The friendship between the Trombley family and the Patnode family goes back to my Great Grandparents’ generation. Eli and Ester Patnode were friends of the family and the first photo includes both families, Grandpa’s sister Lil, Great Grandpa Eli, Letta Trombley and Bill Trombley.
When my Grandmother passed away my Grandfather was left in a difficult position having 3 children too young to leave alone and still needing to run the farm. He made the decision to ask his close friends Ernie and Lottie Pickering to take the three youngest children. Ernie and Lottie were happy to help and so it was, my Aunt Gwelda, Uncle Giles, and Mom Fern would go and live with Ernie and Lottie.
For the next ten years Ernie and Lottie raised the three kids, but Grandpa was not too far away and visited whenever he could. Mom loved the time she spent with Ernie and Lottie, and during that period she developed a close relationship with Lottie. I know Mom viewed Lottie more like a mother than a caretaker.
In 1942 Grandpa Patnode married Bessie, and the two of them decided to move the children including Wilford’s 4 and Bessie’s 7 onto the Keeler farm. You can read about this in my book, but my mother was not happy about it. Lottie was as upset about this as my mother was, but even though they no longer lived under the same roof Mom and Lottie remained very close and spent a lot of time together.
One morning in 1944 Lottie was running late and did not have time to prepare Ernie’s lunch before he left for work at the local creamery. That was not a problem, because Lottie liked taking and joining Ernie’s lunch to them so they could sit together to eat. This day Ernie could not leave the boiler he managed and the two of them sat nearby so Ernie could continue to watch it. Without any notice the boiler overheated and the door of the boiler blew off hitting Lottie squarely killing her instantly. Ernie was severely injured also and spent months in recovery and treatment.
My Mother was devastated and to this day when she talks about Lottie it is with great fondness and a sense of loss. On my recent visit to see Mom her and I talked about Lottie and she ask that I post something about her. I agreed and told her I would also create a video.
Lottie left this world almost 80 years ago, but the life she lived and the hearts she touched are still being felt. I have often said, you never know the impact you will have on people and this is a good example. Hopefully the love and compassion Lottie showed will be remembered and live on past all of us. I will continue to tell their stories.