Related by Marriage: The Exit

Nativity BVM Church, Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Mr. Irene's Mom wears a stylish, sheared beaver capelet.

Pride

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1958. My Dad's older cousin, Henry, admires his Granddaughter, my Kaunas Cousin.

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

Related by Marriage: Solemn

Nativity BVM Church, Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 11, 1958. Guests await the beginning of the wedding ceremony.

Christening

Sacred Heart Church, Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1958. My Godmother's husband must have taken this snapshot; recall Parents and Grandparents do not, in our culture, attend baptisms.

Related by Marriage: Happy Bridesmaids

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 11, 1958. Mr. Irene's maternal Aunt Martha and another attendant appear happy to participate in the wedding of Mr. Irene's Parents.

(Stanley is in the doorway. Also, check out the clock behind the bridesmaids.)

Related by Marriage: Attention

Nativity BVM Church, Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 11, 1958. The honor guard at the wedding of Mr. Irene's Parents listen to the ceremony.

Harvest

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1958. My Mom's friend Joy wrote, "Here I am with Mom. We had a lot of apples!"

Suburban Dream Home

Chicago, Illinois, 1958. A friend of Mr. Irene's Mom moves into her new home.

Related by Marriage: A Spot to Rest

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Attendants at the wedding of Mr. Irene's Parents relax between their duties.

Related by Marriage: An Absorbing Meal

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Guests at the wedding reception of Mr. Irene's Parents enjoy the meal. (There's plenty of Lithuanian Rye on the table.)

Related by Marriage: After the Party

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. A bridesmaid from the wedding of Mr. Irene's Parents relaxes with a guest and one of the VFW fellows.

(This bridesmaid also was named "Irene." Something about her expression here reminds me of Lady Gaga.)

Related by Marriage: Bridal Fashions

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Aunt Petra assesses the modern styles.

Related by Marriage: Anniversary

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 11, 1958. Mr. Irene' Parents got married fifty-eight years ago today.

All Saints Day

Kaunas, Lithuania, November 1, 1958. A relative sent this snapshot of my paternal Grandfather's grave. The family member noted she took the photo on All Saints Day.

The letters "A.A." stand for "Amžina Atsilsi," or "Eternal Rest." Lithuanians use the phrase to show respect for the deceased. A Lithuanian customarily says "Amžina Atsilsi" before uttering the name of a dead person. So, for example, were I to refer to my paternal Grandmother in conversation, I would say, "Amžina Atsilsi Tatjana."

Related by Marriage: Sunday Walk

Holland, Michigan, Spring 1958. Mr. Irene's Mom snaps some tourists.

Related by Marriage: Bridal Fashions

Nativity BVM Church, Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, about 1957 or 1958. Let's take another look at the bridal party.

Related by Marriage: Club Soda

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Guests linger after dinner at the wedding reception of Mr. Irene's Parents. The fellow blowing smoke is Wally, the future husband of Mr. Irene's maternal Aunt Martha.

Related by Marriage: Sheep Shed

Dearborn, Michigan, Spring 1958. Mr. Irene's Mom captures an image of the farm exhibit during her visit to the Henry Ford Museum.

Related by Marriage: Traditions

Nativity BVM Church, Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 11, 1958. Mr. Irene's Parents exchange wedding vows.

There are few people in the pews; contrast with the numbers of many guests at the reception, here and here. The discrepency may stem from a familiar custom: Lithuanians used to maintain that the marriage ceremony was a private ritual meant to be observed only by close family. More peripheral relatives and friends did not attend the church service, but they took part in the celebration. I attended many wedding receptions, but I witnessed few marriage masses.

This tradition is similar to the christening one.

Check that diploma.

Chicago, Illinois, August 1958. The woman behind my Dad appears to inspect the details.