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The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.
Showing posts with label Volunteer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Volunteer. Show all posts

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Memorials Written for my Mother and Her Revised Will to Benefit 6 Non-Profit Organizations

A newspaper obituary written about my mother was titled, "The Ultimate Volunteer, " I blogged about that obituary five years ago, see HERE. Now, 26 years after her April 16, 2016 death, I am posting three memorial articles to my mother. From the obituary, "She died of a heart attack, at the age of 70, doing what she loved, leading a group of bicyclists on an annual Patriot's Day bike ride in Lincoln [sic] (should be Lexington)."

Alan Dressler, Marta Gredler and Sharon Cain wrote memorial articles and Jean H. James wrote the Memorial Ride in my mother's name. Part of what they wrote are these statements: "Just a few of her activities: the Presidency of her Skidmore college class; Westford (MA) teacher; AARP; the Concord Piece-makers (her quilting group); Boy Scout recycling drives; Rails to Trails projects; and of course Bicycling with the Nashoba Valley Pedalers." "Long-time volunteer of the New England Quilt Museum." Personally, I know she was a Girl Scout volunteer and for several years the Sunday School volunteer administrator.

Her revised will dated 1 March 1990, just 6 weeks prior to her death and a few months before a scheduled trip to France, replaced her original one prepared in ca. 1955. She thought so much about her love of the Church, Rails to Trails, New England Quilt Museum, Friends of the Acton Council on Aging, Northfield Mt. Hermon School (where she attended a private high school), and Skidmore College that she left each of them 1/6 of 1/4 of her estate.
Marta









Friday, November 13, 2009

Princess Diana, a sad follow-up

The postcard of Diana's dresses was used to announce the exhibit of some of her beautiful dresses. The exhibit was held at the American Textile History Museum in my home city. As a docent there, I saw it many times during the time it was there, from November 1, 1998 - January 17, 1999. Everybody was moved by just about everything...the fact that we were able to see the dresses and gowns, but to see large posters of her at the time she wore them. Seeing these things brought much sadness because she was no longer with us. All the gowns were encased in Plexiglas squares, so we could see all sides of the dress. This was an extremely popular exhibit.  Of course, this was maybe more moving to me, since I had personally seen her. The post was written a month after I began my blog in October 2009. See HERE

A few years later, the Museum exhibited dresses worn by many Hollywood stars in their movies. I have that flyer too. There I did touch Judy Garland's blue dress, worn in The Wizard of Oz. Other dresses were worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Davis (born in Lowell, Massachusetts) and many actors and actresses.