She grew up in Hopelawn NJ, married when she was 18, had two children and eventullly bought a home in Metuchen with her husband, William.
Her husband had a heart condition, which meant he couldn't always work. As William had a series of various jobs, including baker, Mary took a job in a factory to help make ends meat. She went to church, made pies for thanksgiving and cookies for Christmas. When she was only 52 years old, she lost her husband. Her children grew up and married. Fifty years to the day Mary was born, on October 23, 1969, her first grandchild, a girl, was born. In case you haven't guessed, that granddaughter was me.
I was only two when my grandfather died and from then on I slept at Grammie's every Friday night. We had a our routine. In the summer we would walk to the local park. She would push me on the swings or we would sit and watch the local little league games. We played cards or boardgames when the weather got colder. I would dance with her by standing on her feet, looked through old photo albums with her, played catch or went exploring in her attic or basement with her. As it got later on those Friday nignts we would climb into bed, she would put Johnny Carson on and stroke my hair until I fell asleep. Grammie loved watching Johnny. I remember her joy when she found out he too was born on October 23rd. "Me, you and Johnny Carson all born on the same day". Saturday mornings were french toast and orange juice. To this day, the taste of maple syrup and orange juice takes me right back to those Saturday mornings.
I loved sharing my birthday with her. I have great memories of all the birthday cakes with buttercream icing which read "Happy Birthday Jennifer and Grammie". Those Friday night were some of the best the times of my youth. Grammie never talked down to me. We had long talks during those card and boardgames. We had a closeness that I think even my mom (her daughter) never really understood. I always wondered if it was the Friday nights we spent together or the fact we were bound by a shared birthday. Maybe both. She taught me "The Lords Prayer", how to bake cookies and the importance of taking a stand (my soapbox was another gift she gave me). Grammie was not only my grandmother, she was my friend.
I lost Grammie 6 months after my 16th birthday. To be honest, my birthday was never quite the same after that. I remember the cake looking empty for my 17th birthday, as it read "Happy Birthday Jenn". It's been almost 30 years and it still feels like someone is missing on the 23rd, regardless of where or with whom I celebrate. When Johnny Carson died a few years ago, I realized I was the last of the three of us left. My hope is she finally got to meet him and tell him about our special day we all shared. What I am so grateful for are those 16 1/2 years I had with her. "Twenty minutes of something wonderful versus a lifetime of nothing special" (Steel Magnolias).
In the years since she passed away, I have always felt her with me. She is my guardian angel. On more than one occassion, something has saved me or popped in my head and I knew it was Grammie. What she couldn't do on Earth, she did in Heaven..be there for me. Even in death, our bond was never broken.
So today, what would have been Mary Turek Pyonteck's 95th birthday, I wish her a Happy Birthday in Heaven and thank her for always being there for me. She was a special lady who I was lucky enough to call Grammie. I love you. ❤️
