Related by Marriage: A Plot with Lilies

Near Goodman, Wisconsin, about 1938. Mr. Irene's paternal Grandfather, Stanley, and other relatives visit Cousin O's plot.

Related by Marriage: Home Wake

Bridgeport, Chicago, Illinois, about 1939. We don't know who died, but Mr. Irene's family saved this image of the entry to a home wake.

It's "World Cepelinas Day"

Are you cooking Cepelinai today? We're not, but it's a nice day to revisit the recipe:

The last time Mr. Irene and I had Cepelinai was when we visited Grand Duke's Restaurant:

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Taps

St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, November 14, 2015. We said goodbye.

Related by Marriage: Sadness

Near Panevėžys, Lithuania, July 1993. Mr. Irene's Dad joins the family of his younger brother, Stacey, at the cemetery.

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."

Spring Ritual

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, June 1973. Dora tends to the plot where Zigmunta (Dora's Mother), Jadzė (Dora's Sister), and Dora' first husband are buried.

Dora wrote, "Here I didn't know I was being photographed, but I liked this photo more than the other one."

Family Plot

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1954. This is where my Dad's relatives are buried. The grave on the far right, marked "1894-1942," belongs to my paternal Grandfather, Vytautas.

A Closer Look (Part 36)

Bridgeport, Chicago, Illinois, 1924. This is Mr. Irene's maternal Aunt, Martha, at the wake of her sister.

Here's the original post.

Related by Marriage: Passing

Near Panevėžys, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, July 27, 1951. Mr. Irene's paternal Grandmother, Veronica, and Veronica's youngest son Stacey mourn the loss of Mr. Irene's paternal Grandfather.

Read here for more about the tradition of photographing funerals.

Memorial Day

The older brother of a grade-school classmate died in Vietnam. Our school cancelled classes the day of his funeral, and all the students attended the funeral mass.

Today I remember him.

ADDED:

Springfield, Illinois, 2012. Here's Dwight's Mom visiting the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Thanks to Dwight's sister for making this photo available to me.

Related by Marriage: Memorial

Near Goodman, Wisconsin, about 1938. Mr. Irene's Mom (left) and his maternal Aunt Martha (second from right) visit Cousin O's burial site.

Related by Marriage: A Passing

Lithuania, about 1940. Relatives gather for the funeral of Mr. Irene's Dad's uncle.

Related by Marriage: Homestead Visit

Panevėžys, Lithuania, July 1993. After the restoration of Lithuanian independence, the government no longer restricted foreigners to hotel visits. Mr. Irene's Dad therefore could return to his childhood home, where his younger brother Stacey and Stacey's wife lived. Here, Mr. Irene's Dad catches up with Stacey's wife (in black) and other relatives shortly after Stacey's death.

Related by Marriage: Eye of Providence

Near Panevėžys, Lithuania, July 1993. Mr. Irene's Dad, his Sister-in-Law, and his niece visit the cemetery in which Stacey is buried.

This was the first trip Mr. Irene's Dad made back to Lithuania after the disintegration of the USSR.

All Souls' Day, Again

Nativity BVM, Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, 1956. I'm not a religious person, but I like the idea of a memorial day for loved ones.

ADDED: All Saints' Day in Lithuania.

Related by Marriage: A Family Plot

Near Goodman, Wisconsin, about 1938. The families of Mr. Irene's Mom and Cousin O again visit a family plot. From left to right: Mr. Irene's maternal Grandfather, Stanley; Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother, Anna; Anna's sister, Petra; Cousin O's daughter; Mr. Irene's Mom; Cousin O, and; an unidentified man.

Dora at the Wake

Kaunas, Lithuania, September 19, 1965. My Mom's maternal Aunt, Dora, attends the wake of her first husband. Dora remarried five years later. If you find the custom of funeral photography peculiar, then you may find a different perspective here.

Related by Marriage: Wake

threatened children's lives. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandparents, Anna and Stanley, lost three offspring during that decade. Here, the family mourns the loss of Baby Jean, who died at three-and-one-half months of age. The family wakes Baby Jean at home. A portrait of family members who stayed behind in Lithuania hangs on the wall. Baby Jean's siblings, Benny and Martha, fold their hands in prayer. Petra, Stanley, and Anna stand on the left.

Related by Marriage: Bring a candle.

Panevėžys, Lithuania, about 1943. Mr. Irene's Dad pays his respects at the wake of his maternal Grandfather, Michael. The woman holding the candle is Veronica, Michael's daughter.

I wrote about photography at funerals here.