Who Owned the China? When my father passed away in the summer of 2008, he left a list directing who should receive what. I use the word “list” instead of “will” because I truly don’t know for sure he had an actual will. There weren’t a lot of family heirlooms other than photographs to mark […]
Read MoreThe closest thing to a family plot I have found is in Sharon Gardens, the Jewish section of the Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. Buried together there are both my paternal grandparents, my aunt, and my great-aunt and uncle. My paternal grandfather My paternal grandmother Constance was my grandmother’s sister. Her husband was Emanuel […]
Read MoreEstelle Byk Kesner The theme for Week 7 was “Love.” Admittedly, I’m a tad bit behind. Blame that on the Genealogy Do-Over. Oh, and the IRS. I wanted to get our taxes filed in case the Anthem Hackers stole our identity. Looks like we’re safe!! (But this is serious business. Close friends of ours did, […]
Read MoreAlan and Jessica SamuelProbably 1935 or 1936 Today was a sad day. My Aunt Jessica was laid to rest after nearly 79 years on this earth. But this post is not really about her – it’s about maintaining family connections. Jessica was my father’s sister. After many years of being estranged, she and my father […]
Read MoreSheldon LeonardFamous writer, actor and producer Dad- you did it again!! Yet another one of your stories has sent me on a wild goose chase. This time, it might have been embarrassing. Last week I posted #11 in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. I didn’t have a lot of time, so I chose […]
Read MoreMy paternal grandmother, Hortense Kesner was the first daughter of Harry George Kesner and Estelle Byk. She was born in New York on February 22, 1907.<!–[if supportFields]>xe “New York:Brooklyn ” \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–> Her sister, Constance, was born in 1911. The date on the back of this photo says ” Feb. 22, 1907″ which was […]
Read MoreNanny and Alan (my dad)February 24, 1933 Estelle Byk was my father’s beloved grandmother. He loved her so much that, when he was just three years old he boarded a train in Long Island and headed for Nanny’s house in Brooklyn! Later in life, he wrote a wonderful tribute to her titled “A Grandmother’s Love.” […]
Read MoreGeo. Ralph Kesner George Ralph Kesner was born on November 16, 1856. He was my 2nd great-grandfather on my father’s side. Information gathered by my father indicated that George was born in Leeds, England. I could find no proof of that. Nor could I find any emigration or naturalization information that might confirm he was […]
Read MoreToday would have been Hattie Kesner’s 135th birthday. Hattie was born on September 4, 1878 in New York. She would become the oldest of six children born to George Ralph Kesner and Jessie Davis. The Kesner’s second child, a son named Harry George, would eventually marry Estelle Byk becoming my paternal great-grandparents. That makes Hattie […]
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Who We Are and How We Got This Way 