Mary Jane Bromley was born October 14, 1883, in Chicago, IL. Her parents, John and Harriet Thompson Bromley, had a son and two other daughters and were just a few years in America from Mansfield, Nottingham, England. Mary Jane, whom all in the family called Jenny, was their only child born in the United States.
Jenny at 16 ~ 1899
At the age of 17, in the year 1900, Jenny left Chicago on a train bound for Salt Lake City. There she would be met by her soon to be husband, William Carlos Behunin, whom she and the family met when he was in Chicago as a missionary for the Mormon Church. Both were devout Mormons and they traveled by covered wagon to the LDS Temple in Manti, Utah to be married.
Will and Jenny~1901
I met her in 1945 when she was 62 and I was 5. It was love at first site for the two of us. She seemed tall to me then, yet only 5'4", and her silver white hair was worn in a bun or a braid piled on her head. I have never been adequately able to describe the blueness of her eyes which I was certain held all of heaven and angels within them. The amazing gift she gave me was love. . .unqualified, endless, deeply abiding love. She was the first person ever in my life that made me feel loved. I was only one of the 9 grandchildren she had at that time, but she made me feel like the only one, the most important one, the most loved one. . .and I have no idea how she did that, or what she did that made me feel that. She certainly didn't spoil any of us. We were all expected to behave well and be respectful, no nonsense about that.
Grandma was always busy with her hands as she sat in her favorite wood rocking chair almost all of the time. She was always knitting, or crocheting, or tatting (lace making), quilting, or embrodering. All things she attempted in vain to teach me. I had no patience for such quiet work. I think she made every sweater, scarf and mittens I ever had as a child. I can never think of her without seeing her in that wide, flat armed mission style rocking chair. Sometimes, she would let me straddle one of the arms of the chair and ride my imaginary wild horse. I dearly loved that chair. I dearly loved her.
She and my mother made a quilt for every one of the 24 grandchildren as a wedding gift. Not a hand tied quilt, but a hand stitched quilt, every bit of it sewn together and quilted by hand. I was the only one that got my quilt long before I would have thought to be married, and as it turned out not to be married. Grandma Jenny B (as we called her) might have been an old fashioned woman, but she was very astute and nothing got passed her.
When I was in my early 30's (1972), I was visiting one day when she asked the always asked question of me since I was 12. . ."How is it you are so tall?" Being the smart alecky one I was, I said, "Oh, it is just these boots I am wearing. They make me taller." Some of you might remember how popular those mid calf boots with the 3 inch stack heels were in the 70's. She took a step back to size me up, and then asked, "Why would you want to be so much taller?" Standing there at 6'3" inches with the help of those 3 inch heeled boots, I replied, "I just want all the guys to look up to me." She chuckled and shook her head, "You don't care one darn bit about the guys." Those amazing blue eyes of hers twinkled and held my gaze full on. It was never mentioned again. It didn't need to be. We understood each other perfectly.
In January of 1980, at the age of 96, Jenny B moved on to other realms. She died at home peacefully in her own bed. As mom and I stood next to the bed talking about our remembrances, and how glad we were that she had not had to suffer, mom asked me about what I remembered most as a child with grandma. I said one of the strongest memories was of the bottom drawer in the built-in cabinet there in the bedroom where she kept a notebook for each grandchild to draw, write, scribble, color or whatever we wanted to do with it. Mom bent over and pulled the drawer open saying maybe we should take a look. You guessed it, they were all still there and there was mine, "Shirley, 5 yrs old" it said clearly on the front. Can you imagine. Standing there at 40 to see that notebook still there for me after all those years? That was the moment that the tears came flooding in. I was loved. I was loved that much. How incredible.
I could write on for pages and pages about the things I remember at Grandma Jenny's house and my memories of her. But today is the remembrance of her birthday so I will just say:
Happy Birthday Grandma Jenny B. I know the angels are glad to have you back among them. Thanks for all the love.
(Written by Shirley Johnson)
(Information has been gathered through several resources so some may not be correct)
Jenny at 16 ~ 1899
At the age of 17, in the year 1900, Jenny left Chicago on a train bound for Salt Lake City. There she would be met by her soon to be husband, William Carlos Behunin, whom she and the family met when he was in Chicago as a missionary for the Mormon Church. Both were devout Mormons and they traveled by covered wagon to the LDS Temple in Manti, Utah to be married.
Will and Jenny~1901
I met her in 1945 when she was 62 and I was 5. It was love at first site for the two of us. She seemed tall to me then, yet only 5'4", and her silver white hair was worn in a bun or a braid piled on her head. I have never been adequately able to describe the blueness of her eyes which I was certain held all of heaven and angels within them. The amazing gift she gave me was love. . .unqualified, endless, deeply abiding love. She was the first person ever in my life that made me feel loved. I was only one of the 9 grandchildren she had at that time, but she made me feel like the only one, the most important one, the most loved one. . .and I have no idea how she did that, or what she did that made me feel that. She certainly didn't spoil any of us. We were all expected to behave well and be respectful, no nonsense about that.
