Tag: Obituary

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Re: Question

 
Sat 11/28/2020 11:31 PM
 
John, IV
 
Sorry for my delayed response.  Jack had gallbladder issues and spent a couple of days in the hospital, resulting in its removal.  That, plus Thanksgiving and his being in the hospital during that time, has set me back a bit.  I didn’t turn my computer on until today and am finally catching up on emails, etc.  He’s doing much better but will take a few weeks to recover.  November hasn’t been a good month for us, and we’re hoping for no more hospital visits for a long, long, longggggg time.

 
I’m not sure where to start looking for your great grandfather’s and grandmother’s gravesites.  I’ve walked through St. Cyril and Mt. Calvary cemeteries a few times and don’t remember seeing their names anywhere.  There’s another cemetery, Hillside, in town.  I just looked for their names at Hillside with no results found, so that’s a dead end.  I don’t know the names of all the cemeteries in Durham, but Google will know.  I don’t have a problem looking for their gravestones if I know where they are.  I can ask my HS friend for help with this.  He may even be able to find an obituary.  I’ll do that and get back to you.
 
You’re not driving me crazy any more than I drive YOU crazy.  It seems to be what we do best.  This Ancestry stuff isn’t for the faint at heart!!
 
Beth
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Re: Status Updates

Sun 11/29/2020 10:03 PM
John, IV,
 
I’ll try to locate someone who may know who’s buried at St. Cyril’s.  I have a few options to investigate.  I wonder if Paul J. Elcik Sr (1896-1970) and Mary Fabian (1891-1978) are the John & Mary Elizabeth may be talking about.  I realize she said Paul was married to Marie Pelcarsky, but the gravestone picture I took of Paul J. Elcik, Sr. clearly says his wife was Mary Fabian.  Paul J. Elcik Jr. (1915-1992) married Gertrude Fournier (1918-1993), and Mary A. Elcik (1917-2008) married Joseph Kinney (1909-1989).  
 
Also, the 1920 census lists Paul J. Elcik, age 23, immigrated in 1911, his wife Mary, age 23, immigrated in 1913, their children Paul, age 4 1/2, and Mary, age 2.  This would be the Paul J. Elcik I mentioned above.  I feel this is a completely different family from our John P. Elcik Sr’s and Jr’s families.  Some of the confusion is definitely the spelling of Mary’s last name, and some of the records indicate Marie as her first name.  Since the records were all destroyed from Slovakia, we may never know Mary/Marie’s name’s original spelling.  I also think Paul John may have gone by John, NOT Paul.  Again, I’m only guessing.  Mary Fabian on the gravestone doesn’t match Mary’s last name’s different spellings, BUT the name on the gravestone says otherwise.  YES, I’m beyond confused.  Maybe she changed her last name at some point in time??????
 
I have Sandra Kinney Eck’s obituary that I got from my friend at the HS.  I believe she was Joseph Kinney’s sister, who married Mary Elcik.  It lists her children, and I think they live in Lisbon or at least in the area.  I may be able to find someone who knows them if I do some more research.  That’ll come another day, another time.  It’s a long shot, but I’m willing to try.  
 
Hang in there; I may solve this crazy puzzle, MAYBE, just MAYBE!!!
 
Beth 
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Re: Status Updates

Fri 12/4/2020 1:19 PM

Beth,
 
First, I hope you and Jack are doing well and preparing to enjoy the holidays.  We are doing that here. In fact, my delay in responding to your email results from the holiday’s “honey-do this” list. Lol.
 
Thank you very much for being willing to follow-up on the possibility of John, Sr. being buried in St. Cyril’s.   
 
Mostly we agree on the contents of your message (see below), but I am underlining text where I think you may need to make changes in the tree.
 
To clarify the discussion about Michael Joseph Elcik (1897–1980). My records show BIRTH 16 JUL 1897 • Lisbon Falls, Androscoggin, Maine, USA; DEATH 22 JUN 1980 • Toms River, Ocean, New Jersey, USA. He is my great-uncle.
 
