Related by Marriage: Bridal Fashions

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

Related by Marriage: Waiting for the wedding.

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, June 27, 1959. Here's Mr. Irene's maternal Aunt Martha, waiting to depart for her marriage ceremony. She's sitting in the living room of her Parents' home. Aunt Petra appears in the mirror.

I love this photo because it captures the "look" of DP-era Marquette Park. The image also preserves Martha's most common expression.

A Closer Look (Part 40)

Southwestern Lithuania, about 1909. This is Mr. Irene's Great Aunt Petra. She stood for this photo shortly before she sailed to the United States.

Here's the original post.

A Closer Look (Part 23)

St. George's Parish, Bridgeport, Chicago, June 1917. This is Mr. Irene's Great Aunt Petra. Petra was the older sister of Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother, Anna.

Here's the original post.

Related by Marriage: Women's Guild

St. George's Parish, Bridgeport, Chicago, 1942. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother Anna (marked with the white "X" in the fourth row) and her sister Petra (marked in the third row) remain active in the church's leadership.

Related by Marriage: Family Table

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Mr. Irene's family shares one side of the head table at the wedding reception of Mr. Irene's Parents.

Related by Marriage: Holy Communion (Part 21)

St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, 1939. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother Anna, his Mom, and Anna's sister Petra stop by the cemetery after the Communion ceremony.

Related by Marriage: Sunday at the Seminary

Marian Hills Seminary, Willowbrook, Illinois, about 1938. Mr. Irene's Mom and her maternal Aunt Petra (dark hat) visit the site with a family friend. There's more on the history of Marian Hills Seminary here.

Related by Marriage: A Twist on the Sunday Ritual

Suburban Chicago, Summer 1964. The family changes the routine and spends a Sunday together at Mr. Irene's home. The furnishings identify the house: there's that coffee table, and Skippy's cage is in the corner.

Left to right are Mr. Irene's maternal Grandparents, Stanley and Anna; Mr. Irene on his Dad's lap; Aunt Martha and her husband Wally; and Anna's sister, Petra.

Related by Marriage: We celebrated in the kitchen.

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, 1959. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandparents, Stanley and Anna, celebrate Mr. Irene's christening with Anna's sister, Petra.

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.

Related by Marriage: A Drive to the Suburbs

Suburban Chicago, Spring 1963. Mr. Irene's Mom wrote on the back of this photo, "A visit from Grandma and Aunt Petra with the Chevy Bel Aire."

Related by Marriage: Bacon Buns

Suburban Chicago, 1961. “Cousin I” celebrates her birthday at Mr. Irene’s home. Mr. Irene’s maternal Grandmother, Anna, sits on the right. Anna’s sister, Petra, is on the left. Do you see what’s on the table—besides birthday cakes? Why, there are bacon buns and an assortment of dešeros (“kielbasas”).
 
Here’s a recipe for bacon buns.

(That 1950s-style formica kitchen table is in our house.)

Related by Marriage: There will be time to work, later.

Near Goodman, Wisconsin, about 1938. The family of Mr. Irene's Mom visit Cousin O's farm. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandfather Stanley sits. Standing, from left to right, are: Cousin O's daughter, Mr. Irene's Mom, Aunt Petra, Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother Anna, and the Godmother of Mr. Irene's Mom.

Related by Marriage: Anniversary Toast

St. George's Parish, Bridgeport, Chicago, June 1917. Today is the ninety-sixth wedding anniversary of Mr. Irene' maternal Grandparents, Anna and Stanley.

We've got a bottle of Chandon chilling in the refrigerator; we'll toast the wedding party tonight.

Related by Marriage: Another Sunday

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, May 1960. Mr. Irene buckles in for another ritual Sunday dinner. Seated, from left to right, are Mr. Irene's Great Aunt Petra, his maternal Aunt Martha, his maternal Grandmother Anna, Mr. Irene, his Father (partially visible), and Martha's husband Wally.

Related by Marriage: Holiday on the Farm

Near Carter, Wisconsin, Summer 1938. The family of Mr. Irene's Mom visit Mom's Godparents. Standing with Mr. Irene's Mom are her father, Stanley, and her Godfather. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother, Anna, her sister, Petra, and Mr. Irene's Aunt Martha lurk in the background.

Bouquets

St. George's Parish, Bridgeport, Chicago, June 1917. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother, Anna, poses on her wedding day with her sister, Petra (on the right), and another attendant.

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: Wedding Party

St. George's Parish, Bridgeport, Chicago, June 1917. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandparents, Anna and Stanley, pose on their wedding day with their attendants. Anna's sister Petra stands on the far left.