She was as comfortable hosting a lavish dinner party as she was pursuing a lifelong love of gardening, up to her elbows in dirt. She could reassure and comfort you after a bad nightmare, then turn on late-night TV to view a shoot-‘em-up john Wayne movie. She was my mother, Marlene Kramer.
Marlene was born in 1931 to Warren and Helen Hinerman in the rural village of Sherman, NY. Their union produced only one child. They lived on a small farm although my grandfather also worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad. My grandmother was employed as a school teacher at one of the few remaining one-room schoolhouses. Marlene’s childhood tended to be lonely, having no siblings. The animals on the Farm became her friends. This cemented a lifelong Passion for pets. Marlene also found solace in reading. Warren exposed her to typically masculine sports such as hunting, fishing and shooting. Not to be outdone, Helen made sure Marlene was an excellent cook, an expert seamstress and a meticulous housekeeper. Marlene’s parent’s church once held a “Bachelor Bid”.
This was an occasion where the young single men could peruse the makings of a lunch prepared by the single young ladies of the congregation. Bids were placed and the lucky guy won a picnic lunch with a young female of his liking. My Ant Terry, Dad’s sister. told me about this. She still remembered the lunch…Imagine, 58 years later. Fried chicken, potato salad and fresh berry pie, all homemade, of course.
Marlene’s intelligence tested at a high level and she did well at school. Upon graduation from high school she attended business college for one year. True to the women of that era, she declined to go any longer, stating, “I’m just going to get married and have children, anyway.”
Albert Kramer surfaced into my mother’s life via an introduction by Al’s brother, Paul. The two began dating, enjoying rollers skating, car rides, music, church and dancing. Within a year of dating they wed. This union lasted 58 years until Mom’s death two years ago. The couple had two daughters, Pamela and Kim.
During their marriage my parents traveled extensively, much to their enjoyment.
In their later years they derived pleasure from their grandchildren and pets. Marlene and Al continued to dance winning a prize for the longest married couple at a friend’s wedding.
I can still see my mother, sitting nightly after we both were asleep, toiling over Barbie doll clothes for Christmas. This was typical of Marlene; everything she did was filled with love. My mother was truly a gift.
Kim Lavery
