Lucinda's Story

Fairy tales do not always come true. A lovely, romantic story does not always have a happy ending. Life is not necessarily fair and things happen that sometimes we wish would not.

During the first half of the 20th century there was no effective treatment for tuberculosis. Very often the symptoms such as loss of weight, loss of energy, poor appetite, fever, a nagging cough, and night sweats would be incorrectly diagnosed as another disease. Usually by the time the disease was correctly diagnosed it was in the advanced stages.

Lucinda died in March of 1934, at the age of 26, after contracting tuberculosis the previous year. She was survived by her husband William and her 4 year old son Jackie. She was laid to rest at Saint Teresa's cemetery in Westphalia, Kansas.

A Letter to Lucinda,

Lucinda you were taken from this earth at far too young an age, taken from the ones who loved you. You would never grow old with your loving husband, never see your child grow into a man.

Jackie grew into Jack, a strong man, a good man. He married Elizabeth and they raised a family.

Lucinda, you are gone but now William has joined you. Your son Jack, and Elizabeth, are with you as well.

Jack's two sons are still here to carry the family name. Your grandsons Lucinda, and oh, you would be so proud of the men they have become, all they have done, and all they continue to do. When someone looks at them they are seeing a little part of you.

How do I know all these things Lucinda? Well, it is because your youngest grandson is the man I married.