Wally was one of my dear friends. She,Don , my husband and  I used to socialize together.  We always had a wonderful time.

Lorette Rice Thruelsen, Redmond Wa.

WALTINA CASKEY
Waltina Caskey was born June 17, 1930 to Walter and Olympia Jerasonek in Claremont New Hampshire.  She was the youngest of five children, four girls and one boy.  Their mother, Olympia, passed away when mom was just 12.   Her older sisters, Jay age 29, and Emily age 27, took it upon themselves to help their dad raise their younger siblings.  
After graduating from Stevens High School in 1948, mom went on to attend The School of Nursing, Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, Hanover New Hampshire graduating in 1951.   In 1953 while working as a nurse, Waltina met the love of her life, Donald, a young, handsome man who happened to be a patient of hers and in that same year they wed.  Money was tight in those days and mom and dad had a simple wedding followed by a reception at her sister Emily’s home in Garden Grove.
The newlyweds liked the area and wanted to be close to mom’s sister Emily.  With a $2,200 loan from Emily for the down payment and a $12,522 VA loan, they bought a brand-new home in a brand-new development surrounded by orange groves and a mix of young and older middle-class families.  It is in this home that our mother raised her entire family and lived for the next 61 years until her death.
It is safe to say that few mothers would ever consider having seven kids, let alone seven boys.  My parents made a lot of sacrifices to raise seven kids, but neither one ever complained.  While dad was focused on working hard to keep a roof over our heads, mom was busy changing diapers, bathing us, getting us dressed, washing diapers, keeping us fed, keeping enough milk in the house, doing laundry, and faithfully herding us all to St. Columban Church every Sunday.
As we got a little older and independent, our home was kind of like 50 shades of Leave it To Beaver.  Our neighbor across the street (whom we aptly named Spy-Guy) made it his life mission to peer over his gate all hours of the day, seven days a week and report to my parents anything that we did wrong whether we broke a window with an errant baseball or stepped on his grass.
My mother was obviously a strong woman but every once in a while she needed a little bit of peace and quiet and another woman to talk to.  Few women could relate to a mother of seven kids, let alone seven boys.  Besides her strong faith, the one person who helped her in stressful times was her long-time best friend, Dixie Somers.  She and her husband were the only people who would even consider babysitting us kids so my parents could have a date-night break or go camping with us on our family vacation.  Dixie was a true gift from God for my mother.
We lived a very simple life but my parents always made sure we had everything that we needed.   Compared to kids today, we were thrill-seekers.  We never locked the front door, rode our bikes without helmets, had orange battles in the abundant orange groves, and played hours-on-end in the street every day without adult supervision.  We grew up in a utopian neighborhood full of kids, with families that knew the names of every child in the neighborhood.   
We eventually went to school, got jobs and settled down.  We all chose different paths yet our parents always loved each of us unconditionally and respected us as individuals.  With the addition of daughters-in-law and grandkids, the family expanded and so did my parent’s love.  Mom absolutely loved ALL of her “daughters” and was so proud of each grandchild and cherished holding them as babies, and later in life, playing Spinner, building puzzles, and challenging them in memory games.  Whether it was one of the grandchild’s art creations, a report card, or newspaper article featuring her grandchild’s pole vaulting or water polo exploits, mom loved to share their accomplishments and was their biggest cheerleader of all.
Mom was a devoted Catholic whose love of God, family, and friends never tired.  She never had anything negative to say about anybody and always put the needs of others way before hers.  She loved working as a volunteer nurse at St. Joseph Hospital, counting money at St. Columban Church and spending time with all of her friends.  As her sisters faced ill health, she had the opportunity to repay them for her upbringing.  She was dedicated to their well-being, brought them into her home, and was there to give them comfort and emotional support all the way to the end.
Mom lived a very full life, not in a material way, but rather in a selfless, spiritual way.  She cared for everyone around her and in doing so she fulfilled her mission to be a servant of God.  In the end, she would not want you to be sad, for mom is now in heaven with dad, and is now an angel above for each of us.  She has graduated with a Master’s Degree in love, spirituality, and kindness, and got her last wish in life, a beautiful mass with all of her sons, family, and friends present, and her favorite priest, Father O’Gorman sending her off to be with the Father.     


Wally was one of the most influential woman in my life. In my early 20's I decided to become a Christian. Thanks to Tom and Bobbi I decided on the Catholic religion. Wally spent every Wednesday night with me for a year and a half while I learned about Christianity, asked a bunch of ridiculous questions and ultimately was Baptized. She stood by me every step of the way. My faith means everything to me. I am so blessed to have such an amazing woman come into my life. RIP, Mrs. Caskey, I Love You .

Wally was the Best Mother inLaw anyone could ever ask for. Her smiles said it all. Kind, loving & honest. We will forever miss her.

I remember fun high school times spent with Tom and how much he loved his Beautiful Mom. I admire her raising all her boys and the love she had for her family. RIP beautiful soul, you've left behind quite a legacy and the Caskey name will live on for a long, long, time!

I was blessed to have Wally as a mother in law and Grandmother to my children. She was one of the most amazing woman I have ever met. She was loving, caring and giving of everything she could give.  I can only hope that I can be 1/2 the mother, wife and grandmother that she was.  

I will miss her greatly

To my Caskey cousins,

I have a photo of Wally, my mother Jay and toddler me on the grounds of the Washington Monument in Charlestown, Massachusetts.  She was a part of the first pictures of me, but of course, I can't remember the day.  I do remember my father, Bill, remembering hr visit becuase she made him climb the monument with her.  He had lived in Charlestown all his life and had managed to avoid it!  

But my first real memory of her & Don is the day she came to visit Jay in our apartment in Brighton, Mass. when she introduced your father to all of us.  I remember the day because Don bumped his head on the top of the doorway trying to get into the apartment.  Waltina gave some jewelry to my mother that I received once I was old enough to appreciate it.  I still have it and still wear some of it.

My favorite memory of your mom is from when I was visiting her a few years ago.  She had clipped a car in a parking lot the day before, but didn't stop to leave a note.  The police came to the door having tracked her down with a parking lot camera.  As I was being told the story the next day, she was smiling broadly, like a little kid who got caught but wasn't sorry.  She said she was old and figured everyone would chalk it up to her age.  She was always so honest and upright. I think it delighted her that she had finally fallen off that wagon and had done something "bad." The imp!

I will miss you so much, Wally.  You and Don have raised a family that would make a saint jealous. I have always enjoyed the time I got to spend with you. 

To you boys, spouses and Wally's grandchildren: I know you have lost the linchpin of your family.  No one will ever be able to take her place, but what a fine example she is of how to live a loving and honorable life!  She was always there for you, just as you were for there for her.  I envy your close bonds.  She was the last of her generation, and maybe the best of them. I know she was my mother's favorite sister, even though there was 20 years of age between them.
 
We may be a continent apart, but I hope we don't drift apart.  I love you all and hope you are blessed with the strength to get through this next difficult week without too much pain.  My thoughts are with you as you celebrate her life. 

My deepest, teary condolences.  Your cousin, Michaele Harrington

OBITUARY

Waltina Frances Caskey

June 17, 1930 – March 12, 2017

Dimond & Shannon Mortuary

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