Grandmas

Grandmas

Family reminiscence by Karen Lawler.

My grandmother, Martha Surland DeRosa, was the oldest girl child in her family of eight children. Her father was a ladies’ tailor for Marshall Field’s. He brought home all the extra material. Once their cat had kittens in the box where it was kept.

Grandma Dee was such a wonderful sewer that she would stand me on a table, cut a paper pattern, and make me an outfit.

Her husband, Michael, played the harp in a dance band that performed tea dances for society people. He would come home and draw pictures of the dresses he saw, and she would make them for my mother. She was the best-dressed poor child in Chicago.

Both of my grandmas worked as waitresses at the Marshall Field’s Tea Room. Each received a wedding present from Mrs. Fargo of the Wells Fargo Company. Martha received a pocket watch, which I have, and Sophia received six sterling silver teaspoons, which I also have.