Typically I talk a lot about my Grandpa Charlie on this blog but not as much about my Grandma Theresa. Well, today would have been her 114th birthday so I decided to devote this post to her. I think she looks very glamorous in this photo.
Theresa Nebgen was born on 13 Nov 1899 in Chicago, Illinois. She had two older sisters -- Helen and Ann -- and a brother Emil (who was just 2 years older than her). Theresa finished her formal education after the 10th grade. According to the 1920 US census, she worked for a bank and the best that I can decipher the handwriting of the census taker, she was possibly a "switchboard operator".
Theresa married Charlie on 23 March 1918 in Indiana. Charlie was 17 at the time and Theresa was 18. This may have been the reason why they went to Indiana to get married vs. marrying in their hometown of Chicago. I think they eloped and that their families were not so happy to hear the news. In fact, the parents made the loving couple (while still married) live apart for a few years. I believe the story goes " they were told if you are still in love in a few years, then you can live together".
Not only were they still in love a few years later, but they celebrated their 50th Anniversary to a lot of fanfare 50 years later on 23 March 1968, surrounded by family members and friends. They would go on to celebrate their 60th anniversary in 1978 and Grandpa Charlie would die just a few months after their 65th anniversary in 1983.
While looking through my photos of Theresa, I found this one below that I just love. It is not a great photo of Theresa but I love the emotion that is shows -- pure joy and excitement. I don't know when or where it was taken but I would love to know the story behind it.
Happy 114th Birthday, Grandma Theresa!
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