Sylvia Ucilla Gudmundsen, my grandmother, looms large in my
mind. I am embarrassed to show how little I know of her.
Born in 1898, we share a
birthday – November 27 – and that has always been meaningful to me; of her
twenty grandchildren, I supposed that made me special. In reality, when you are
special you can develop a sense of responsibility
to maintain that designation. So I often felt I was disappointing her in some
way. I have learned some things about us both, that all grandchildren are special, and also about how hard it is to
disappoint a grandmother, no matter what.
All my life
I heard Sylvia referred to as Gene. I understand she had performed in a role by
this name at school, though I do not know the play or the school: was it high
school or college? She met her husband while attending BYU.
Gene played
the piano, and taught piano in her home. In Centerville my dad said she was
piano teacher/confessor for at least one student. She did work in various
positions throughout her life as her husband, James Arno Kirkham, moved the
family through a succession of careers. She worked for ZCMI, Utah Association
of Petroleum Retailers, See’s Candies and others.
Salt Lake
City, Provo, Centerville were the communities my father grew up in, and it was
the last home in Centerville I recall. Main street, view of the Great Salt
Lake, Granny Smith Apple trees, Wringer Washing machine, barn complete with
Calico cat. In 1960 Gene and Arno moved to California, near her sister Hazel,
who had been there since the WWII period. They settled for a decade or more in
Huntington Beach.
Gene was
mother to three sons, Jim, Thad and Kreg. While both she and her husband passed
away in California, 1975 and 1976 respectively, they are buried in Lehi, Utah.
No comments:
Post a Comment