Mary Rose Schap Gumnick

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a.k.a. “Grandma”

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January 9, 1903–April 18, 1999

Anne and Grandma when she lived with the Little Sisters of the Poor

One time Grandma sent Jane a letter when she was in college and had taped 10 (I think it was 10) dimes to it. She apologized that that was all she had to send at the time. -Beth

When I was in college, she used to send me $5 in the mail (she liked me more). I really appreciated it at the time--it meant I could eat out! -Anne

Her nickname in the Schap and Gumnick families was "$5 Aunt Mary" because she did that with everybody. -Beth

She also got each of us a $500 savings bond when we were born, and you may or may not know that she set aside $1,000 for each of her grandchildren to inherit at her death. (A few of our cousins who shall remain nameless who knew this actually asked her for their $1,000 before her death. That killed me when she told me that.)

Grandma (third from left)

When she was considering going to the home run by the nuns (I forgot what it was called) as her life was drawing to a close, part of the deal was that she would have to hand over whatever money was left of hers and in return the nuns would take care of her for the rest of her life. I had a conversation with her about it all shortly before she ended up going there, I don't remember exactly when, maybe a year before, the last time I saw her. I was on a school trip to DC and took an afternoon off to go visit her when she was living with Cindy (I think it was Cindy)?

She wanted to go live out the end of her life there with the nuns really badly, she was sad that she was unable to go to mass as much as she wanted to and being there she would be able to go every day. She said the place was beautiful and the nuns were wonderful. But she didn't go for a long time because she didn't want her grandchildren (the ones who hadn't already asked her for their share) to lose out on that money she had set aside for after her death. I told her that it was worth it to her grandchildren to "give up" their $1,000 to know that she was happy and peaceful in the last part of her life. I think I had an impact, although I doubt I was the only one encouraging her. She did end up going to the home. I don't remember how long she was there before she died, maybe a year, but I am so glad she did because she wanted to so badly, and for so much of her life she was just doing for everybody else. I'm glad she got to have a peaceful end to her life of doing for others.

A young bride, 16

Where did we get our love of dogs?

OUR SECRET Grandma and I had a secret ever since I was little. I don't know if any of YOU ever got to have a secret with her, but I did. Anytime she wrote or we talked she always said, "Remember our secret." The "secret" was that she loved me and I loved her.