Worked as a homemaker and a sales clerk for Macy's department store in Brooklyn, NY during 1960's. A very kind and loving person. Enjoyed gardening and sewing.
Suffered a brain lymphoma diagnosed July 1988. Underwent brain surgery at university hospital in Gainesville, FL that month. Symptoms abated but returned March 1989. Treated in Portland Oregon, accompanied there by husband and daughter. Returned from Portland to daughter's house for recuperation where she died on a Saturday afternoon following lunch, struck by heart attack while seated in the shade of a tree on front lawn with her husband. Her last year was difficult, symptoms included mental confusion. She did get to meet her new grandson Andrew Edward about a month before her death.
Residence at time of death was 8525 Elgin Dr, Port Richie, FL (Timber Oaks development). Lived for many years at 1832 E 31 St., Brooklyn, NY. Died at Putnam Hospital Center, Carmel, N.Y., 4:30 P.M., June 3, 1989.
Edith is buried at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fl., Section 110A, plot 91. She was interred 7/14/1989 following cremation in Mahopac, NY.
Letter regarding the burial of Edith:
Florida National Cemetery
P.O. Box 337
Bushnell, Florida
July 14, 1989
Mr. Edward C. Dunscombe
8525 Elgin Drive
Port Richey, Florida
Dear Mr. Dunscombe:
This letter is to inform you that the cremains of Edith J. Dunscombe were interred on July 14, 1989 in this National Cemetery.
We have enclosed the Interment Record for the Next of Kin, along with a map of the cemetery, for your records.
If we can be of further assistance, please contact us at (904) 793-7740.
Sincerely,
Gilbert Lopez
Cemetery Director
Correspondence from Lydia (Schweikert) Bender to Edith (Schweikert) Dunscombe, June 1977. The letter starts on page 3 and ends on page 5 with more pages obviously missing:
… lived very far downtown on Manhattan Is. My mother was born when they lived on Second St., New York. She had one sister, Edith & Tillie both knew her.
My grandfather bought a house – 511 – East 16th St., N.Y. He went into the kerosene oil business and had quite a route. Also, he opened a store in that building. My mother & father were married in 1886. My father’s half-brother who was a Methodist minister – Rev. Fred’k Wuster – performed the ceremony. I lived in my grandfather’s house until
I was sixteen – my grandfather died then our family moved to the Bronx. We lived there for 2 yrs, I forgot to tell you that my father’s mother and mother’s mother were both named “Barbara.”
On my father’s side his ancestors lived in Austria. They became Protestants and could not agree with the Catholics, so his family moved to the Northern part of Germany – the Black Forest – and when a young man, he and his mother came to New York, when his father died, and settled…
Correspondence from Marge Bender to Edith (Schweikert) Dunscombe, June 20, 1982:
Dear Edith,
I know it’s been a very long time and I do hope that you would remember me, I was married to Bill, Lydia Bender’s son. I had heard that you were living in N.Y. State. Not to (sic) long ago I was talking with Arline and she gave me your address. The reason I’m writing is that I’m trying to do a family tree for my children and I need some information. Arline said that you and your husband had done one and I was hoping you could send me whatever information you had.
I’m very sorry I didn’t keep a record of what Lydia had told me about the family and Europe. I would be very greatful (sic) for whatever you could send me.
I have been living here since 74. My 3 children are married Bill’s in Calif., Warren in Margaretville N.Y. Marcy is in West Norwalk Conn., so far know (sic) grandchildren.
How are you and your family doing?
I had heard that Pat (your sister’s husband) had died. Is she still living in N.Y.?
Where about do you live? I know it must be someplace out side of Albany. I do hope hat I will hear from you.
Regards
Marge Bender
Halcott Center N.Y.
12437
Ph. 914-254-5053
My Mom wrote back to her June 22, 1982. She kept a draft of her response with Marge’s letter:
Dear Marge,
I received your letter today and it was nice hearing from you. I surely do remember you. I think he last time we met was at Uncle Adam’s funeral, several years ago.
