say 'Hi' to Mom and Dad, Ira and Travis for me!
