CHAPTER 18
Life After Death

And now, in reference to the early chapters of this book, my readers must be wondering how this family with so many small children got along after their young mother's suffering was over and she went to live with God.

With their aunt still making her home with them, and their foster older brother pinch-hitting in between times, and many extra hours of labor on the part of their father, they seemed to adjust very well. They each in their own way had his or her bad times, as was to be expected. But I must turn the clock back a few years to really make you understand how things do happen in situations like this.

So that you will understand how great my loss of this daughter was, let me add a few things now.

On the day of her wedding when she was coming down the altar steps getting ready to leave the church, Rose scanned the front pews until her eyes met mine, then she smiled and continued on down the aisle.

Her children still have her little metal rocking chair that she got for her first Christmas.

I mentioned to her one day that of all of the married children we had she was the only one who lived in the same town with us. She smiled and said, " I always did want to be an only child."

Whenever they went camping, or took a trip of any kind, she always called so I would know where they were and how I could reach them by phone.

Sometimes she would phone me and say, "Aren't I a terrible daughter? I haven't called you in such a long time."

She was always glad when I pulled our car into their driveway. She would meet me at the door, put on the coffee pot, drop whatever she was doing and insist that we sit in the living room with our coffee. She would insist I take the most comfortable chair and we would just visit and enjoy each other's company. Rose always called her Kathy "Charlie Brown" because Kathy loved this so much on TV.

Different times when Rose's father was in the hospital, she used to come and help me in the store during busy seasons, and bring Kathy along. The rest of her children were in school at the time. And Kathy would always say, "Grandma, can I snoop in your drawer?" meaning the drawer where all of the trinkets landed when I cleaned, which I had no real use for. And of course she got my permission because this is what I had in mind when I tossed the things in there. I was so proud when Rose worked in the store with me and she would ask, "Mom, how much is this?" or "How much is that?" Then I knew the people in the store realized this beautiful woman was my daughter.

She insisted on doing all of her own canning in the summer to insure her family's nutrition.

There was the time that she arrived at her mother-in-law's home late in the evening. When Mother Brickner looked behind her, expecting to see Fran, Rose said, " Would you believe I was out jogging? No? Then would you believe I had a fight with my husband ?" At this her mother-in-law put her arm about Rose and said, "You come right in, my dear, and stay as long as you like." But while we are on this type of thing, let me hasten to add a note that I had written to Rose's husband on his previous birthday:

Dear Fran:
If these would be like the days of old, when it was the parents' duty to pick a mate for their child, I hope we would have made as wise a choice as Rose did.
You not only take care of our daughter and our grandchildren, but like Saint Joseph you have a foster son. Many times I have thought these thoughts, but what better time to express them than now on this, your birthday.

All our love from Dad and Mom Elchert

Fran supports them by being a traveling salesman. He calls on grain elevators and sees many farmers in his line of work. But there was one particular older gentleman who phoned Fran whenever his chickens got sick, and Rose usually answered the telephone, but when she answered for him, he would always come back with " Is this my little Rosebud? " She was well acquainted with Fran' s customers due to attending company parties and because she took most of his telephone calls.

(End of Chapter 18)


I Love You, Mom
HOME
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LINER NOTES
DEDICATION
TO MY SISTER
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CENTER PICTURES
CHAPTER 9
A TRIBUTE TO MY PARENTS
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
EPILOGUE