GRANDMA KOZLINA

Margaret Simonik Kozlina, undated photo.¹

31 Days of Writing Family History Challenge

January 7, 2022:   Maternal Grandmother - Margaret Katherine Simonik (1913-1989)

 

By Nancy Gilbride Casey

I've written lots about my maternal grandmother Margaret Katherine Simonik Kozlina, as she was the grandmother with whom I shared the closest grandparent relationship. She was a constant in our lives when we were children, often helping our Mom by babysitting us or assisting in our household when Mom went back to work after our parents' divorce.

Margaret & Thomas Kozlina, abt. 1937.³

Knowing her as an adult, it was difficult to image Grandma as a young woman or young wife. So it has been a joy to see photos of her in her younger days which have been passed down in the family. She appeared to love a good dress-up, and also having her photo taken, and also seems to have a good sense of humor as well. And she was quite beautiful and stylish!

For many years Grandma worked at the Woolworth lunch counter in Five Points, in the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland.² I recall as a child visiting her there as she worked, with her white uniform and her brown hair covered by a hairnet, as required in those days. I think it was then that my love affair with french fries began, lovingly made by my Grandma!

Grandma worked for Woolworth's for 17 years—from 1961-1978—as attested by this certificate of appreciation she received:

 

 

 

 

In recognition of many years of service and loyalty and service.

Your constant dedication and enthusiasm,

Your unstinting efforts and achievements have justly earned

this expression of respect and gratitude from your friends

and associates, and your Company

Woolworth appreciation certificate awarded to Margaret Kozlina in 1978.⁴

Grandma was 65 when she retired from Woolworth, but she didn't rest then. No, she went on to become very active in the Collinwood Community Services - the senior center as she called it. There she made friends, did activities, went on trips, and contributed more of her time and energy well into her 70s. The Center too, expressed their appreciation to her in 1985 with this certificate:

Collinwood Community Services thought Grandma was pretty special too.⁵

I hope that I have half as much energy, do as much good, and share as much joy and kindness as Grandma did when I'm in my 70s!  Love you Grandma!

 

BONUS posts about Margaret Katherine Simonik, my Grandma:

Margaret Katherine Simonik Kozlina 

Wartime Letter I 

Wartime Letter II 

My Global Family

 

¹ Photo of Margaret Simonik Kozlina, undated, photographer and location unknown, about 1935; private collection of N. Casey [address for private use], 2022.

^2M Five Points "...is where St. Clair Ave., E. 152nd St. (originally Collamer St.) and Ivanhoe Rd. (originally East Collamer St.) come together to form a star. The Five Points name often is used to describe all of Collinwood, although it actually is a specific intersection within the neighborhood of South Collinwood." Christopher Roy, Encyclopedia of Cleveland History (https://case.edu/ech/articles/f/five-points : accessed 7 January 2022), "Five Points," rev. 3 April 2020.

³ Photo of Margaret Simonik Kozlina and Thomas Kozlina, undated, photogrpaher/location unknown; private collection of N. Casey [address for private use], 2022.

⁴ F.W. Woolworth Co., Cleveland, Oh., "17th Year Citation," given to Margaret K. Kozlina, 1978; private collection of N. Casey [address for private use], 2022.

⁵ City of Cleveland, Oh., Collinwood Community Services, Certificate of Appreciation given to Margaret Kozlina, 28 June 1985; private collection of N. Casey [address for private use], 2022.