Around the bend....NEWMAN....1990

NEWMAN

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 12/2/2024 at 07:56:01

L-R
1991 JA 3

Around the bend
by Mary Ovrom

It must have been the Grinch who stole Christmas who decided to take Eunice Newman from us right at Christmastime.

But if she could have spoken for herself, I feel sure she would have said "Enough already!"--or words to that effect.

Eunice hadn't been herself for several months as the final devastating ravages of Alzheimer's disease took their toll, robbing her of all forms of pleasure, communication, even the ability to recognize her family and friends.

She had known for the last few year that things weren't right and would confide to friends "I just can't do things any more that I've always done."

Those things included cooking, writing, making delicious pickles and sharing them liberally, helping her husband Dennis with their big garden and sewing.

She made baby blankets for several of our grandchildren, helped me make all the drapes for the house-before-last and covered our dining room chairs with some material I found on sale.

Eunice was champion at getting through tough economic times. When our children were little we lived just a block apart and the four adults spent many evenings playing bridge rather than going out to spend money.

Several New Year's Eves were spent with the Newmans, playing cards and enjoying family jokes, often because another Ovrom baby was on the way.

Eventually Eunice had to give up bridge because she couldn't remember the routine, but this didn't keep her away from joining her club for refreshments, always with a smile on her face.

I can't remember her ever being out of sorts or mad at the world. She always managed to look on the bright side with her sense of humor intact.

The Newman children, Patty and Kit, joined our five and other neighborhood kids in thinking up their own fun. Our basement was the scene of memorable Halloween parties, and the back yard was the stage for their circuses.

When we went to see the family Sunday after learning of Eunice's death, the reminiscing started.

"Do you remember the time Kit ran through a bonfire in your back yard and burned his foot on a metal Pipe?" Patty asked.

I didn't remember that particular incident, but Kit sure did.

He was afraid he might get bawled out when he got home, so he went stoically, burned foot and all, without once complaining.

Eunice had special gift with children, and ours thought so much of her that after she started work at Archie's grocery, one of them said she wanted to be a checkout girl when she grew up.

Later Eunice started work at the post office and was a favorite with customers because of her cheerful smile and ability to wait on them cordially and efficiently.

When I first met her, I remember being impressed because she was the only woman I knew who had been in the service during World War II. She always managed to look on the bright side with her sense of humor intact.

The Newman children, Patty and Kit, joined our five and other neighborhood kids in thinking up their own fun. Out basement was the scene of memorable Halloween parties, and the back yard was the stage for their circuses.

In later years, Eunice and I played a lot of fairly mediocre golf together, but the game was secondary to the chance to get off and enjoy the fresh air, giving each other equal time to talk about our grandchildren.

When Alzheimer's set in, she would become embarrassed when she couldn't remember for sure which hole we were on, or the time she forgot to take off her golf shoes and ended up in Sullivan Drug, cleats and all.

She managed to make a joke out of the situation, which was typical of her attitude until she was no longer able to make jokes.

And that's what endeared her so to all of her friends.

Source: "Scrapbook 1989 - 1990", Pg. 652,
Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Van Buren Co., IA