In Memory of Trudy Dietzen
Roger Markham died November 16, 2009. From that date until I moved from Boulder, Colorado to Galveston, Texas on February12, 2012, my back door neighbors, Trudy and Keith Dietzen did all they could tocare for me. Trudy died last Sunday.
Trudy, along with two others, was killed last Sunday in South Africa when a truck, hit headon, a vehicle in which Trudy was a passenger. Keith is still hospitalized in South Africa. I am told he is expected to survive but details concerning the accident and his condition are not yet available tothose of us who mourn.
Roger and I had been in our new house in Lake Valley several months before Keith, Trudy and their two boys moved into their home, behind us. The boys, Aaron, about ten , and Brian, eight, were in elementary school. They had left their cousins, grandparents,aunts, uncles and friends in Chicago to live in Colorado. They were sad and bored as the movers walkedfrom Van to house with their bedroom furniture. No trees, no grass, no flowers, just thirteen new houses in a barrendesert a long, long way from Chicago.
I was so happy to have a neighbor, happy enough to forgive them the fact that their newhouse blocked our view of the Flat Irons just to the south and west of us. I took coffee, cookies and lemonade and introduced myself to the young family.
“How do you like your new house, ?” I asked the youngest, Brian.
“It’s okay but we’re bored!” he replied.
“We have a couple of skate boards in the garage. Would your folks let you skate board?”
“Sure”, said Aaron. “ Our Boards are in one of those boxes. It will take forever to find them!”
Their mother died last Sunday in South Africa. I’m glad they didn’t know.
In the years that followed the Dietzens traveled back and forth between Chicago and Denver. Trudy’s twin sister and familyvisited often. Rog and I were alwaysincluded in the family gatherings.
I remember,years later, the evening Keith came over to our house, just to talk. Brian, a senior in high school, knew exactly what he wanted to do when he graduated. He would attend the University of Colorado and major in theatre.
“He loves Shakespeare,” Keith groaned. “How will he ever make a living with that?!!”
I was thrilled and insisted Keith take home one of my old Shakespeare books from the book case. It was years before it was returned, still infairly good condition, sadly. In the meantime, Aaron went into his father’s computer engineering firm and Brian played King John in the Henry plays at CU’s summer Shakespeare Festival. He was good, very good!
Brian traveled to South Africa to be with his dad this week because his mother died last Sunday, in South Africa.
When Roger died Trudy and Keith had me for dinner, dinner and a movie, out for a hamburger, to family gatherings when the children came home, to their parties,for a glass of wine when it was cold or a beer when it was hot.
Trudy could make a plate of a hot dogs and chips look like a feast. Her meal presentation was such that I would break my diet of almonds and craisins to eat, pleasurably, anything sheprepared.
Trudy died last Sunday in South Africa. I’m glad Ididn’t know.
When Brian decided to go to Los Angeles to get into the movies or TV, Trudy and Keith wereworried that it would never happen. It wasn’t long, however, until several of us in the neighborhood would gather together at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings to watch Brian as Dr. Palmer on NCIS. I still watch faithfully every chance I get.
Trudy died last Sunday and Brian is with his dad in South Africa. Not only can I not help them because I am no longer their back door neighbor but I don’t know how to comfort Keith, Brian, Aaron, Trudy’s twin sister, the grandchildren, including little Gracie, and me because Trudy died last Sunday.
Trudy loved Star Lilies. The strong scent of the burgundy and white blossoms filled her home most days. I hope there are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of Star Lilies at her funeral. Perhaps they will help her get to where shei s going next, because, she died last Sunday.
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| Trudy with her father, Tommy Hewes |
I only met my cousin Trudy in Chicago, when I was there visiting in 1966. I was 19 and she and her twin sister Terri were 15. I just remember how sweet they were, just regular teenage girls, so cute and full of life. I never saw them again, but...that special memory of our time together as young girls, will always remain in my heart, We share the same remarkable family history that bonds us forever. I know someday, my cousin Trudy and I will meet again on the other side ,when we all reunite as a family once again.
Here is an excerpt from my 1966 diary, while visiting with my Cousins in Chicago
July 1, Friday, 1966
Left my great aunt Verona and uncle Charlie's, (which wasn't easy) and went to stay with my great aunt Mabel and uncle Chet. They live in a small apartment, but, very nice. They're as sweet as can be and are complete opposites from Verona. They have a lot of money, but you'd never know it. We went to the hospital to visit a friend, then out to dinner at the "Red Balloon." we came home and looked family pictures, which were so much older than Verona's. Auntie Mabel talks only about family and cry's when she speaks of her son Tommy who died a few years ago.
July 2, Tuesday, 1966
We went grocer shopping for the big family picnic on the 4th of July. The store was right across the street. We came home and looked through the family album. It was really fun to see everyone looking so young. They told me lots of stories about my grandfather Preston who died in 1936. Mabel cried and I did too. Tonight we went to a movie and saw "Lady L," with Paul Newman and Sophia Lauren. I enjoyed it a lot. Then we came home and auntie Mabel mended my blouse and we drank strawberry sodas.
