This subject is number 3 on the list of “52 Ancestors in 52 weeks for 2024” created by Amy Johnson Crow. Week wise, I’m a little late to the party, but who cares – as long as I show up!
So my favorite photo is this one:
This is a photo of my dad, John, and his oldest brother, Steve. It was taken approximately 1936 when my dad was 12 and Steve was 23. Look at the smiles, look at Steve’s arms over my dad’s shoulders holding him close, and look at my dad’s hands reaching back to hold his brother’s legs.
If my timing is correct, this was about a year after their father was killed in a hit and run accident not far from home. Eight years previous to that, in 1927, their mother died from pregnancy complications when my dad was not quite 3.
That hit and run left 5 children, ages 23, 21, 15, 14, and 12 orphans. Life was definitely not easy for them before their father died, but it got worse the night the policeman banged on their door to tell them their father was dead.
Steve, at 23, became their guardian. Family stories say the priest at the church they attended, St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, offered to be their guardian (in name) in the event there was an attempt to break them up. John and his brother Walt were alter boys and Helen cleaned the alter during the week so he knew them well. I don’t think it ever came to that.
They continued to live in the little brown house on Prince Street in Wallingford and Steve had a job as a meat cutter nearby. In 1937, Steve married Florence whose family lived on the corner and he brought them into the marriage.
Steve was a father to all of them and I’m sure it was difficult as a newly married couple to have teenagers in the house so soon! Life wasn’t always easy but he and Florence made a home for them.
I see such true affection in their expressions and that’s what makes this my favorite photo.
It's All About Family 
Good morning, My son sent me a link to your page last night. My name is Carol Posluszny Schiavo. My dad, Frank Posluszny, was born in CT, the son of Louis and Mary Posluszny. They moved to Wallington, NJ, where my dad grew up with his six siblings. I’m sure there’s a family connection there. My grandparents didn’t speak much English, and they passed away when I was young, so I don’t have a lot of the family history, but my mom (who is 91) is still alive and very lucid. I also have a cousin who lived above my grandparents, and is much more versed on family history (and lore). I just thought I’d reach out and let you know that there are a lot of us here in NJ (and elsewhere) that are likely related to you. Thanks for sharing your family’s stories.
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Hi Carol! Thank you for reaching out! I would love to hear more and share information with you.
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So do you have older relatives that might remember my grandparents in CT? Some of the names on your website sound awfully familiar. Also, I wanted to mention that my sister’s name is Nancy, too!
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My mother and her siblings have been long deceased and they would have been that age range but my mother was born in 1921 and is long deceased as are her siblings. I’ll as a cousin who has done some extensive ancestry work and had grandparents who lived a lot longer than mine! Email me at Nbenson42@yahoo.com and we can talk!
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