Mabel Wade

Wow - that’s a long long life! And mom lived it well!

Mom was a strong woman, a wonderful example of The Greatest Generation, and she overcame many obstacles and challenges during her life. Married in 1942, at the age of 23, my mom had 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls, and saw 4 grandchildren and 2 great-children born.

Talented with knitting and crocheting, mom was also a terrific cook and enjoyed nothing more than setting out a beautiful (and delicious!) dinner for Thanksgiving and Christmas when her family was growing up. Even later she still had her specialties, such as her Sweet Potato Casserole that her granddaughter, Lora, now makes to honor “Nonny”.

Going back to the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, mom was an accomplished dancer, going to The Polish People’s Home in Passaic, NJ to see many, if not nearly all, the most popular acts in the The Big Band Era. I can still remember her saying that some foolish people once called Frank Sinatra a “skinny kid who would never make it” and laughing at how wrong they were!

I could not write about my mom’s life without including something about her very dear friend, Thelma, who was more like a sister to her than just a friend. The two swapped recipes, fortunately wore the same size dress and shoes so they could borrow them back and forth, and rung in every New Year together for more years than I can count.

All in all, and through it all, my mom, Mabel Wade,Was a very nice person who tried very hard to please everyone and wanted the whole world to be happy. I believe I knew her better than anyone, and so, as her youngest child, I can safely say that mom was one of the best people I will ever know.

I’ll close here quoting the words of a World War II era song, “I’ll be seeing you. In all the old familiar places…” that’s so true, mom. You will be missed every day.

Lovingly, Mabel’s daughter,

Nancy (Wade) Welker