We have lived here since 1971. We are about 50 miles east of Albany, near the Vermont border. However we now have our house on the market and if & when we sell, we are planning on moving to Va. Beach, Va. where one of our some and his family are living. Bruce is in the Navy and is stationed there. He has three children. Our youngest son Edward is married & living in Binghamton N.Y. Our daughter lives in Mahopac N.Y. and also has 3 children. We love it up here, but it is so far from any of the children and that is why we are planning to make the move. Of course, houses aren’t selling very fast now so it may take a while.
Yes, my sister’s husband passed away last year and she is living in Brooklyn but her children & grandchildren (she also has 4 gr. Gr. Children) live nearby. Florence’s son and his family are living in Texas.
When we started to get interested in tracing the family history, I wrote to Aunt Lydia, however she did not seem to be able to recall very much. I still have her letter and following is the info she gave me:
Lydia’s grandfather Andrew Hansler was born in Germany and came to America when he was a very young man. He worked in the West for several years, then settled in NYC when he earned enough money he sent for his sweetheart, whose name was Barbara (she didn’t mention her maiden name). This would by Lydia’s grandmother on her mother’s side. Soon after landing they joined the Methodist church. They had been Lutherans before. The Germans at that time who had very little money lived very far downtown on Manhattan Island. Lydia’s mother, Katherine (maiden name Hansler) was born when they lived on Second St., N.Y. She had one sister Matilda, who never married.
Lydia’s grandfather (Andrew Hansler) bought a house at 511 E. 16 St. N.Y.C. he went into the kerosene oil business and did quite well. He also opened a store in the same building. Lydia’s mother (Katherine Hansler) and father (William Schweikert) were married in 1886. Wm. Schweikert’s half brother Rev. Frederick Wuster a Methodist minister married them.
Lydia lived in her grandfather’s house until she was 16, when her grandfather died. The family then moved to The Bronx, where they lived for 2 years.
Lydia’s ancestors on her father’s side lived in Austria. They became Protestant and could not agree with the Catholics, so the family moved to the Northern part of Germany, the Black Forest. When Lydia’s father (Wm.) was a young man he came with his widowed mother to N.Y. and settled in Bklyn., N.Y. Lydia said that on her father’s side they were titled people. He became Methodist and met Lydia’s mother in the Methodist church.
I don’t know if you are interested in the above details, but I have copied them just about as she wrote them to me. The following is a list of the family as far as I know them.
Andrew Hansler married Barbara (maiden name unknown), their children were Katherine and Matilda. Katherine married Wm. Schweikert in 1886. Their children were Andrew (who was my father, born 7/28/92) Matilda (married name McCurdy) 1900; and Lydia (married name Bender) 5-16-82. Also according to some records I received from Linden Hill Cemetery, Ridgewood, N.Y. there must have been a girl (Kate) who died at age 2 mo. And a boy named Wm. Who died at age 7 mo.
My father Andrew and his grandparents Andrew & Barbara Hansler are also buried in this cemetery. My father died in 1965. Andrew Hansler died in 1903 at age 76. Barbara Hansler died in 1904 at age 76.
Paternal side: Barbara (maiden name unknown) married Mr. Schweikert (first name unknown). Wm. Their son was born Nov. 1854 in Germany. As far as I can figure out, his mother was married to a man by the name of Wuster. Their children were Frederick & Fredericka. William Schweikert married Katherine Hansler etc.
My father Andrew died in 1965. His sister Matilda Mc.C. died in 1956. Lydia Bender died in ?
If there is anymore info you want in regard to my father I can help you with that. I hoper I have helped you without confusing you too much.
It is very interesting to trace the family history. As far as going back to records in Germany I think they were all just about destroyed in WWII. I was happy to get what info I did from Aunt Lydia. Again good luck with your project and it is nice hearing from you.
Sincerely