This is a photograph of Harriett G. Ostlund. (Sorry about the blurriness, Dear Readers.) She was born on July 24, 1924 and she died on October 10, 2017.
That made her ninety-three when she passed away. And I did the math required (how much is 2017 – 1924?) thanks to her.
Miss Ostlund was my third grade teacher and I can do a lot of things thanks to her.
Miss Ostlund had spent forty-seven years in the Avoca school district. First as a young teacher fresh out of Northwestern and then as the principal. Imagine that. Forty-seven years at one place.
My principal, Marie Murphy, had hired her. Mrs. Murphy always knew a good thing when she saw one and Miss O. was a good thing.
She was always smiling. She was one of those life-enhancing people who spread warmth and gladness where ever she went.
A very good trait in a teacher of young children- and a teacher of teachers.
My brother Kenny and I spotted her obituary in the Tribune. She had been Kenny’s principal and we both decided to attend her memorial service at the Glenview Community Church the following Sunday.
We were greeted by her family as we walked in. Never married, Miss Ostlund had been the devoted sister, aunt and great aunt to a wonderful group of people and they all turned out to honor her.
We then made our way to a back pew. Soon the church was SRO.
There was a welcome and a hymn.
Then the minister, the Reverend Dr. Pamela Keckler, asked for a show of hands.
“How many here are connected with the Avoca School district?”
Practically the entire church raised their hands.
Wow.
I thought some of the people looked familiar. A woman in the row in front of me turned around and whispered, “I was the school nurse. I remember your brother.”
Dr. Keckler had some wonderful anecdotes about our beloved friend. How she loved music and crosswords and travel. How she made thousands of yummy appetizers and hosted countless family holiday dinners. And how she knitted countless cunning outfits for nieces’ troll dolls.
Author’s SOS: (I think she made me an outfit for something but I can’t exactly remember. Help me out here, Ellen Kander.)
Then it was time for the Twenty-third Psalm, a few selected verses from John and Ephesians, a piano solo by one of Miss O’s fellow congregants and then the Lord’s Prayer.
The minister concluded with a quote from Isaiah.
“For you shall go out in joy, and be lead back in peace;
The mountains and the hills before you shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
Instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
And it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
A beautiful send-off for a beautiful spirit.
The woman sitting directly in front of me turned around.
“I know you. I had both your kids in third grade. I am Mrs. Eckstrand.”
So she did. I caught her up with her former pupils’ doings- Natasha became a first grade teacher herself- and together we marveled on how one person touched so many lives.
Good bye, Miss Chips.
Thank you.
From Ellen R. and Kenny.
I remember Miss Ostlund so well…an icon at Avoca! I was in the other 3rd grade class with Miss Block ….they were very good friends.. I just remember all the troll clothes she knitted for ALL of us whether you were in her class or not. How nice of you & Kenny to go pay your respects. We were very lucky to have had such a wonderful group of teachers st Avoca! Nice memories!!!
And BTW your new grandson sounds adorable !!! So glad you could spend some time with him!!!
Thanks, Ellen W.K. I knew you’d remember what the heck she knittted. She was terrific. We were lucky to know her. And thanks re Hendrix. I hope he gets to go to a school as good as Avoca. Hope all is well with your group. ❤️810
I salute your tribute to a woman who clearly devoted her life to the education of children. The children in my first first-grade class are now 56 years old . I taught them to read, add and subtract. I’m back volunteering in a public school reading program. I still find working with little children fills my life with joy. Hats off to Natasha for the profession she has chosen .
Hats off to you, Jackie. You’re making a wonderful difference in kids’ lives every day. A noble calling. Thank you from all us grateful parents.
Miss. Ostlund was the best. I came to her class 1 month into 3rd grade. I was in 2nd but the Chicago school I had moved from was ahead of Avoca (hard to believe). I was offered the chance to skip 2nd and go to 3rd. Miss. Ostlund taught me how to write in script in just 2 weeks. She was warm and kind. One of the most unforgettable teachers I had at Avoca.
Nice to hear, Barry. Great teachers are such a blessing in young lives. We were all lucky to have her.
Hi Ellen,
Mazel Tov to you and your family on the arrival of your third grandchild, precious Hendrix. Pure joy! 💋💋
You’re so sweet, Nancy. Really appreciate it. 😊❤️🍼
I remember Miss Ostlund very well, and warmly. I was not exactly a pliant student, even something of a wise-ass — perhaps better to say, only a budding wise-ass, back in 3d grade — and there were some teachers (at Avoca, yes) who weren’t very accepting. Spent a fair amount of time in the hall at with the principal, e.g., at my 6th grade teacher’s behest — she told my parents at a conference that “your boy will never amount to a hill of beans.” Whether she proved right is another story. . .) Miss O, however, had a different approach. She called my folks in, told them she thought I had lots of potential, but needed to start taking more responsibility, and she wanted their help. I then dutifully carried a note home (and back) each week for a while. Mirabile dictu: that worked! She got what she wanted, I learned what I needed to do, and I still remember the year — and my teacher — warmly and positively.
Thanks for sharing, Bob. I’m not surprised that 1. Miss O. found a clever way to get you on track and 2. that you became a lawyer. 😊 She was a force that helped mold so many young lives.
And: if I recall correctly, she was the original hostess of Ernie Palmer’s movie row!
💯 % correct, Bob! You get an A for remembering this. And wasn’t it fun to have EP’s private movie row reunion within the reunion? Some of its original members were in attendance. Thanks for this laugh. 👍😊📽