Auntie Marg Turns 97!
Ann Roggenbuck
People seem to live a long time out here on the prairie and I can think of a lot of reasons why. Quality of life and fewer big city stressors along with strong social networks and honest living top the list. My aunt and godmother, Margaret Cronin is one such example of graceful living to a ripe old age and counting. Born in 1915 to John and Mary Roggenbuck in the Revillo area she was the eldest of six children, all of whom have passed before her. She had a traditional rural upbringing and at 18 went to work, as what she refers to as a “hired girl,” for an Irish farm family in the area. She fell in love with their eldest son, Owen Cronin, and promptly married him in 1939. He was quite a bit older than her so I am sure the union met with some raised eyebrows brows, but, nonetheless, they set about sheep farming on a hill overlooking the prairie near Tunerville, southwest of Revillo. They never had children but lambing season kept them busy and occupied along with 22 nearby nieces and nephews. I will always remember Easter at the sheep farm where vicarious Uncle Owen greeted the adult relatives with a glass of Mogen David in a great smelling kitchen as they finished preparing a big Sunday ham dinner. This was followed by Auntie Marg presenting the kids with a large Easter basket full of chocolate goodies after which we were introduced to the new baby lambs and then all ran enmass down the hill to play near the creek. Life was good!
They spent 40 years on that hilltop but eventually quit farming and moved into Revillo where they lived happily until Uncle Owen passed away in 1986. Aunt Margaret continued and continues to live alone, independently, in her small home across the street from the Catholic Church which has always been her home away from home. In her earlier years, she was very active in Catholic Daughters, the American Legion and worked as a Pink Lady for many years at the hospital. As a child of the depression, her penny-pinching ways have followed her through life. Today, she is fortunate to have lots of local helpers to keep her living independently. She is escorted to church when able, her mail somehow gets delivered to her front door, snow is shoveled off the porch, garbage cans are put out and returned back to their rightful place on the designated day, home and personal maintenance are handled by willing and able relatives and my cousin, Judy, routinely gets her to town for grocery shopping, medication pick up, banking, etc. Various friends and neighbors check in on her and her many nieces and nephews continue to visit regularly.
Food is always a big topic of discussion as getting your nutritional needs met while living independently at 97 is no small feat. This is where the Schwann man comes into play. He visits weekly and she always has an order ready for him. Among her favorites are their mashed potatoes and ice cream bars. The local bar/restaurant/store keeps her supplied with the basics which include the all-important prune juice. She, of course, makes her own applesauce during apple season which she flavors with red hots and freezes in small containers for use throughout the winter. She even has an egg delivery man who also presents her with freshly made angel food cake on occasion. She has always had numerous hobbies but over the past several decades her potholders have been her claim to fame. If you go to visit her, you are shown a large selection of bright patterned potholders and she lets you pick out a pair to take home to grace your own kitchen. She says her eyesight is preventing her from continuing the craft and it seems someone in the family should carry on the tradition. Hmm?!?
With a few health problems she is a little too housebound for her liking these days but has a lifeline that is hooked up to the elevator (go figure) and a local healthcare provider that takes good care of her and makes home visits. Every so often, she takes a fall and is currently rehabbing in the nursing home from such a tumble. She gets great care, good food and lots of visitors when she is at the nursing home and after her 30 day stay there is always the question about whether she should stay or go home again. She and her many advocates always come down on the side of returning home to live independently for as long as she is physically and mentally able. She says she is grateful for what she has as so many others have it far worse and she remains hopeful her strength will return so she can go home again. We should all be so lucky at 97! 2018