Polly was born as Opalionia Pukas to Katrina Vaitkunas and her first husband, Jurgis "George" Pukas. Her father died in 1906 in Scotland and she and her mother and brother and her aunt Veronica came to America on May 18, 1909 on the ship the Furnessia. Pauline, 8, and Andrew, 4, sang duets on board the ship for pennies.
Her mother, Katrina, married Joseph Kaminchaitis and some members of the family changed the surname to Cummings, which Polly went by.
She was a silk spinner in a mill in Scranton. She never married but was like a mother to her youngest sister, Catherine "Kitty," and loved children. She knitted all kinds of things for various family members and taught several of the younger children how to fish and play the piano.
Kitty wrote this in memoriam to her:
Love and caring are for sharing. My heart is heavy today -- and I know a ll of you share my grief. We've shared many happy times -- and it made t hem more precious. The sad times shared make them more bearable. And ye t, there is joy in the legacy Polly has left for us, just by being in o ur midst.
She gave us time to get to know and love her. She told of coming to thi s New World from Scotland at the age of 7, and of singing duets on boar d ship with her brother (aged 3). She told of driving a horse and buggy f rom the West Mountain farm to the city to deliver milk -- of walking mi les to buy groceries -- of working in a silk mill -- of picking grapes i n a vineyard, apples in an orchard, and strawberries, big and luscious, f rom her own patch -- for those well remembered "Strawberry Get-Together s."
She was my "Other Mother" when our mom had to stay in the hospital afte r I was born -- and through the years, I have felt a special attachemen t to her.
Her treasures on Earth were the tokens of Love given to her, because "A unt Polly" would like them and take care of them. The givers were right ! Polly liked being remembered as much as everyone liked remembering he r. She not only kpet the treasures safe, but shared stories about them. S he knew well where the painted Easter egg came from -- and the sea shel ls -- and handmade dolls -- and things made of wood, ceramic, glass, pa per or yarn. They are all keepsakes. We all shared in her special memor ies -- not once -- but many times through the years.
Visitors made her happy -- family and friends. Though she had no childr en of her own, she was loved by nieces and nephews who repeat stories o f hikes, boat rides, picnics and games. Polly had the time to join them i n their fun when the others were too busy.
She loved flowers and they, too, responded to her care. This past summe r, at 91, she said, "I have my own 'Garden Show' to enjoy every day. Th ere's no need to go far to see beauty!"
Then there were long nights and quiet times, and she kept busy making p atch-quilts and rugs, and knitting sweaters. Many of us literally walk i n her booties. She crocheted all sizes. Even now the parts wait in a ne at crocheted pile - the last batch left unfinished because her Maker ca lled.
We all marvelled at her energy, her strength -- and we use our own word s to fit her personality. One thing we all agree on is that we are rich er by far for having known her. We say, "She walked on springs." She wa s always one step ahead of me. And now, Dear Sister, my prayer is that y ou walk with God -- not one step ahead of Him!
Catherine West
October 22, 1992
Her mother, Katrina, married Joseph Kaminchaitis and some members of the family changed the surname to Cummings, which Polly went by.
She was a silk spinner in a mill in Scranton. She never married but was like a mother to her youngest sister, Catherine "Kitty," and loved children. She knitted all kinds of things for various family members and taught several of the younger children how to fish and play the piano.
Kitty wrote this in memoriam to her:
Love and caring are for sharing. My heart is heavy today -- and I know a ll of you share my grief. We've shared many happy times -- and it made t hem more precious. The sad times shared make them more bearable. And ye t, there is joy in the legacy Polly has left for us, just by being in o ur midst.
She gave us time to get to know and love her. She told of coming to thi s New World from Scotland at the age of 7, and of singing duets on boar d ship with her brother (aged 3). She told of driving a horse and buggy f rom the West Mountain farm to the city to deliver milk -- of walking mi les to buy groceries -- of working in a silk mill -- of picking grapes i n a vineyard, apples in an orchard, and strawberries, big and luscious, f rom her own patch -- for those well remembered "Strawberry Get-Together s."
She was my "Other Mother" when our mom had to stay in the hospital afte r I was born -- and through the years, I have felt a special attachemen t to her.
Her treasures on Earth were the tokens of Love given to her, because "A unt Polly" would like them and take care of them. The givers were right ! Polly liked being remembered as much as everyone liked remembering he r. She not only kpet the treasures safe, but shared stories about them. S he knew well where the painted Easter egg came from -- and the sea shel ls -- and handmade dolls -- and things made of wood, ceramic, glass, pa per or yarn. They are all keepsakes. We all shared in her special memor ies -- not once -- but many times through the years.
Visitors made her happy -- family and friends. Though she had no childr en of her own, she was loved by nieces and nephews who repeat stories o f hikes, boat rides, picnics and games. Polly had the time to join them i n their fun when the others were too busy.
She loved flowers and they, too, responded to her care. This past summe r, at 91, she said, "I have my own 'Garden Show' to enjoy every day. Th ere's no need to go far to see beauty!"
Then there were long nights and quiet times, and she kept busy making p atch-quilts and rugs, and knitting sweaters. Many of us literally walk i n her booties. She crocheted all sizes. Even now the parts wait in a ne at crocheted pile - the last batch left unfinished because her Maker ca lled.
We all marvelled at her energy, her strength -- and we use our own word s to fit her personality. One thing we all agree on is that we are rich er by far for having known her. We say, "She walked on springs." She wa s always one step ahead of me. And now, Dear Sister, my prayer is that y ou walk with God -- not one step ahead of Him!
