Magdalena Brakenridge

Magdalena (Lennie). Preceded in death by husband, Robert and daughter Diane. She was born in 1937 in an isolated rural farming community outside of Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia) to George and Anna Kolb. The family were ethnic Germans, she was the third of four children.

They had a small farm and their crops included corn, tobacco, and potatoes along with chickens, some cows and horses for plowing. They knew little of the ongoing war in Europe. Lennie was seven years old when the war ended in mid 1945, terrible consequences would soon befall her and her family. The local government and militias begin a campaign of ethnic cleansing - jailing, torture and killing. Lennie and her family, her sister Rose still a toddler, fled on foot, with little more than the clothes on their back after their home and crops were burned. Their farm animals were slaughtered. Lennie lost more than a dozen aunts, uncles and cousins, killed in this purge. They were forced to fled to war shattered Germany, now under US/Allied and Soviet control. They struggled often traveling at night to avoid arrest or detainment, sometimes by rail or wagon cart. They had to steal potatoes, onions or carrots from farmers’ fields to eat. The war was officially over, but local fighting persisted. Lennie, then 8 year old, was shot in the lower leg by unknown shooter, it fortunately missed an artery and her father removed the bullet with a pocket knife. When they arrived in Germany, the US Authorities placed them in refugee camps, separating children from parents. There they stayed - housed, fed and schooled and were not allowed to leave as Germany did not consider them citizens or even German. Eventually the family was reunited and worked at US Army bases, doing laundry, cooking and cleaning. Germany was rebuilding, had food shortages and wanted all the foreign refugees placed in other countries as it could not care for them. Lennie and her family were accepted into a placement program in the US and Canada. They left on an old troop carrier ship bound for New York City.

The voyage across the north Atlantic Sea was terrible. Lenny, then 18, fortunately, was not seasick and aided the medical staff in treating the other passengers. Lennie was sponsored by young Brooklyn family and stayed with them for a few months, she worked in local factories as an assembler. Lennie and her family decided that Chicago would be a better place as they had distant relatives already living there. The family settled in Chicago’s north side. Lennie worked in many of the local factories, sewing men’s shoes or packaging food. At one of the work places she met Bill, and had her eldest son, Ronald, although the relationship did not last. Her mother Anna cared for him as Lennie went to her workplace. Lennie later worked at an electronics plant and met Robert (Bob), an engineer, whom she would marry and have two children, son Michael and daughter Diane. They settled into a new home in Park Ridge Illinois.

Thirty years later, 1993, they retired and followed son Ronald to Phoenix Arizona. Retirement went well until 2002 when daughter, Diane, was diagnosed with cancer. Lennie made frequent trips to Los Angeles, where Diane worked and lived, to help her in any way she could. Lennie was very handy as a DIYer and remodeled Diane’s small home, installing wooden floors, building a deck, a brick patio, remodeling her kitchen and building a shed. Lennie drove Diane to countless chemotherapy sessions, but Diane’s cancer still slowly progressed. Tragically in 2006, during one of Lennie’s trips, Bob died at their Phoenix home of a heart attack. Stoically, Lennie continued caring for her daughter until the very end, Diane succumbed and died in 2009. Lennie kept busy, always had a project, installing wood floors in her own home herself, remodeling her bathroom with son Ron, building an outdoor Ramada with him as well. Later, Lennie was plagued with back problems and breathing issues that severely limited her activity. She had her loyal companion at her side, the pug Bella, to the end.

There are so many stories not told about Magdalena and her life, both inspiring and sad. She made the best of any situation, and was loved family and friends. She will be remembered and missed.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LakeshoreMort.com for the Brakenridge family.