Mary Schiff

When I was a child, Grandma would tell me about life in Russia. I remember her stories which included such details as baking in an outdoor oven. When she came to America, she lived in New York. She worked in a thread factory, winding thread on spools. She knew Grandpa from the old country. They married in NY. They lived in the Bronx above their deli. My grandparents moved to Akron, Ohio in the early 1940's from New York. Many of their relatives (on both sides of the family)had moved to Ohio - Akron, Youngstown & Columbus. I grew up in their home. My mother worked in a department store most week days, so my grandmother lovingly helped raise me. As Grandpa worked nights, when I was not in school, or in camp in summer time, I played outdoors - but preferably quietly read, anything so not to disturb Grandpa's rest! Grandma was the perfect Jewish grandmother! Dressed in a housedress, sensible shoes (often with a cut- out at the little toe area for painful 'corns'), rolled up hose, & always an apron, she beautifully kept her strictly Kosher home. A wonderful cook, she made delicious meals, baked often, and canned with Grandpa -pickles, green tomatoes & sauerkraut! I remember how she rolled noodle dough on the dining room table (covered with oilcloth); baked challah & sugar cookies; created geffilte fish; ground horseradish (such tears!); and plucked freshly slaughtered chickens while sitting on a chair in the doorway of the garage... I remember meat in the sink; salted; soaked..... I do not remember any cookbooks! All her recipes were from memory. Her work days were full - and heavy. She darned socks on a wooden 'egg', sewed buttons & repaired clothes. The laundry she washed in a wringer washer in the basement & hung out on the backyard line to dry. Grandpa's shirts were starched & ironed, as were the sheets, with a heavy iron on an ironing board in the kitchen! Groceries were purchased either at the corner grocery or the bigger grocery market several blocks away. Fish came from the fish market; meat from the butcher; other baked goods from the baker. All were carried home in paper bags on walks, from a block long to much longer distances. I learned to keep house, plan, shop, & cook by watching & interacting. She & Grandpa spoke several languages. Around the home, I heard English & Yiddish. Occasionally, Russian was spoken. And if the conversation was not for a child's ears - Polish! On outings for Workman Circle, a play, a Jewish Community Center event or visit to friends, the apron disappeared! Grandma would have her hair done, dress up, wear a hat with a short veil & a feather, higher yet still sensible heels (& her fur collar coat & gloves in Winter). Just before she left the house, she would polish her nails - drying the wet nails quickly by moving her hands over the open flame of the stove burner! A dash of matching lipstick & she was ready! Grandma had arthritis. Sometimes her hands ached so very badly from the arthritis pain. At those times, she would heat paraffin wax in a big kettle on the kitchen stove. Dunking her hands in the melted paraffin, the heat would permeate her hands & provide relief. After the wax cooled, she let me crack it off of her hands & play with it a while! Since she also had diabetes, she had to give herself insulin injections & closely monitor her dietary intake. Her little bit of diet cheating was an occasional teaspoon of peanut butter! To this day, I can still 'smell & feel' the gylcerin & rosewater with which she softened her hands, and mine. Some of Grandma's family resided in Columbus, Ohio. I remember long car rides on state roads (before the superhighways) to visit cousins in the Horowitz & Gurevitz (Gurewitz?) families. Names I remember are Sonny & Sam Gurevitz; Isidore Gurivitz; David Gurevitz...... Grandma developed 'hardening of the arteries' in the middle 1960's. When she passed in 1966, it was very difficult on Grandpa. He passed about 6 months later. I was given his wallet & ring at the hospital. In his wallet, he had carried two important papers all of his life in the states: his naturalization paper and their wedding announcement from the newspaper. To this day, it brings tears to my eyes & a catch to my throat at how much I miss them.