february 20, 1951

My Uncle Johnnie died in 1946, after seven short years of marriage. My grandmother wrote this letter to her widowed daughter-in-law Grace, five years later. My grandmother was an amazing lady, born in 1886, and had no more than an 8th grade education. It didn't stop her from having a wonderful and loving heart.

JMJ 2/20/1951 10 p.m.

To my dear daughter Grace,

I am going to write this letter to you tonight, and explaining which grave you will be buried in on the day when Our Dear Lord Jesus will call you home to meet your dear husband John Francis X. L. Jr. and he will be waiting for you at the heavenly gates.

The grave is on the right side of Pa and my grave when I die. In the Woodland Cemetery lot Number 111, Newark, NJ.

I will mark it on the Woodland Cemetery Deed.

And dear Grace I surely will tell you, and also before Pa died, we was always so thankful to you for all your kindness and in making our dear son Johnnie so happy in the few years with you in your happy married life together.

Please Grace save this letter, so all will know that you be buried in the same grave of your husband. All of my dear children told me to write this letter to you.

May God have mercy on Pa's and Johnnie's soul.

And God bless and guide you always. Please pray for me.

Your loving mother,

Mary L.

60 years after Johnnie was buried, Aunt Grace joined him. I'm lucky to have some of these old letters.