Antoinette Marie Lincoln

It was the year 1929, the beginning of the depression, when God decided to bestow upon Antonia and Bohumil Vodnansky a new born girl who was named Antoinette Marie Vodnansky. Dr. Ed Allen delivered Antoinette, and knowing the hardship in those times offered to adopt me.

Needless to say there was no decision to be made.

This family of once 8 children had grieved the loss of the oldest boy named Harry to cancer.

Harry was an intelligent good looking lad who was loved and admired by everyone who came in contact with him. He died at age 16.

These times were hard on everyone especially the municipal workers which was what my father was, a Fireman on the Cicero, Illinois Fire Dept. They would not receive salaries, so my mother worked as a seamstress working for a tailor. She also worked at the Catholic school cleaning and in the kitchen, to pay for the tuition for her children.

When I was attending 1st grade I developed pneumonia & was hospitalized from October to January at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

The Nuns from Mary Queen of Heaven Church & School, came once a week to bring me homework so I could keep up with the class.

My high school was attended at Nazareth Academy in La Grange, IL. Worked as a Nurses Aid at McNeal Memorial Hospital during the summer, in Berwyn. After graduation I work for 1 yr. at Western Electric Co. in Cicero, (where most of the Czech & Polish worked) as a secretary.

I decided after 1 yr. I wanted to go into Nurses Training which took place at Little Company of Mary Hospital In Evergreen Park.

This is where I met Bob Lincoln who picked me out of a group of student nurses running from the Hospital to the Nursing Home. He came with 2 boyfriends to pick up 2 other students, but he didn’t have a date, so that’s how we first met. We had several dates and then, being in the IL. Reserves, his unit was activated which took him overseas to France. Before he departed he asked if I would accept an engagement ring on St. Patrick’s day March 17th.

My psychiatric Training took place in Jacksonville, IL. A group of Catholic Students had boyfriends in the service, so we decided to start to say the ROSARY NOVENAS TO OUR LADY, 27 days of Petition and 27 days of Thanksgiving.

Bob’s parents sent him to Sunday School as far as I knew, but he didn’t have any specific church or beliefs he attached himself to. This is what my Petition was, that he become a Catholic---I didn’t know at that time if I was even able to be married in the Catholic church.

He came home on an Emergency leave because his Mother was dying of Colon Cancer, and was in and out of the hospital (LCMH) to relieve her of the fluid her body was retaining.

He wanted to get married before she passed on, and at that point told me he took instructions from the Chaplain on the Air Force Base and was becoming a Catholic. I said I hope you didn’t do it just to marry me, but he said NO, he explored all the other faiths and the Catholic Faith was the true faith.

I knew then, that the Blessed Mother heard and answered my prayers.

He knew more than I was ever aware of in some aspects of the church, and I was raised in Catholic Schools all of that part of my life. I know that PRAYER IS POWERFUL!!!

Family Tree of Antoinette Marie Lincoln

PARENTS

MOTHER: Antonia Vlk –Born Nov. 2nd, 1890 Chicago, IL. Died 6/17/82

FATHER: Bohumil Robert Vodnansky-Born Sept. 7th 1883 Chicago, IL. Died 3//8/58 ( No knowledge of his family);Buried @ St. Adelberts Cemetary, Niles, IL.

Father:Joseph Vlk---Born 1852 Prague Czech Republic Died 2/19/21

Mother: Mary Smrt Born1859 Odlena (North outside Prague) Died 2/1/28 (69 Yrs. Old);Buried @ St. Adelberts Cemetary---Niles, IL.

Brothers & Sisters:

John, Edward, Mary, Emily

Children: Harry, James, Adeline, Richard, Marie (Marion), Bernice, Helen,

Antoinette-----

Children: Deborah Ann, Gary Lee, Katherine Louise, Jeffrey Paul, Joanne Marie,

Robert Fredric, Chris Edward