Mum’s the Word

Today is Mother’s Day in the United States. As we celebrate and honor our mothers today, I’d like to share some photos of the mothers in my direct maternal line.

This is one of my favorite photos because it is the only one I have of myself with my mother and “Grandma Hazel.” It’s Christmas 1968 in Brooklyn, New York and I am almost 2 years old. You wouldn’t know it looking at the picture but my mom is pregnant with my brother Michael.

Frances (Ewart) Hendrickson, Desiree Hendrickson and Hazel (Knowles) Ewart Rankin
That’s me, with my mom, Frances (Ewart) Hendrickson and grandmother Hazel (Knowles) Ewart Rankin, Christmas 1968, Brooklyn, New York. Photo credit: Carlton Hendrickson.

Similarly, this next photo also shows three generations of mothers in my maternal line. It’s my mom’s fourth birthday in 1951. She’s seated with my grandmother Hazel and great-grandmother Margaret.

I can trace my maternal lineage back four generations. From my mother, Frances (Ewart) Hendrickson, grandmother, Hazel (Knowles) Ewart Rankin, great-grandmother Margaret (Flood) Knowles, and great-great-grandmother Catherine (Dunn) Flood. Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of my great-great-grandmother.

Margaret (Flood) Knowles, Frances Ewart and Hazel (Knowles) Ewart
Mom’s 4th birthday, 17 September 1951. Photographed with her mother Hazel, and my great-grandmother Margaret (Flood) Knowles in Brooklyn, New York. Photo credit: Jack or Anna (Knowles) Starkey.

While I didn’t get the chance to know two of my four “mothers,” I can only think that I am who I am today because of them and I am grateful for that.

Happy Mother’s Day!


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