Recently, I was in conversation with my brother regarding one of our mother’s paternal uncles. He passed away in the ‘70’s but other than the Social Security Death Index, I had been unable to find additional information about his death.
“I believe he died in ’77, Sis.”
“Well, I can’t find an obituary for him anywhere.”
“Did you look in the piano bench?”
MANY years ago, my paternal grandmother purchased a Lester spinet piano. For whatever reason, the piano bench became the home NOT for sheet music, but rather the home for all manner of important papers.
Chief among these important papers were (and STILL are!) obituaries which had been cut from newspapers and funeral order-of-services sheets. Both provide a wealth of information which can be investigated and possibly used to establish descendants and lineage.
I have ventured into the piano bench on several occasions over the years, borrowing obits to scan and returning them promptly. I had never seen one for our great uncle.
Asking my mother about it during a telephone conversation, she replied, “It’s in there unless someone removed it. Where else would it be?”
Oh boy.
“I’ll look for it the next time I come home.”
Oh boy.
I hope it’s in there.
“I believe he died in ’77, Sis.”
“Well, I can’t find an obituary for him anywhere.”
“Did you look in the piano bench?”
MANY years ago, my paternal grandmother purchased a Lester spinet piano. For whatever reason, the piano bench became the home NOT for sheet music, but rather the home for all manner of important papers.
Chief among these important papers were (and STILL are!) obituaries which had been cut from newspapers and funeral order-of-services sheets. Both provide a wealth of information which can be investigated and possibly used to establish descendants and lineage.
I have ventured into the piano bench on several occasions over the years, borrowing obits to scan and returning them promptly. I had never seen one for our great uncle.
Asking my mother about it during a telephone conversation, she replied, “It’s in there unless someone removed it. Where else would it be?”
Oh boy.
“I’ll look for it the next time I come home.”
Oh boy.
I hope it’s in there.