“You are only as old as you feel…” - My Grandmother
Next month my paternal grandmother, the sweetest woman whom ever hath lived will be gone for 5 years. She lived a long and lived it well. Her parents Anton and Katie Kolar emigrated to the USA from the Bohemia region of Slotny, Czechoslovakia in 1897. My great Uncle Charlie was born in 1913 and my grandmother born 2 years later. Making them the first generation born in the United States. My great grandparents loved this country for what it gave them. The Czechs (and Poles) actually were largely responsible for building up the city and working on the railroad.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, my grandmother followed her brother’s footsteps, who had answered the call and joined the Army Air Corps; the precursor to the Air Force. So, she went to the recruiter’s office for the Navy. She wasn’t going to be serving in combat, but all important jobs like radio communications, administration jobs, cooks, etc. So, she walks into the recruiter’s office at MAYBE 4’10 and probably 85 Lbs soaking wet, after thanksgiving. The recruiter apologized and said “Ma’am, I’m sorry…I can’t use you. You just don’t weigh enough. I can tell you want to serve…” She left the office extremely sad but saw this Coast Guard Recruiter office was open. So, she went in, he weighed her and told her the same thing. But I think he could tell she REALLY wanted to serve. He added “I tell what, it’s Wednesday…if you can gain just 5 Lbs by Friday, I’ll put you in for training, ok?” She basically said “Deal, I’ll see you Friday!” She isn’
Great Uncle Charlie (Charles) and Lillian “Lil’ Kolar outside their home in Plsen (now Pilsen) in Chicago
So, she went to the Market and got bushels of bananas and peanut butter and just ate it with every meal - she and I both love this snack. So, she proudly marched in to the recruiter’s office and said said she was ready. He told her he wasn’t expecting to see her, but weighed her. When he weighed her because she didn’t gain the 5 Lbs she needed; she gained 8! So, he put her in and was assigned to Hilo, Hawaii (tough assignment) where she was a Morse/radio operator. During her free time she served as a bus driver shuttling families visiting their injured servicemen from the Pacific front. She’d also volunteer at the VA Hospital reading letters to the injured boys, holding their hands while they writhed in pain, and in some cases hold them while they died.
(The bold part was told to me by my dad; she never talked about it)
After the war she came home to Chicago and worked as a Bookkeeper for a glue factory…she’d come home…would sleep for 4 hours on the floor, then work as a Bookkeeper at a shoe factory, went home, and ate;. Then, went to glue and repeat ….6 days a week for nearly 50 years. She then retired around 1988 and moved to Baldwin Park, California a city in the San Gabriel Valley - just about 16 miles NE of LA. Every time I would meet her she would get this sweet smile on her face and say “so…how is your love life?” Unfortunately it was never good…haha
When I graduated high school in 1998, she flew out to see it. I remember this little knock at the door and there she was standing there smiling (unfortunately no picture). After the ceremony several of my family and I were going out for lunch… I invited her and my half-brother (same dad) to come out. They had to get back to the city. Apparently my other grandmother (who has been a demon all her life was extremely rude to her; despite my angelic grandmother being cordial. Every time I saw my good grandmother she always asked how the evil one was. It dates Back to Christmas of 1979, when my dad was on leave from the military, both sides (grandmothers, etc.). for Christmas. My sweet grandmother asked “So, are we having ham?”(we’re Czech…we love pork). The demon snidely said “We don’t eat ham in this house; we eat prime rib…” You see, my demonic grandmother grew up rich, her parents owned a relatively well known funeral home but my angelic grandmother grew up doing poor; demons are known to remind people of this…
In 2007, I was getting ready to go on a mission trip to work with a village in Northern Kenya. I had to raise $3,000 and was stressed about it. So, near the end of the trip she handed me an envelope with a cashiers check for $7,000. Apparently she had cashed in a CD she had for me. She had no idea about the trip…this woman was not only an angel NOW she was one then.
My grandmother and I right before I left. She was 92 here….pay no attention to babyfaced/beardless me…she’s always the best looking one in a photograph…
In Christmas of 2009, my dad, grandmother, brother and his family and I were together for Christmas
my then - 10 y/o niece and 95 y/0 grandmother/ gr.grandmother baking kolacky…
My grandmother loved cats but didn’t want to have any because she didn’t want to get attached…these floofy ones are from the neighborhood. Apparently the word was out that a certain sweet old lady that lived there gave out yummy treats. They’d even climb into her lap…
In 2014, she was leaving the house to go play bingo when she fell and broke her hip. She had it replaced…she was 99…she basically ended up bedridden. She ended up on hospice…then got better and off of hospice. A year later I graduated Bible College and went to see her. I think she always knew it was hard for me to get out there because of work, school, etc. my brother could work from anywhere; I couldn’t. Sometimes I wish I was a better grandson. I know that is a foolish thought there was time where I asked for $ because I was hard up. Other times where I wish I would have listened to her stories.
One year prior to her passing…100 years ol….YOUNG.
Whenever I would go see her I would tell my dad not to tell her. When she would see me, she say “OH MY HEAVENS!” with a big smile on her face…I loved that. She was nearing the end and I think we all knew it. It’s funny because every time I was out there she’d say “This is probably the last time you will see me…” for 20 years. My da would say, “Don’t listen to her she’ll probably outlive us all…your great grandmother lived to almost 100…Both tough women. Keep in mind my gr.-grandmother was born in the 19th century.
Then, one night around midnight in mid-February my dad called me and told me that she had passed. Apparently, 2 nuns from the parish that she had been at since 1988 were in the house talking to her bedroom and one said “save me seat”. My grandmother had been a practicing Roman Catholic all her life smiled, and the nuns left. It’s hard for me to think for being there for this next part. My dad was standing at the door of her room talking to her friend seated her bedside. My grandmother took a deep breath and….found out the “what’s next?”…
In 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer a German pastor and underground Seminary professor was involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler. He was being led to the gallows and the guard said “So, this is the end, huh pastor?” Bonhoeffer said “The end of this life; the beginning of the next.”
Since she served in the military she had a flag folding and “Taps” played. It was beautiful.
In 101.5 years she would have seen so much change and lived quite a life, served her country, raised a son, grandkids, great grandkids. She also became a commercial actress staring in two commercials (she even had a S.A.G. card). One commercial for Prego Pasta Sauce and another for Rocky the Video Game. I saw the latter on t.v. once and flipped out. She starred two cameo roles, one in the Dukes of Hazzard movie and the other as Sarah Silverman’s Nana in “Jesus is Magic” she said that she regretted doing that one. She was 4’10 and 85Lbs, but the toughest strongest petite lady you could ever meet. It’s no wonder why I’m attracted to strong, tough, kind, sweet, self-sufficient, and thoughtful. I’ve always said she was the greatest and SWEETEST WOMAN whom. EVER lived. I’ll always miss her. I’m just sad she never got to see me happy and to get married. Maybe one day I’ll find a lady like her; but they are pretty rare.
Go to: 25:30
It’s in Spanish but she pops up around 1:40
Whenever she wrote she’d always sign,
🎶🎶Love and Prayers 🎶🎶
Here she is at 99 — one year prior to her accident. My all time favorite photo of her. I want this tattooed on me…
