One-Note Reunion

Belleville, Wisconsin, October 19, 2014. There are some colorful spots on the way to New Glarus.

Chapel Reunion

Unity Chapel, Taliesen Estate, Spring Green, Wisconsin, September 2, 2014. Look around for some history.

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.

Bruised

Suburban Chicago, June 1962. Here's another view of my face after I took the fall on the driveway.

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."

"Mission Siberia"

An annual pilgrimage.

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.

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: Good Friday

St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, Easter 1938. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandparents, Stanley and Anna, visit a familiar spot.

At-Rest Reunion

Belleville, Wisconsin, October 19, 2014. It's a quiet place.

Remembered

Taliesen Estate, Spring Green, Wisconsin, September 2, 2014. A century has passed since the murders at Taliesen I.

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.

A Resting Place for Vlad

Estonian scholars uncover Dracula's tomb in Naples, Italy.

Hillside Cemetery

Hintertux, Austria, July 1971. We've stopped to have a picnic.

Stay warm.

Suburban Chicago, December 1959. We've taken a drive to the cemetery in Dad's Beetle.

November 1

November 1 is the unofficial beginning of winter in many countries. Lithuanians switched to winter wardrobes on that date. My Mom remembers wearing her coat for the first time each year on All Souls' Day, when her family visited the cemetery. In Italy, an ordinance barred government buildings—like the Archive in which I worked—from turning on the heat before November 15.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, about 1949. Toronto Al's Dad, Vladas, joins a winter grouping.

Thanks to Toronto Al for making this photo available to us.

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.