Grandma was always busy with her hands as she sat in her favorite wood rocking chair almost all of the time. She was always knitting, or crocheting, or tatting (lace making), quilting, or embrodering. All things she attempted in vain to teach me. I had no patience for such quiet work. I think she made every sweater, scarf and mittens I ever had as a child. I can never think of her without seeing her in that wide, flat armed mission style rocking chair. Sometimes, she would let me straddle one of the arms of the chair and ride my imaginary wild horse. I dearly loved that chair. I dearly loved her.
She and my mother made a quilt for every one of the 24 grandchildren as a wedding gift. Not a hand tied quilt, but a hand stitched quilt, every bit of it sewn together and quilted by hand. I was the only one that got my quilt long before I would have thought to be married, and as it turned out not to be married. Grandma Jenny B (as we called her) might have been an old fashioned woman, but she was very astute and nothing got passed her.
When I was in my early 30's (1972), I was visiting one day when she asked the always asked question of me since I was 12. . ."How is it you are so tall?" Being the smart alecky one I was, I said, "Oh, it is just these boots I am wearing. They make me taller." Some of you might remember how popular those mid calf boots with the 3 inch stack heels were in the 70's. She took a step back to size me up, and then asked, "Why would you want to be so much taller?" Standing there at 6'3" inches with the help of those 3 inch heeled boots, I replied, "I just want all the guys to look up to me." She chuckled and shook her head, "You don't care one darn bit about the guys." Those amazing blue eyes of hers twinkled and held my gaze full on. It was never mentioned again. It didn't need to be. We understood each other perfectly.
In January of 1980, at the age of 96, Jenny B moved on to other realms. She died at home peacefully in her own bed. As mom and I stood next to the bed talking about our remembrances, and how glad we were that she had not had to suffer, mom asked me about what I remembered most as a child with grandma. I said one of the strongest memories was of the bottom drawer in the built-in cabinet there in the bedroom where she kept a notebook for each grandchild to draw, write, scribble, color or whatever we wanted to do with it. Mom bent over and pulled the drawer open saying maybe we should take a look. You guessed it, they were all still there and there was mine, "Shirley, 5 yrs old" it said clearly on the front. Can you imagine. Standing there at 40 to see that notebook still there for me after all those years? That was the moment that the tears came flooding in. I was loved. I was loved that much. How incredible.
I could write on for pages and pages about the things I remember at Grandma Jenny's house and my memories of her. But today is the remembrance of her birthday so I will just say:
Happy Birthday Grandma Jenny B. I know the angels are glad to have you back among them. Thanks for all the love.
(Written by Shirley Johnson)
(Information has been gathered through several resources so some may not be correct)
Mary Jane Bromley was born October 14, 1883, in Chicago, IL. Her parents, John and Harriet Thompson Bromley, had a son and two other daughters and were just a few years in America from Mansfield, Nottingham, England. Mary Jane, whom all in the family called Jenny, was their only child born in the United States.
Jenny at 16 ~ 1899
At the age of 17, in the year 1900, Jenny left Chicago on a train bound for Salt Lake City. There she would be met by her soon to be husband, William Carlos Behunin, whom she and the family met when he was in Chicago as a missionary for the Mormon Church. Both were devout Mormons and they traveled by covered wagon to the LDS Temple in Manti, Utah to be married.
Will and Jenny~1901
I met her in 1945 when she was 62 and I was 5. It was love at first site for the two of us. She seemed tall to me then, yet only 5'4", and her silver white hair was worn in a bun or a braid piled on her head. I have never been adequately able to describe the blueness of her eyes which I was certain held all of heaven and angels within them. The amazing gift she gave me was love. . .unqualified, endless, deeply abiding love. She was the first person ever in my life that made me feel loved. I was only one of the 9 grandchildren she had at that time, but she made me feel like the only one, the most important one, the most loved one. . .and I have no idea how she did that, or what she did that made me feel that. She certainly didn't spoil any of us. We were all expected to behave well and be respectful, no nonsense about that.
Grandma was always busy with her hands as she sat in her favorite wood rocking chair almost all of the time. She was always knitting, or crocheting, or tatting (lace making), quilting, or embrodering. All things she attempted in vain to teach me. I had no patience for such quiet work. I think she made every sweater, scarf and mittens I ever had as a child. I can never think of her without seeing her in that wide, flat armed mission style rocking chair. Sometimes, she would let me straddle one of the arms of the chair and ride my imaginary wild horse. I dearly loved that chair. I dearly loved her.
She and my mother made a quilt for every one of the 24 grandchildren as a wedding gift. Not a hand tied quilt, but a hand stitched quilt, every bit of it sewn together and quilted by hand. I was the only one that got my quilt long before I would have thought to be married, and as it turned out not to be married. Grandma Jenny B (as we called her) might have been an old fashioned woman, but she was very astute and nothing got passed her.
When I was in my early 30's (1972), I was visiting one day when she asked the always asked question of me since I was 12. . ."How is it you are so tall?" Being the smart alecky one I was, I said, "Oh, it is just these boots I am wearing. They make me taller." Some of you might remember how popular those mid calf boots with the 3 inch stack heels were in the 70's. She took a step back to size me up, and then asked, "Why would you want to be so much taller?" Standing there at 6'3" inches with the help of those 3 inch heeled boots, I replied, "I just want all the guys to look up to me." She chuckled and shook her head, "You don't care one darn bit about the guys." Those amazing blue eyes of hers twinkled and held my gaze full on. It was never mentioned again. It didn't need to be. We understood each other perfectly.
