Ollie LaVenia Frank Hawkes Written by her daughter Nena Rey Hawkes

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Ollie LaVenia Frank

She was 5' 2", a slender woman who bobbed her silver hair behind and to the side of her head. Her eyes gleamed with vitality; a ready smile quickly bloomed into laughter. Her clothing, most often, her own creation and design, bore a distinctive flare, and her hats added a simple touch of elegance to a refined woman. She was appropriate in appearance and manners but never relaxed enough to be found napping in a chair or heaven forbid in church. She chose the firm formal chair for sitting, always on the edge and with proper posture.

Her daily attire was one of her colorful home made dresses with heels and hose. An excellent seamstress, she began sewing many of her own clothes at the age of twelve. When working in the house or the garden, she wore a special apron to keep her dress clean. Heels and hose were commonly worn even while doing daily tasks. Walking into the house when she was sweeping the front room carpets was a delight. She "cracked" her chewing gum to the rhythm of the vacuum as she moved it back and froth across the carpet. Hearing the gum "pop" left an assurance that all was well.

Our home and the flower beds were maintained with her meticulous caring touch. The house was cleaned weekly and in between. Everything was kept in its proper place. She expected us to keep our rooms clean, clothes hung up, beds made and dishes washed after or between meals and snacks. She insisted the lawn be moved on Saturday so it would look nice for Sunday. She swept grass off the sidewalks while Dad did the mowing. When we were old enough, we helped sweep and mow the grass.

The vegetable garden located in the rear of the house took up the space from the driveway to the barnyard fence. The vegetable garden and the flower gardens were weeded regularly. The rose garden was Mother's favorite; it ran from the city sidewalk west to the walk in front of the house. She taught us how to cut the roses to initiate new blooms and even briefed us on the art of smelling a garden rose. To smell the rose's fragrance, we were to bend over and put our nose close to the flower while holding the bloom underneath and between the first two fingers. It worked!

She clothed us in home sewn apparel, managed a clean, clutter free-house, comfortable and charming enough to feel good about inviting friends home. She taught us how to walk and sit properly and instructed us to never leave the house with pins in clothing, gum in our mouths or hands in our pockets. She taught other important things, too, so we would be acceptable and accepted.

We learned to pray, kneeling beside her as she sat in a chair, practiced our memorized church talks before her while she patiently corrected and encouraged. When we performed in public, she and our father were there to give approval and compliment our efforts. Our day began around the breakfast table kneeling in prayer. The same ritual was repeated prior to the evening meal. At each of these occasions, Dad called on someone different to lead the family in prayer.

After school, the first word we uttered when entering the house was "Mother", the answer "I'm here" was comforting. She was always there. Once I heard a person ask her if she regretted not pursuing her promising musical career. She laughed and replied, "No, I always considered being a mother was more important."

Mother recognized the uniqueness in each of her children. Pat loved butter, so she always received a pound of butter from Santa Claus. I liked the fact she allowed me to have a raisin pie for my birthday rather than cake. I detested cake and especially most everyone's favorite - chocolate cake. And she also said it was ok if I didn't want to have bows on certain dresses and blouses. Because she was often ill during some of the early years of my young life, our father prepared our breakfast. I had long blonde hair until I was in the 7th grade. I couldn't braid my hair so Mother had me stand to the side of the bed while she sat on an edge of the bed and gently brushed and braided my long hair just before I left for school. Along with this morning ritual, she made a quick check to make certain my blouse was tucked in and I was not leaving the house chewing gum.

Forever the teacher, she had little sayings to remind us of lofty ideals. "Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you." "Be a hard master to yourself and to all others be lenient." "To have a friend, you must be a friend." "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." We had to make certain our clothes were in the closet and not lying under the bed nor on the floor or the bed and that the bed was made before we left for school. If we had bread and jam for a snack, we had to clean-up before we left the kitchen.

A woman of immense feeling for others, she cried when the world cried. She empathized with the pain and sorrow of those she did not know and those she knew - her children, grandchildren, siblings and neighbors. Her journal records the great sorrow she felt at the untimely losses of two brothers and a sister. Also noted was the fact she was allowed to stay home from school if someone in the family was ill. She worried so much her mother allowed her to be close-by. These events had a lasting impact and caused her to identify with those who were hurt or grieving even though they were not acquaintances.

On the other hand she spoke of the cheerful, happy events of her growing up years and writes, "I had a truly happy childhood." Our family worked sided by side in the "beet-field and in the hay-field and we loved each other as most large families do." She also often talked of her brothers and sisters and remarked, "It was fun growing-up in the Frank family." When we quarreled with each other, she declared, "I never remember arguments with my brothers or sisters during my years at home."

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