I agree with you that Paul Joseph Elcik Sr. (1896–1970) BIRTH 15 FEB 1896 • Czechoslovakia; DEATH 23 DEC 1970 • Lisbon Falls, Androscoggin, Maine, USA husband of great-aunt is married to Mary A Fabian (1891–1978) BIRTH 8 OCT 1891 • the Czech Republic; DEATH 23 NOV 1978 • Lisbon Falls, Androscoggin County, Maine, USA. Mary A. Fabian is my great-aunt.  Thankfully, this is “set in stone” (Lol) as per your photo of the gravesite.
 
Maria Pelcarsky, who is presenting a mystery for us, was married to a different Paul Elcik (an Ilcik Elcik). At least, that is my working theory.  It is unsubstantiated as I don’t have supporting dates of birth or the marriage. This collaborates with your feeling that we are talking about different families. We are—the all too familiar Elsik vs. Ilcik conundrum.
 
I also agree that Paul J. Elcik, Jr. (1915-1992 married Gertrude Fournier.  We agree that Gertrude was born in 1918., but your date of death is presumably a mistake (typo?).  According to the US Social Security Death Index, Gertrude Fournier died on 19 JAN 1983 (not 1993).
 
I agree that Mary A. Elcik (1917-2008) married Josepf Kinney (1909-1989). Sandra D. Eck was born June 12, 1942, in Lewiston, a daughter [Not a sister] of the late Joseph A. & Mary A. (Elcik) Kinney. A lifelong resident of Lisbon Falls, she attended local area schools and graduated from Lisbon High School.  I got this from the obituary.
 
Again, thanks for everything you do!
 
John, IV
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Wow!

Sun 12/6/2020 4:59 AM

 
My last email was just an acknowledgment of thanks for obtaining new information. Now that I have examined the contents and know what you sent… I am ecstatic. The obituary for John P. Elcik, Sr. is a significant find for several reasons.
  1. The obituary confirms the theory that John, Sr. was buried at St. Cyrill “Methodist” Cemetery. Wow!  Am I correct? Is this the same St. Cyril? The addition of Methodist does not change the location. Right?
  2. It is the first time I have seen the middle initial “P” for John, Sr.  All previous documentation I have is without the middle initial. Somehow this is comforting.
  3. The obituary says that John, Sr.’s father was also named John. This raises an interesting question. Am I really John P. Elcik, IV? or could I and not my son be the 5th?    
  4. Who is the spouse of John, Sr’s father?  Could it be the mysterious Elizabeth Baron?  I have a Social Security document that I could never explain.  I’m attaching two files. 
Wow!
 
I can’t thank YOU and your friend enough!
 
John, IV
Attachments: 
  • Elizabeth Baron (1864), U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925 – Ancestry.com.pdf, 74 KB
  • John Paul Elcik (1867), U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 – Ancestry.como.pdf, 67 KB
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Wow. Thank you!

Mon 12/7/2020 8:14 PM

Beth Gamache shared your email address with me as I very much wished to thank you for your help. 

Beth has been collaborating with me on “My Cousins,” an eBook and Family Tree project.  She is the wife of my first cousin Jack, and I am blessed to have her collaboration. In addition to her smart commentary, I also benefit from experts like yourself making contributions. 

