Ron's aunt

unknown location with son, Archie  (1942)

Maria Marta (Kaczmarek) LaFleur  (1904-1981)

Born August 10, 1904 in Poland, Martha had little opportunity for a proper education.  She celebrated her eighth birthday

two days before boarding a ship for America.  Once in the United States, the family struggled financially.  As a result,

Martha learned to do without, developing a thick skin to hide her feelings.  At thirteen, she left home, supporting herself

by working as a waitress.  In fact, she spent the rest of her working life in the restaurant business.  For several years

during the mid-1930's, she personally prepared the traditional Waldorf Salad at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New

York City.  Somewhat stocky and big-boned, she had wiry dark brown hair and broad, flat features.  At first glance, she

she seemed gruff and bluff, but that was a facade.  True, she took no lip from anyone, but Martha also had a huge heart

and an open wallet -- an "easy touch" one might say -- whenever any of her younger siblings needed help.  A quick wit,

Martha called everyone "kid."  Her second husband, Arthur LaFleur, a career merchant seaman, sailed throughout the

Western Hemisphere, bringing home souvenir coins from each country visited.  Art and Martha eventually settled in

Concord, New Hampshire, and raised one son, Arthur, Jr. (1942 -     ).

Martha's younger sister, Virginia, traveled back to Poland several times, in search of her roots; but Martha, older by five

years, still suffered frightening memories from her youth in the Russian sector of Poland -- of surprise raids by fearsome

Cossacks on huge horses who lined up all the men and boys in the village square and threatened to kill them unless

their demands were met.  Those shocking memories, and a strong conviction that the Communist regime ruling Poland

at the time was probably no better than the Cossacks, caused Martha great anxiety.  "With my big mouth," she said,

"they'd throw me in jail inside of a week."  Although desperately yearning to visit her birthplace, she consistently refused

to accompany Virginia to Poland.  In the summer of 1981, after years of persuasion, Martha finally agreed to make the

trip.  Sadly, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and died on November 17, 1981, a few months short of realizing her

dream.  Virginia made the journey alone the following year and returned with a small jar of dirt collected from outside the

church where Martha had been baptized . . . which she sprinkled on her sister's grave.