A Closer Look (Part 34)

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1919. This is my Dad's older cousin, Vytas.

Here's the original post.

Holy Communion (Part 12)

 

 

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1919. My Dad's older cousins, the boys Vytas (on the left) and Henry celebrate their first Holy Communion. My Dad had elegant hands and long fingers, just like Vytas.

 

Thanks to my Kaunas Cousin for making this photo available to us.

"Language of Lithuania"

"Of all the European languages the Lithuanian has the largest number of diminutives expressing tenderness, endearment and affection."

That's why my Mom still calls me "Irutytė" (Irene = Irena ® Irutė (diminutive of "Irena") ® Irutytė (diminutive of "Irutė").

(Via New York Times archive.)

Thanks to my friend GV for pointing out this archived piece to me.

Facing Revolution

This is how my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, looked around the time she attended the St. Petersburg university. She was the first woman to graduate from the institution with a degree in Chemical Engineering:

Tambov, Russia, 1916. My Grandmother, Tatjana, poses for a passport photograph.

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This is how Tatjana looked three years later, after she watched the Russian Revolution unfold, witnessed the execution of her father, searched for his remains, feared deportation to Siberia, and fled to Lithuania:

Russia, 1919. Tatjana wears the locket in which she kept the portraits of her Grandparents.