Mrs. Sarah Jeffrey (aka “Jeppy”)

Carole Ann Kennedy Robeson

When I look back at our rented house on Walker Street, it certainly would not be something a young family would live in today.  I remember the pump in the kitchen sink, the one small bedroom shared by two, then three kids, and of course, the outhouse.  None of this bothered us, but I am sure it was difficult for my Mom and Dad.

A Neighbor Makes the Difference

But what was the really wonderful thing, was that Mrs. Jeffrey lived across the street.  I loved “Jeppy.” She was the Grandma we didn’t have.  I was six weeks old, in 1943, when we moved across the street from her.  She also became a mother to my Mother since Mom had lost her mother about six years before, so she valued Mrs. Jeffrey’s  friendship.  And the best part was that Mrs. Jeffrey loved us.

On Sunday’s, Mrs. Jeffrey would make pancakes and  when we came back from church, one of us, my brother or I, would go over for breakfast.   So every other Sunday was my turn.  I loved going there alone, getting all of her attention.  After breakfast, I would sit at the pop table and color while she would clean up the kitchen.  She would tell me stories about her week. She cleaned houses for people in Joliet and also watched their kids, staying there for the week and coming home Friday afternoon.  She did this for a number of years.  I loved her stories and felt like I knew those kids and knew they had to be rich to have someone clean their house and take care of their kids.  I would stay until about noon and then she would send me off.

The problem with all of this was that when it was Tommy Ray’s Sunday with Jeppy, it was very difficult for me.  I could hardly endure it.  I would sneak over and peek through the windows to see what he was doing, trying to not let Jeppy see me.  Tommy Ray would look at me and pretend he didn’t see me but, of course, Jeppy did. She would open the back door and tell me I had to go home, that my turn would be next Sunday.  I would go, but couldn’t wait until he returned, knowing next week was my turn.

I still have the heavy mixing bowl she made the pancakes and angel food cakes in. And I can picture this 5′ woman holding it in her arms next to her body stirring the batter.  I also have her 3 wooden kitchen chairs that I sat on during my Sunday mornings with Jeppy!  I was the “rich” one.