Ingrid Fenske, true to her faith and family

He arrived here from Sweden with a dream -- a dream of owning land and farming his property. With his wife and young daughter, he purchased land in Woodstock and bought livestock.

"All of the animals died," said Ingrid Fenske. "There were no veterinarians to deal with disease."

The year was 1915, the family lost the farm and moved to Batavia. Ingrid, the oldest daughter, helped her mother with the responsibilities of raising her four siblings and maintaining a household.

"I went to school at the old Grace McWayne School when I was 7," said Fenske, who still lives in Batavia and celebrated her 94th birthday with a party last weekend. "My father didn't want me to go. He thought I was too young and too thin. I only spoke Swedish. My teacher, Miss Russell, took a special interest in me and helped me learn English."

Even though her family spoke Swedish at home, Ingrid was smart and picked up the language of the new country.

"I couldn't finish high school because I was needed at home," Fenske said. "That was what people did back then."

Walter Fenske worked at a foundry nearby and Ingrid noticed him right away.

"He had very broad 'football' shoulders," she said, with a twinkle in her eye. "I could watch him from my house. I knew who he was before we actually met at a party."

Ingrid and Walter married and Walter learned the painting trade. After an apprenticeship, he opened his own business, Fenske Glass and Paint, on Wilson Street, just north of the old high school.

"We first lived on First Street in an apartment in Ernest Nelson's home," Fenske said. "The upstairs needed some work and Mr. Nelson let us live there for six months without paying rent in exchange for fixing it up. Then we paid $10 a month. I don't think you would see that today."

The two started their family, eventually having eight children -- four boys and four girls. They moved to a small cottage along the river that had once been part of a fishing resort.

"The boys were easier than the girls," she said. "All four boys were river rats. The river was a big attraction for them."

Life wasn't easy for Ingrid Fenske. Tragedy struck in the late 1960s when her husband Walter, her son Walter Jr. and her grandson, Walter "Buddy" all perished in a plane crash in Wisconsin.

She was forced to go to work to meet the expenses of the family. Tragedy struck a second time when Walter Jr.'s wife died of cancer at a young age, leaving behind a family of five ranging in age from 5 to 14. Fenske became their legal guardian.

"Not many could have done what my mom did," said her son, Paul, "She went to their home every day to look after them."

Ingrid was quick to point out how much Cathy, Walter Jr.'s oldest daughter, helped.

"Cathy was just like a mother to those kids. She worked so hard to take care of them when I wasn't there," she added.

Lesser women would have crumbled under the stress of raising two families. Ingrid felt that she was raised to take care of her family and with the help of God, she did.

"You have to accept what you have to do gladly," she said. "Maybe not necessarily with a smile but with gladness for each day as you perform your daily work. Don't grumble. You might feel like grumbling but don't say it."

It reminded me of the old adage, "No one ever died from evil words left unsaid."

For Ingrid Fenske, faith and family are the most important things in her life. Her family feels the same way. One hundred and fifty family members from all over the country gathered last weekend to celebrate her 94th birthday.

Her grandson, Ernie, came early to do yard work. Her granddaughter, Sandie, took care of the invitations. Everyone in the family chipped in with a table full of homemade specialties.

"It was a wonderful party," she said. "I felt so honored."

Ingrid Fenske is a strong woman, in both faith and fortitude. We are the ones who should be honored to have her as part of our community.