July 3, Wednesday, 1966
We went to the Catholic Church at 12;00...came home and I wrote letters. We ate at home at 4:00 and played scrabble, we each won a game. Then I fixed the potato salad for tomorrow with mom's recipe. I ate so much of it I went off my diet. We watched tv and I read than called home. It was good to hear everyone's voices. They want e to stay in Chicago and go to school.
July 4, Monday,1966
Had a picnic with all my cousins. There were 7 of us girls, one 13, three 15, two 17 and me, 19. We all got along like peaches and cream. There really didn't seem like there was any age difference. The three boys were always off somewhere. We watched the fireworks from the front lawn. I hated to leave the girls. It's the first tie I'd been with kids, wince I got here. I had a lot of fun.
July 5, Tuesday, 1966
Today, Suzie, Janet, uncle Chet and auntie Mabel and I went to Arlington to the races. I started to thunder an lightning in the middle of 90 degree heat. We lost all six races. Later we went out to eat. I got ink all over my new dress and ruined it. Suzi and Janet and I went to the show and saw "Harper and the Silencers."
July 6, Wednesday, 1966
Uncle Chet took me to the Maybelline Company. I met Tom Jr and all the other people. It was fun to see where all the money comes from. Later auntie Mabel and uncle Chet and I went shopping at the famous indoor shopping center. I bought my boyfriend Jon a Troll doll dressed in an Army uniform with a green beret'. I also bought one for me for luck.
July 7, Thursday, 1966
All of us girls went to the Lake. We packed a lunch. Suzie's cousin came too. She was very cute, loud and wild. Suzie, Jannie (that's what they call her,) and I went shopping tonight at the big indoor plaza. We cruised a place called Scotts and ate dinner there. I really miss my friends, dances, music, parties, the beach and most of all Jon.
July 8, Friday, 1966
uncle Chet and auntie Mabel and I went out to lunch with Shirley, their oldest daughter. Then, they took e to a place called "The Golden Dolphin." It's the most amazing place. The whole store is bathroom and bedroom fixtures and decorations. I went crazy in there and bought a miniature piano for my aunt Verona, a perfumed Angel candle for mom, a gondola for Mary and some bathroom soaps and spray for auntie Mabel.
July 9, Saturday, 1966
We visited Al Williams sister Neppy. The father and daughter came home and we looked at family pictures. Ann Louise, the daughter came home with us and we went out to dinner at a Smorgasbord all you can eat restaurant. Then, Ann Louise and I walked into the town and bought auntie Mabel and uncle Chet a box of candy and a thank you card. I also bought one for aunt Verona and Charlie. When we got back home, our cousin John Huber was there, he looks better than before, and we went to the show to see "A Thousand Clowns."
July 10, Sunday, 1966
Went to Church with auntie Mabel, uncle Chet drove us to the Cemetary to see Tommy's grave and he told me to wait in the car. I watched auntie Mabel get down on her knee's and brush off the headstone and place flowers on his grave. She was crying when she got back in the car. That afternoon it was so hot we couldn't leave the house and later that day they drove me back to aunt Verona and Charlie's house. It was so sad to leave them and my cousins, but I promised to write them all the time.
Here are some links to past posts I did on Trudy's family
When Shirley married Jim Hughes, her new husband went to work for De Luxe, until Chet retired and turned the business over to his son Tommy Hewes. Shirley and Jim had three girls, Janet, Donna and Linda Hughes.
Because of a nighmare lawsuit with FDA over the Lash Lure cosmetic co in 1933, Tom Lyle, had Chet Hewes, open The DeLuxe Mascara company. Read all about it in Cosmetics and Skin. By James Bennett. Other exciting ...
Left to right - Bob (Williams) Haines, Dick Williams, Tommy (Williams) Hewes, Marilyn (Williams) Haines, Shirley (Williams) Hewes, June (Williams) Haines, Noel A. Williams, Bill Williams, Annette Williams, Helen Williams, Tom ...
Tom Lyle Williams, sister Mabel, (Maybelline's namesake,) married Chet Hewes and had. three children.Shirley, Tommy and Joyce. Tommy grew up, married Mary Lee, had Trudi..... Trudi grew up, married Keith Dietsen and ...
... to come along. Unbeknownst to her, Chester Randolph Hewes, was living in Chicago and working at Montgomery Wards, in the automotive, advertising department. .... Sharrie and Chuck toast Tom Lyle's 115th Birthday.
Mabel married Chet Hewes in 1926 and had three children Shirley Anne, Thomas Randolph, (Tommy) and baby Joyce Mae are in this picture. Chet handled the manufacturing of Maybelline and eventually formed his own ...
