My Mother Sadie (MUM) by Abbie

SADIE, her mom Elizabeth, Sadie's sister LOU (Aunt Lou)

Sadie was born on Dec. 15, 1894 in the house at 2768 Mt. Troy Rd., built by her father and his brothers. She was the second of four girls (Flora, Sadie, Louise, and Elma.) An additional member was added to the family when her cousin Elsie (Lemke---not Elsie Mudie Kennet). Elsie was very fond of Sadie and apparently unhappy with her own mother, and unhappy with her mother's move to Florida, so she decided she'd prefer living with Sadie to living with her own mother, Lena, in Florida. So Elsie, at age 8, took a train from Florida to Pittsburgh, walked from the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in town to Mt. Troy, and knocked on the door, calling, "Setkin, Setkin, mach mir ein auf!" Translation, "Little Sade, Little Sade, make the door open!" Sadie welcomed her back to their home, so that's where our Aunt Elsie lived until she married Uncle Bob, DADDY'S (David Mudie) brother, in the 1960s. They were in their 50s when they got married.

Granddad David, Uncle Bob, Gladys, Else, Buff in front, Abbie, Sadie, maybe Clifford, Elizabeth and Lou

Abbie, Elma, Gladys, Buffy, Gladys, Elsie, Cliffy, Kenny and goat

Berry picking- Grandma Sadie, Buffy, Abbie, Else, Bob

Mum was loved by just about everyone who knew her. When we were small children, she was always the mother who welcomed other children in to our home. She was the one who took us to the school picnic (an exciting day at Rock Springs Park, a park in West Virginia, reached by boat down the Ohio River).

She and my dad saw to it that we all had piano lessons. Even after we moved from Rochester to Pittsburgh (Mt. Troy) we continued our lessons with Mr. Roberts in Rochester, traveling by train from Pgh. to Rochester every Saturday for our lessons. (Else traveled every Sat; Buff and I alternated Saturdays, with Else serving as leader.)
Mom and Daddy always took us to Sunday School. That was important. Later on I became a Sunday School teacher for 5-year-olds. I loved that!

Mom was a good seamstress. She made many of our clothes. I remember a pink Satin dress she made for me because I was jealous of Buff over a beautiful light blue dress that Aunt Lou had bought for Buff. To appease me, Mom copied the dress so I'd have a special one too.

Mom was a good cook. I don't think she followed many recipes; she had her own ideas for many foods. She made delicious donuts and good raisin cakes. Often we arrived home from school to the delicious aroma of her freshly baked bread. She made many different soups, some less appealing than others. 

A spotlessly clean house was never one of

Mom's highest priorities.

She preferred a comfortable home where people

felt welcome and where children played happily.

Mom and Daddy had a soft spot for less fortunate children. They fostered three baby boys from the Children's Aid Society.

Education was important to Mom and Daddy. They encouraged us to do our best in school, and they saw to it that

we all had a college education

(NOT THE NORM FOR OUR GENERATION.)

During the 50s, Daddy drove a bright green 1929 Buick. Our minister told us that he said a little prayer every time he saw Daddy drive to church in that car because he knew Daddy was sending three daughters to college.