Happiness and Ever
After should be a requisite in
unexpected love stories.
After Amy’s family
forgave her, throwing a big reception for the wedded couple, things settled
down. Theodorus informed his family
about the wedding, and they were thrilled.
A little shocked perhaps, but thrilled.
 |
| Amy in her modern traveling suit |
His parents set about
building a new house on a portion of farm land they deeded to Theodorus and
Amy. For Amy, this was beyond her
hopes. Living in a town or city in a
shared bedroom with her two sisters and supporting the family had been her
future. And now, Amy would have her own
home, her own husband, and even farm land.
Theodorus traveled
ahead of Amy, kissing her good-bye passionately at the train station in
Detroit. “Soon!” was the word they
whispered.
He arrived and
inspected the progress. Like Amy, a
house of his own had also been beyond his hopes. He sent a telegraph, and she arrived within
days.
 |
| Theodorus with Helen |
That was 1919. In 1920, a daughter Dorus Helen was born to
them. Life was wonderful. Theodorus was president of the town’s bank;
his parents were prosperous with ever increasing farm land. In 1922, my father Louis Edmund was
born. In 1925, William was born.
 |
| Helen and Louis "Bud" |
Smiles on my
grandmother’s face in old photos say everything: Life is wonderful, Love is wonderful…
 |
| son Louis, Amy Peck, her mother-in-law Laura Peck, and Theodorus with their new car |
The Stock Market
Crash of 1929 punctured the big balloon.
The bank was closed and land had to be sold. But, still, Theodorus and Amy were together.
And, then…I hate
those words.
Theodorus had never
been a robust man like his two brothers.
Over the next two years, he began to grow more fragile. He lived in constant pain, on aspirins. Amy worried over him. She unpacked her boxes of medical books and
sought answers.
In 1932, his doctor
decided that Theodorus had to be admitted into a hospital.
People seldom went to
hospitals in a rural area. Those who
were admitted were suffering from serious life threatening issues. This usually resulted in death. Which is what happened.
Theodorus was taken
by ambulance to a hospital over sixty miles away. After his admission, plans were made for
surgery, as a kidney tumor was suspected.
The night before the surgery, while Amy sat at his bedside, Theodorus
suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage.
Death came quickly.
 |
| Amy L. Peck as a widow |
Amy was about 40
years old, and the only love of her life was buried. The next decade for Amy and her three
children would be harsh.
