Mary Ofner

From her granddaughter Marian Wisnev:

We know, of course, that my Grandfather, Albert Ofner, came over to escape the Emperor of Germany and induction in the German Army - He settled in Belleville with relatives until moving to St. Louis. Grandmother Mary was sent for by her cousins in America. Yes, Mary Kohn spoke German! Pilsen, Bohemia was then under the German Empire. Today, it is in the Czech Republic.

After Uncle Dave ( Sherman's Grandfather) and Uncle Charlie began school, both Grandfather Albert and Grandmother Mary insisted that only English was spoken in their home. Dave and Charlie taught them all English. They dropped all foreign customs and wanted to have nothing to do with the old country! As you can tell, I like that they did that = however, I wish that they had talked a bit more about the old country to the children!

The Ofner home was over the bakery. While I'm certain that the children shared rooms, my Mother never indicated that she lived in crowded conditions. The children helped their Dad in the bakery. Did I tell you about my Mother delivering bakery goods to the "Insane Asylum" on weekends? One of the earliest jobs that she had helping in the bakery was to deliver bakery goods every weekend to inmates. Relatives would leave standing orders with Grandfather Ofner. My Mother would tell me that as a child she would lie awake in terror every Friday night as she was scared to death to go into the asylum each Saturday morning. :)

Grandmother Mary died before I was born - Grandfather Albert lived with My Mom and Dad until his death in 1934? (have to look that up when I go to the cemetary - they are buried at Mt. Sinai) - I was 4 years old. I'm not sure if I remember him or if I just remember my folks talking about him and the things that we did together.