Genevieve Marie Johnson Katzmark
1913-1996


Hold thou thy cross Before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, And point me to the skies;
Heaven's morning breaks, And earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.


My mother was born in Gary Indiana. Gen., as most of her friends called her, was raised by her mother Jenny and two maiden great aunts Mamie and Dolly . During her childhood she resided at 7125 Cornell Avenue, Chicago Illinois. Mother graduated from St Lawrence grammar school, and attended Aquinas high school. During the depression years 1930-34 she worked as a window dresser for several department stores in the Chicago loop.

On October 9, 1934 she married  my father, Paul Valentine Katzmark, and established residence in the South Shore area of Chicago. In 1941 they saved enough money to buy their first home at 8430 Michigan in the Chathem area. In 1948 they moved to Beverly and lived 22 years at 9120 South Leavitt Street. After moving to Palos, and then to St. Paul Minn. they returned to Frankfort Illinois in 1976 where they retired.

 

Mother Gave Birth to six Children

Thaddeus James (Thad) the oldest born January 1936
Jean Colette Born on their anniversary October 9, 1937
In January 1941 mother gave birth to twins Peter Charles and Paul Clifford
Again in January 1948 our younger sister Mary Ellen was born
Finally in July 1952 the surprise John Robert (Jacky)