The Tilburg Kids

With the passing of Uncle John this summer, Nana and Uncle Ben are the only two left out of the five Tilburg children of Benjamin and Pearl Tilburg.  I came across a picture that was taken in May 1983 at my house when I lived in Montgomery RD.  I remember doing a Tilburg family dinner once a year and this was one of those times.  It's hard to realize that Nana was only 60 - 2 years younger than I am now! She looked quite happy standing next to her big brother John.

By 1983, Auntie and Aunt Grace were both widows as Uncle Lukie and Uncle Tom had both passed away.  Aunt Grace was smiling and looked the way I like to remember her before she succumbed to Alzheimer's and went to Valley View Nursing Home.  Auntie looked so sweet in her prim and proper way.   Her real name was Elizabeth, but I always called her Auntie and Nana called her Lib.  Uncle Ben was the baby of the family and I remember he always enjoyed these dinners and the leftovers I sent home with him.

When I took that picture in 1983, I didn't realize the importance of having all the Tilburg kids together in a picture.  Today, I know it's priceless.

 

The Tilburg Kids

Ben, Elizabeth (Auntie), Grace, John and Deanie

May 1983