Catherine West
October 22, 1992
Polly was born as Opalionia Pukas to Katrina Vaitkunas and her first husband, Jurgis "George" Pukas. Her father died in 1906 in Scotland and she and her mother and brother and her aunt Veronica came to America on May 18, 1909 on the ship the Furnessia. Pauline, 8, and Andrew, 4, sang duets on board the ship for pennies.
Her mother, Katrina, married Joseph Kaminchaitis and some members of the family changed the surname to Cummings, which Polly went by.
She was a silk spinner in a mill in Scranton. She never married but was like a mother to her youngest sister, Catherine "Kitty," and loved children. She knitted all kinds of things for various family members and taught several of the younger children how to fish and play the piano.
Kitty wrote this in memoriam to her:
Love and caring are for sharing. My heart is heavy today -- and I know a ll of you share my grief. We've shared many happy times -- and it made t hem more precious. The sad times shared make them more bearable. And ye t, there is joy in the legacy Polly has left for us, just by being in o ur midst.
She gave us time to get to know and love her. She told of coming to thi s New World from Scotland at the age of 7, and of singing duets on boar d ship with her brother (aged 3). She told of driving a horse and buggy f rom the West Mountain farm to the city to deliver milk -- of walking mi les to buy groceries -- of working in a silk mill -- of picking grapes i n a vineyard, apples in an orchard, and strawberries, big and luscious, f rom her own patch -- for those well remembered "Strawberry Get-Together s."
She was my "Other Mother" when our mom had to stay in the hospital afte r I was born -- and through the years, I have felt a special attachemen t to her.
Her treasures on Earth were the tokens of Love given to her, because "A unt Polly" would like them and take care of them. The givers were right ! Polly liked being remembered as much as everyone liked remembering he r. She not only kpet the treasures safe, but shared stories about them. S he knew well where the painted Easter egg came from -- and the sea shel ls -- and handmade dolls -- and things made of wood, ceramic, glass, pa per or yarn. They are all keepsakes. We all shared in her special memor ies -- not once -- but many times through the years.
Visitors made her happy -- family and friends. Though she had no childr en of her own, she was loved by nieces and nephews who repeat stories o f hikes, boat rides, picnics and games. Polly had the time to join them i n their fun when the others were too busy.
She loved flowers and they, too, responded to her care. This past summe r, at 91, she said, "I have my own 'Garden Show' to enjoy every day. Th ere's no need to go far to see beauty!"
Then there were long nights and quiet times, and she kept busy making p atch-quilts and rugs, and knitting sweaters. Many of us literally walk i n her booties. She crocheted all sizes. Even now the parts wait in a ne at crocheted pile - the last batch left unfinished because her Maker ca lled.
We all marvelled at her energy, her strength -- and we use our own word s to fit her personality. One thing we all agree on is that we are rich er by far for having known her. We say, "She walked on springs." She wa s always one step ahead of me. And now, Dear Sister, my prayer is that y ou walk with God -- not one step ahead of Him!
Catherine West
October 22, 1992
Her mother, Katrina, married Joseph Kaminchaitis and some members of the family changed the surname to Cummings, which Polly went by.
She was a silk spinner in a mill in Scranton. She never married but was like a mother to her youngest sister, Catherine "Kitty," and loved children. She knitted all kinds of things for various family members and taught several of the younger children how to fish and play the piano.
Kitty wrote this in memoriam to her:
Love and caring are for sharing. My heart is heavy today -- and I know a ll of you share my grief. We've shared many happy times -- and it made t hem more precious. The sad times shared make them more bearable. And ye t, there is joy in the legacy Polly has left for us, just by being in o ur midst.
She gave us time to get to know and love her. She told of coming to thi s New World from Scotland at the age of 7, and of singing duets on boar d ship with her brother (aged 3). She told of driving a horse and buggy f rom the West Mountain farm to the city to deliver milk -- of walking mi les to buy groceries -- of working in a silk mill -- of picking grapes i n a vineyard, apples in an orchard, and strawberries, big and luscious, f rom her own patch -- for those well remembered "Strawberry Get-Together s."
She was my "Other Mother" when our mom had to stay in the hospital afte r I was born -- and through the years, I have felt a special attachemen t to her.
Her treasures on Earth were the tokens of Love given to her, because "A unt Polly" would like them and take care of them. The givers were right ! Polly liked being remembered as much as everyone liked remembering he r. She not only kpet the treasures safe, but shared stories about them. S he knew well where the painted Easter egg came from -- and the sea shel ls -- and handmade dolls -- and things made of wood, ceramic, glass, pa per or yarn. They are all keepsakes. We all shared in her special memor ies -- not once -- but many times through the years.
Visitors made her happy -- family and friends. Though she had no childr en of her own, she was loved by nieces and nephews who repeat stories o f hikes, boat rides, picnics and games. Polly had the time to join them i n their fun when the others were too busy.
She loved flowers and they, too, responded to her care. This past summe r, at 91, she said, "I have my own 'Garden Show' to enjoy every day. Th ere's no need to go far to see beauty!"
Then there were long nights and quiet times, and she kept busy making p atch-quilts and rugs, and knitting sweaters. Many of us literally walk i n her booties. She crocheted all sizes. Even now the parts wait in a ne at crocheted pile - the last batch left unfinished because her Maker ca lled.
We all marvelled at her energy, her strength -- and we use our own word s to fit her personality. One thing we all agree on is that we are rich er by far for having known her. We say, "She walked on springs." She wa s always one step ahead of me. And now, Dear Sister, my prayer is that y ou walk with God -- not one step ahead of Him!
Catherine West
October 22, 1992
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