Tombstone Tuesday ~ A Headstone for the Tabeling's ~

In July of 1913, my grand-aunt, Mamie (1913-1913) and grand-uncle, Morgan Tabeling (twins), children of my great-grandparents, Albert and Lillie Mae Tabeling, both passed . . . nine days apart, from Cholera and were buried at the Tarfork Cemetery in Kentucky . . . their graves unmarked.

In 1919, my great-grandparents, Albert (1870-1919) and Lille Mae (1879-1919) nee Pate, along with their unborn child (Lillie died from a miscarriage due to the complications of the Spanish flu) and daughter, Maggie (1903-1919) Tabeling, passed away from the Spanish Flu . . . their graves also unmarked.

My aunt Virginia (Ginnie) and I have chatted for a long time about wanting to place a monument or marker on their graves. We decided to look into the cost, so I contacted the Cloverport Cemetery and spoke with the very nice caretaker there by the name of, Mr. Wallace . . . he put us in touch with Mark at Crume's Monuments, in Caneyville, Kentucky, a family owned business since 1951. . . I have never talked with nicer folk than the Crume's and Mr. Wallace.

My cousin, Jim, aunt Ginnie's son, was visiting his mom in Kentucky from Florida last May. He had a trip planned to visit his paternal grandparents grave in Caneyville . . .afterwards, he stopped in at Crume's Monuments, next thing I know, he had purchased the monument for our Tabeling's grave and I am getting an email from Mark with a picture of the headstone to be . . . thanks to my cousin Jim's generosity, our great-grandparents, great-aunts and uncle are finally, after 96 years, honored with a headstone on their grave. Thank you cousin, Jim.

My aunt Ginnie designed the headstone . . . even though Mamie and Morgan are buried at the Tarfork Cemetery, she felt that their names needed to be with the rest of their family. I have noted in their memorials on Find A Grave that they are not actually buried in the same plot as their parents but at least they too are remembered and their names are in stone.

In August of 2015, my family and I, traveled in our Motorhome to visit my aunt Ginnie in Louisville, Kentucky . . . we had the greatest visit. We took a trip to Cloverport so we could actually see the new headstone in place and have a little family memorial . . . I took the above photo while there. Kentucky is so beautiful . . . I felt so at home there . . . missing my aunt and all the green beautiful hills.

In Sweet Remembrance of my Beautiful Mom ~ ♥

Elfriede Haf~Serafin

21 March 1933 ~ 21 July 2010
Unvergessin
                             

Today, marks the fifth year since we lost mom . . . hard to believe this much time has passed. I say the same thing every year at this time, that no matter how much time goes by, it still feels like yesterday. Every moment is very clear and time doesn't change that . . . I still have that ache in my heart.

This year, I picked photos for her memorial collage that I thought brought out how mom lived her life . . . she was fun, happy, content, full of spunk and love and wiser than anyone I have known. She loved life.

There are a few photos that I know she would rather I not share but, as I looked through them, they brought such a smile to my face and heart . . . they are just so "her!" There were so many more but for now, these say it best.

I miss my mom and my best friend more than I can express . . . here's to you mom . . . we love you!

~~~~~~~ ♥ ~~~~~~~

The special bond of Mother and child is written with love on their hearts and souls and make them a part of each other forever.   ~ Author unknown

                                             
                                                                                                          
Photos ~ starting left, going clockwise ~

• Mom standing in my aunt Ginnie's kitchen on our 2008 trip to Kentucky in our RV.
• Newspaper photo and article about mom becoming the first female store manager for Montgomery Wards in San Jose.
• April of 2010 ~ mom flew home to Augsburg to arrange my Oma's (1913 - 2010) memorial service ~ she is playing cards with my cousins, Eleni and Marina at my cousin, Marion's home.
• Childhood photo ~ guessing she may be about ten or eleven (date is unknown)? 
• Mom at a vintage car show.
• Not quite sure what mom was doing with the Spaghetti packages but she was having a great time! 
• Mom and my daughter, Lacie in Augsburg, Germany in 1992.
• Mom in her apartment on Homestead Road in Santa Clara . . . the mid 1970's.
• Center photo ~ mom sitting on the side of her pool (date unknown).
• The background . . . a letter on note paper from my Oma. 

Sentimental Sunday ~ 1995 ~ Grand Canyon, Arizona

Slowly, we have been moving back into our home after living in our RV for over four weeks due to a leak from our old refrigerator. The flooring in our entire home had to be replaced. As I put my genea-office back together, I am reorganizing, scanning, and getting rid of things I don’t need any longer. 

I came across this sweet photo of my daughter and my mom, Elfriede Haf (1933-2010), sitting on the rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, in August of 1995 . . . it was a wonderful trip. This summer we are taking a road trip in our RV across country to visit my eighty-four year old aunt in Louisville, Kentucky.  Our first stop . . . the Grand Canyon, I would like to find that same spot and take a photo with my daughter.

Heading out of Arizona, we will then travel on over to Rowlett, Texas, stopping to visit family there. As we travel thru the different states, we plan to take our time and sight see until we get to Missouri, to visit more family . . . and then onto Kentucky.

In Kentucky, I have quite a few family history trips planned. Several of our Tabeling’s that passed away in 1919 from the Spanish flu, are buried at the Cloverport Cemetery together in one plot . . . they have never had a marker for their grave. My aunt and cousin purchased a headstone for them and it was recently installed. My aunt and I will be taking a trip to Cloverport to see that new headstone . . . so grateful that they now have a marker on their grave. I have a few relatives buried at the famous and beautiful Cave Hill Cemetery there in Louisville, so I plan to visit that cemetery also.

Looking forward to getting out of Dodge, taking lots of photos, and making lots of memories to keep and hold onto.