03

Carol:

I do not know if you saw in the Daily Press on Sunday the obituary of Mrs. Catherine Zeno. She was the mother of Connie Laws Zeno Bollmeier, Class of 1960. Connie died several years ago with complications due to Lupus. Connie was at Woodrow Wilson School with me and all through N.N.H.S.....She was so special. I visited Mrs. Zeno on several occasions, when she lived in the Hidenwood and also in the Governor's Inn, where she died. I vividly remember in the fifth grade at Woodrow Wilson School that Mrs. Zeno was a substitute teacher as our teacher was ill. Anyway, she said that she was going to teach us something we would never forget. This was the correct spelling of "all right". It is two words, "not alright or allright". She wrote the word, "all" on the left end of the chalk board and then walked down the other end of the room and wrote "right". She said, "it is two words and don't you ever forget it". I called her minister, Dr. R. Randel Everett, and told him that story and he used it in the funeral. I mentioned that, I am sure Mrs. Zeno is "all right" now as she is certainly in Heaven. She was a dear lady. Mrs. Zeno was 96 and had an extrememly keen mind. I visited her week before last and she told me to tell my mother hello and also asked about my sister, Mary Anne, '58 and her husband Don. She mentioned that they had lived across the street from her on Pear Avenue. She did not forget anything. Connie had a brother 7 years younger, Roger Zeno. I am unsure if he went to N.N.H.S.; however, I would assume he did. I remember in the seventh grade, when Connie sat directly behind me, she said she now had a brother.......an elderly lady, Lorraine Morewitz, who was on the N.N. Historical Commission with me some years ago, called me and asked me if I planned on going to the funeral as she would appreciate a ride. She and another lady, Mrs. Packman, from the Governor's Inn really wanted to go. They were Bridge partners with Mrs. Zeno. Mrs. Packman was in a wheel chair and Lorraine is on oxygen. I picked these ladies up and took them back. It was with no difficulty at all. Betsy Roberts Moore, who is a member of First Baptist Church and a friend of Mrs. Zeno, sort of adopted her and visited her regularly and really looked out for her. She is a dear. Betsy graduated in 1956 and her sister Kay Roberts Pond was in my class, 1960. Kay died 9 years ago, March 6th, near the same time that Johnny Canepa died. Kay was a sweetheart. Betsy was a "Dawn Lovely", I well remember.

Thank you, Fred. I did read it, but incredibly made no connection. I must not yet be as well as I thought.

(The Old Rugged Cross was written in Albion, Michigan.
Or Pokagon, Michigan.
Or Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
All three towns claim to be the birthplace of this hymn.)

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

"The Old Rugged Cross" midi courtesy of http://www.divtune.com/dtmid.htm - 03/01/07
NOTE: I felt strongly impressed that I should use this hymn. After searching for over an hour for an arrangement I liked,
this version came closest in spirit, though I had hoped for an organ sound.