Items from the Past

I recently acquired the first set of kitchen chairs that belonged to my great-grandmother, Mary Maslan-Weil.  I plan on stripping the paint from them, staining them, and recovering the seats.  Here is what they look like now.

Billie Ann Burrill

I recently heard of the death of my great-grandfather's cousin.  She was the last of a generation.  Billie Ann Burril was born March 11, 1921 the third of four children born to Loretta A. Chidsey and Richard J. Burrill, Sr. in Joliet, Illinois.

(The home built by Billie's father in 1923) 

Billie led a remarkable life far from Joliet.  She enlisted in WWII as a W.A.C. (Women's Army Corps).  She served for four and a half years.  She rose from the rank of private to captain.  During her service she spent time in the Pacific Theater.  While serving in Papua New Guinea her unit was responsible for censoring all the personal mail of military personnel in the SW Pacific Area.  After her service she awarded four awards and citations following her military service.

Upon returning to the states she enrolled in college.  She received an undergraduate degree from Boston University and a Masters Degree from Smith College.  She was briefly on staff  at University of Connecticut and Connecticut College.  In 1954 she joined the faculty of Rhode Island College where she rose to the position of Director of the Health and Physical Education Department.  While on staff she organized seventeen courses.  As well as coaching the schools fencing teaming to national level.  She retired from Rhode Island College in 1980 after twenty-six years on their staff.  Although Billie retired she still remained active in the college.

At the age of 62 Billie started suffering from debilitating arthritis in her back.  At the suggestion of her physician she began to swim to ease the pain.  While swimming she became one of the worlds leading Master Swimmers.  She won over 300 medals and set three world records in her age group.  It was the ribbon's from these medals that she would tie up her vegetables in her 1/4 acre organic "victory" garden.  Billie even placed first in swimming competitions only weeks after receiving a total hip replacement.  In addition to these medals she was inducted to North Providence Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and to the 1990 RI Aquatic Hall of Fame, 2000 inductee into the International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame.  In 1996 she celebrated her 75th birthday by going sky diving for the first time. 

Billie passed away in Providence, Rhode Island on March 03, 2010 after a brave battle with colon cancer.  When my grandmother last spoke to her she had stopped taking the chemotherapy treatments.  She said those where making her sicker than the cancer itself.  She will long be remembered for her active role at Rhode Island College