My Aunt Bessie (1907-1960) was the first child of the Klieger family born in the Unites States. My grandmother was a passenger on the Nordland, and came through Ellis Island in March of 1906. Bessie married Harry Sokol in 1926. My mother told me they had to wait to have children because of the Depression. Their only child, Shirley Ann, was born in 1932. My mother was only 7 years older than Shirley, and they became close friends. In 1954, Shirley collapsed and died of a brain aneurysm. She was just going to start her life as a high school teacher. This tragedy rocked our family. 

In spite of this terrible loss, Bessie went on. She was a magnificent knitter and crocheter. She made all of her nieces summer shrugs, which were embroidered with sequins. I just loved mine and wore it constantly. When I was 8 years old, she sat down next to me at our house and declared that I should learn to knit. She gave me wooden needles and navy blue yarn and said "In, over, around and through!" She was very direct!

Sixty years later, because of her strict direction, I am still knitting. Almost every morning, one of my first thoughts will be about my knitting projects. Knitting has been a constant in my life thanks to the kindness of my beloved Aunt Bessie.

– Linda Rosen

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant