by Karen ANDRUSCHAT
I glanced around the room at the early photographs of a young girl and the pictures of a
very pretty young woman. The sun was going down, giving each photograph a glow. They were
taken a time long ago, yet the smile of the beautiful lady in front of me was the same.
The eyes had become wiser and the smile softer, and one hundred and one years had
beautifully defined the person represented in this frame. Her name is Marie Rabe and her
timeless story is as follows.
Her story began 101 years ago in Leipzig, Germany. She was born to Therese and Otto Vogel.
Otto came from wealthy parents that were greatly opposed to his journey to America.
Therese was the daughter of a button maker and was in great anguish, leaving her close
knit family behind. On a bitter cold day in December, 1904 in Bremen, Germany, they stood
on the ship named “The Gera” waving a tearful goodbye. Little did they know this
was the last time they would ever see their loved ones.
Upon arriving in the United States, they lived a short time in Hoboken, New Jersey where
her brother, Chris was born. The flat was cold, they had nothing and Marie remembers quite
vividly a dead horse lying next to the Hudson River. The next two years were spent in New
York City where her father drove a horse drawn produce wagon around the streets of the Big
Apple. With the promise of work, the family, now at four members, took a train to
Cattaraugus, New York. Marie remembers a bitter cold ride to a farmhouse in a horse drawn
sleigh covered with blankets.
Her father, never a farmer, began a life that was exceedingly difficult. He worked as
hired help and with World War I upon them, their German accents and backgrounds made
living even more difficult. Marie remembers a beautiful doll she could only look at, her
long walk to a one room schoolhouse and Christmas with real candles on the tree. Before
long there were two brothers and a sister, and they were able to move to a house outside
of Gowanda, New York. Marie has many happy memories of her family during this time. She
loved to read, write stories and did very well in school. At one time she needed to cross
Cattaraugus Creek on her way to and from school. Her father rigged a pulley system with
seats attached over the wide, and very high, expanse. Off to school Marie and her brother
Chris would go, sitting high above the creek and her father working the pulley mechanism
to the other side.
After Marie graduated from high school, she began her first job of teaching school at the
Cattaraugus Indian Reservation. She then met and married Fred Rabe. She remembers her fall
wedding as small, but beautiful. Marie was a shy young woman - Fred was the opposite - and
together they made a perfect couple. Before long, her son, Charles, was born, then Fred,
next Robert and finally Karen. They moved quite a bit, to Olean, N.Y., Youngstown, Ohio,
and finally bought their one and only home in South Buffalo where they settled for over
thirty years.
She remembers the heartache of having two sons in World War II. How difficult it was then
to know what was going on. She only had the radio, the Buffalo Evening News, letters home
and the President’s weekly speech to stay informed. Marie remembers those times as
ones closest to family, neighbors and church.
Before long there were weddings, grandchildren, work was plentiful and life was good. In
the1950’s the small Lutheran Church on Culver Road became Marie’s second family,
even though the church and most of her friends are gone. The fond memories of church
suppers, Ladies Aid Society and friendships she made remains woven in her heart.
With sadness, Marie relates her husband’s death in 1965. Being alone propelled Marie
into her first career as a housemother at Trocaire College. She loved it and remained
there for twelve years. In 1976, Marie moved to East Aurora to be near her daughter Karen.
She loved it there, made friends, became active in the Senior Center and the Lutheran
church and enjoyed her small home immensely. One of her great loves was gardening and
people would stop and look in amazement at her five-foot tall rose bushes blooming
abundantly.
By 1989, Marie had lost two of her sons, first Charles and two years later, Robert. She
remarked, “losing a child is like losing a part of oneself, everyone was so concerned
over me, I felt I brought them into this world, I will hold them when they leave.”
This remarkable determination and strength has seen her through many a difficult time.
Marie kept up her East Aurora home until she was ninety-eight years old. Her home has
always been a reflection of who she is, her values, hopes and dreams. It was a very
difficult and painful decision to make the move. In her room now at Rosewood Village in
Hamburg you see this replayed. Her room is lovely, warm and definitely reflects the person
sitting across from me.
What is greatness, really? Is it only applicable to those who have been noted for some
award for some noteworthy deed? We journey throughout our entire life seeking wisdom and
the ability to understand life as we know it. True greatness comes from within. It is with
us from birth and spends a lifetime trying to reach the surface, where it is nurtured and
refined as we mature. This greatness is the ability to take all things that we have
learned and experienced and apply them to ourselves and those we love and come up with
what is best for everyone.
Marie Rabe is true greatness personified and I have been blessed as her daughter to travel
this journey with her. My mother represents love, kindness and the ability to always do
what is right. When it comes time to pass the torch, I hope and pray I will be able to
emulate all I have learned.
Karen Andruschat is the Director of Clinical Marketing for The Center for
Hospice & Palliative Care.