Queen of Peace

Jerry, wrote with these memories ...

My family lived on Warring Ave. If you look on a map, you'll see that it is located one block east of Bailey, near Genesee St. Literally, on the "other side of the RR tracks". My neighborhood (in the 50's-late 60's) was somewhat mixed: primarily German, then Italian, then Polish in that order of %. My brother and I being Polish, were sometimes ridiculed. It was a semi-tough neighborhood, but at least you could walk down the street at night and arrive home alive (unlike now). Unlike most of the kids we hung out with, we came out OK, so maybe they were just somewhat jealous? My mom lived there until 1996. She was actually on "Cops" one time (in the background). We used to kid her about advertising the sale of the house with "...as seen on Cops". The house, appraised at $40K in 1990, sold for $4K. It was the largest on the street.

One of my fondest memories of Bflo. was as an altar boy, walking from my house to church at 5:30 a.m. (to serve at 6:00 mass), in a fresh snowfall. I was there mostly during the "reign" of Monsignor Brzana.

I think my parents were parishioners at Q of P from their marriage in about 1943. My dad was an usher and a member of "The Holy Name Society". It was basically a men's club (as opposed to "The Mother's Club", to which my mom belonged). I remember the Holy Namers had their own little clubhouse behind the stage down in the auditorium. Bar, pool table, potato chips...what a life! The pastor would come down and have a drink or three w/them too.

I also remember the processions the church would have....altar boys, cub, girl, boy scouts, Holy Name Society, Mother's Club, etc., marching around the blocks nearby the church on certain days such as 1st Holy Communion, Father's Day, etc. Church activities were a big thing in my family.

The Kocol Funeral Home was conveniently located directly across Genesee St. I did plenty of services there too, along with weddings (we used to stand at the back of the church to shake hands with the groom, hoping for him to throw a $5 bill our way).

OK. I could go on and on. Thanks again. Enjoy the snow (I miss it here in Eugene).