Jeffersonville 1937 [restored with Artificial Intelligence]

Top: George Louis Seibert, Fred Fitchen

Bottom: Rita Faubel, Frank Fitchen, Frances Fitchen

 

The Fitchens were second cousins to George Seibert.

 

In 1956, Frances Fitchen, about 59 years old –Fred and Frank's mother– came to live with George and Liliiana Seibert's family in Halesite, New York after her husband Fred passed away. Known to all as "Aunt Frances" (she was my great aunt) she lived with us for the next 20 years. She was a constant and loving presence in our household for most of our growing up (that is for Leni, Kathy and me). I was never clear why she came to live with us rather than either of her sons.

 

Rita was the youngest of seven Stephenson siblings who was severely injured in a sledding accident at six months old (at least as I recall). The Stephenson parents were somehow killed and the children were individually farmed out to various families in the Jeffersonville area.

 

Sadly, no one felt they could take on a disabled baby.

 

Lena and Louis Faubel, George's grandparents who were already raising him after complicated circumstances of his birth, stepped up, brought her into their family, and Rita Stephenson became Rita Faubel. She later married Walter Yewchuck and lived in Jeffersonville.

 

 

Restored by Artificial Intelligence

Done