I am ecstatic with the obituaries you found for us. The obituary for my great-grandfather John P. Elcik, Sr. is a significant find for several reasons.
  1. The obituary confirms the theory that John, Sr. was buried at St. Cyril Cemetery. Wow!  This is the first documentation we have found to confirm what we thought to be true.  There may not be a gravestone, but armed with this documentation, we know where to look.
  2. It is the first time I have seen the middle initial “P” for John, Sr.  All previous documentation I have is without the middle initial. Somehow this is comforting.
  3. The obituary says that John, Sr.’s father was also named John. This raises an interesting question. Am I really John P. Elcik, IV? or could I and not my son be the 5th generation?
  4. Who is the spouse of John, Sr’s father?  Could it be the mysterious Elizabeth Baron?  I have a Social Security document that I could never explain.  The existence of another John Elcik is one step closer to finding the answer.
Wow!
I can’t thank you and Beth enough!
Thank you!!!
John, IV
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Historical Society

Sat 12/5/2020 5:18 PM
John, IV,
I’m forwarding you 4 obits from my friend at the HS.
  • Mary A. Elcik, 87
  • John P. Elcik, 73
  • John P. Elcik, 76
  • Mary Anna Elcik
My friend at the Historical Society is AWESOME!!!
Beth
Dr. John Elcik
Sun 12/6/2020 3:21 AM
I agree! Beth, these obituaries are wonderful additions.  Obituaries are one of the best sources we get for narrative family history. Thank you! And thanks to the mysterious friend. He or she is nameless. Lol.
John. IV
Posted on by — Leave a comment

DNA Coaching

Wed 1/6/2021 3:02 PM
Judy and Beth,

My Genealogy Coaches

I’m writing to both of you as you both are my coaches.  To introduce you to each other:
  • Judy has been my DNA information source, and we hope to solidify the link between our families through DNA after her father’s DNA linked us.
  • Beth is my co-author of the MyCousins eBook.  Beth is also married to John Gamache (Jack), my 1rst cousin.

DNA Data Processed

My DNA kit from Ancestry.com has been processed.  It may take a couple of days for search engines to access as I just today made the MyCousins Family Tree public. This was necessary to enable search engines.  Public access still protects the privacy of living individuals.
I don’t think this solves my two brick walls. At least not yet. DNA can’t clarify the family relationship between Judy and myself or between John Elsik and John Ilcik. Not yet. I plan to download the raw data and submit it to other sites to improve my chances of doing both.
I also will be getting data from MyHeritage for comparison.
Todate, 6 People with DNA matches are on the Family Tree.
  • John Gamache (my paternal 1st cousin); Ancestry says 1st–2nd Cousin; Shared DNA: 1,099 cm across 30 segments.
  • Cheryl (Heath) Elcik (my paternal 1st cousin); Ancestry says 1st–2nd Cousin; Shared DNA: 790 cm across 31 segments.
  • Constance (Akerley) Lewis (my paternal 1st cousin); Ancestry says 1st–2nd Cousin; Shared DNA: 787 cm across 28 segments.
  • Scott Gebro (my 1st cousin, 1x removed); Ancestry says 1st–2nd Cousin; Shared DNA: 365 cm across 17 segments.
  • Heather Adams (my 2nd cousin); Ancestry says 2nd–3rd Cousin; Shared DNA: 238 cm across 12 segments.
  • Sue Elcik (my 2nd cousin); Ancestry says 2nd–3rd Cousin; Shared DNA: 232 cm across 11 segments.

This data is not as helpful as it could be as the Trees and the DNA test have not been linked by their owners.  This includes you, Beth. Lol.

Ethnicity Estimates

Meanwhile, this is what Ancestry.com gives as an Ethnicity Estimate.
  • Eastern Europe & Russia: 43%
  • England & Northwestern Europe: 20%
  • France: 18%
  • Scotland: 12%
  • Baltics: 6%
  • Ireland: 1%
  • Additional Communities: Southeastern Quebec French Settlers
Eastern Europe and Russia cover a lot of territories. Two subgroups actually:
  • Poland, Slovakia, Hungary & Romania
  • Eastern Hungary, Eastern Slovakia, Northwest Romania & Western Ukraine
My Great-grandfather’s birthplace on US Census records was Austria. This changes to Czechoslovakia in his obituary. The reason for this change is in the history of Europe, which I am researching.
Bottom line, this is all I know at the moment. I’ll keep you posted.
John, IV