In January of 1980, at the age of 96, Jenny B moved on to other realms. She died at home peacefully in her own bed. As mom and I stood next to the bed talking about our remembrances, and how glad we were that she had not had to suffer, mom asked me about what I remembered most as a child with grandma. I said one of the strongest memories was of the bottom drawer in the built-in cabinet there in the bedroom where she kept a notebook for each grandchild to draw, write, scribble, color or whatever we wanted to do with it. Mom bent over and pulled the drawer open saying maybe we should take a look. You guessed it, they were all still there and there was mine, "Shirley, 5 yrs old" it said clearly on the front. Can you imagine. Standing there at 40 to see that notebook still there for me after all those years? That was the moment that the tears came flooding in. I was loved. I was loved that much. How incredible.
I could write on for pages and pages about the things I remember at Grandma Jenny's house and my memories of her. But today is the remembrance of her birthday so I will just say:
Happy Birthday Grandma Jenny B. I know the angels are glad to have you back among them. Thanks for all the love.
(Written by Shirley Johnson)
(Information has been gathered through several resources so some may not be correct)
Jenny at 16 ~ 1899
At the age of 17, in the year 1900, Jenny left Chicago on a train bound for Salt Lake City. There she would be met by her soon to be husband, William Carlos Behunin, whom she and the family met when he was in Chicago as a missionary for the Mormon Church. Both were devout Mormons and they traveled by covered wagon to the LDS Temple in Manti, Utah to be married.
Will and Jenny~1901
I met her in 1945 when she was 62 and I was 5. It was love at first site for the two of us. She seemed tall to me then, yet only 5'4", and her silver white hair was worn in a bun or a braid piled on her head. I have never been adequately able to describe the blueness of her eyes which I was certain held all of heaven and angels within them. The amazing gift she gave me was love. . .unqualified, endless, deeply abiding love. She was the first person ever in my life that made me feel loved. I was only one of the 9 grandchildren she had at that time, but she made me feel like the only one, the most important one, the most loved one. . .and I have no idea how she did that, or what she did that made me feel that. She certainly didn't spoil any of us. We were all expected to behave well and be respectful, no nonsense about that.
Grandma was always busy with her hands as she sat in her favorite wood rocking chair almost all of the time. She was always knitting, or crocheting, or tatting (lace making), quilting, or embrodering. All things she attempted in vain to teach me. I had no patience for such quiet work. I think she made every sweater, scarf and mittens I ever had as a child. I can never think of her without seeing her in that wide, flat armed mission style rocking chair. Sometimes, she would let me straddle one of the arms of the chair and ride my imaginary wild horse. I dearly loved that chair. I dearly loved her.
She and my mother made a quilt for every one of the 24 grandchildren as a wedding gift. Not a hand tied quilt, but a hand stitched quilt, every bit of it sewn together and quilted by hand. I was the only one that got my quilt long before I would have thought to be married, and as it turned out not to be married. Grandma Jenny B (as we called her) might have been an old fashioned woman, but she was very astute and nothing got passed her.
When I was in my early 30's (1972), I was visiting one day when she asked the always asked question of me since I was 12. . ."How is it you are so tall?" Being the smart alecky one I was, I said, "Oh, it is just these boots I am wearing. They make me taller." Some of you might remember how popular those mid calf boots with the 3 inch stack heels were in the 70's. She took a step back to size me up, and then asked, "Why would you want to be so much taller?" Standing there at 6'3" inches with the help of those 3 inch heeled boots, I replied, "I just want all the guys to look up to me." She chuckled and shook her head, "You don't care one darn bit about the guys." Those amazing blue eyes of hers twinkled and held my gaze full on. It was never mentioned again. It didn't need to be. We understood each other perfectly.
In January of 1980, at the age of 96, Jenny B moved on to other realms. She died at home peacefully in her own bed. As mom and I stood next to the bed talking about our remembrances, and how glad we were that she had not had to suffer, mom asked me about what I remembered most as a child with grandma. I said one of the strongest memories was of the bottom drawer in the built-in cabinet there in the bedroom where she kept a notebook for each grandchild to draw, write, scribble, color or whatever we wanted to do with it. Mom bent over and pulled the drawer open saying maybe we should take a look. You guessed it, they were all still there and there was mine, "Shirley, 5 yrs old" it said clearly on the front. Can you imagine. Standing there at 40 to see that notebook still there for me after all those years? That was the moment that the tears came flooding in. I was loved. I was loved that much. How incredible.
I could write on for pages and pages about the things I remember at Grandma Jenny's house and my memories of her. But today is the remembrance of her birthday so I will just say:
Happy Birthday Grandma Jenny B. I know the angels are glad to have you back among them. Thanks for all the love.
(Written by Shirley Johnson)
(Information has been gathered through several resources so some may not be correct)
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