The Little Girl She Always Wanted

Veronica Payne was born on October 18, 1913 in Chicago to Martin Vogt and Eileen O’Rourke.  Martin emigrated from Germany and worked as a stenographer in Chicago, while Eileen, who was of Irish descent, cared for their three children: Veronica, Norman and Lee.

Veronica went to John Marshall High School for a year and a half before quitting to get a job at the Martin Case Company running a machine that made decorative boxes.  After only about seven months on the job, Veronica was involved in an accident at work and lost part of her right index finger as a result.  She continued working there, however, for another fifteen years before the company was bought out by Tailor Trunk Company.  The new owners kept Veronica on as an employee, but her role was changed  to putting the lining inside of trunks.

Veronica was a very shy girl and rarely went out because she was self-conscious about her fingertip.  Her friends at work, however, were always asking her to come out with them to The Merry Gardens, which was a popular nearby dance hall, but Veronica always declined.  Finally, one night, however, they were able to persuade Veronica to come with them.  She was surprised and flustered when she was immediately asked to dance by a young man by the name of Gilbert Payne.  The girls pushed her to dance with him, so she nervously accepted.  She was delighted that he did not seem to mind her missing fingertip.

Veronica and Gilbert began dating, but the relationship eventually fizzled out.  No one is sure why.  Gilbert went on to marry someone else, a woman named Evelyn Uthe, and Veronica remained single, never venturing out much after her relationship with Gilbert ended.  Some people say she was pining for him, even after he married.

Gilbert and Evelyn had a little girl, Emily, but Evelyn died when Emily was just two years old.  Several years passed before Veronica and Gilbert happened to run into each other again.  Gilbert asked her on a date, and Veronica tentatively accepted.  She was twenty-nine by this point.  This time when they went out, there was a spark that hadn’t been there originally, and they eventually fell in love and got married.

Emily was about five at the time, and Veronica adored her.  Gilbert worked in a factory that made airplane parts, and Veronica quit working to stay home with Emily.  Veronica got pregnant quickly, but she sadly had two miscarriages.  She was eventually able to carry a baby full term and delivered a girl, whom they named Rose Eileen, but she died within a half hour of her birth.

Gilbert and Veronica never had any children between them, but Veronica was always grateful that she had Emily, whom she raised as if she were her own and to whom she was completely devoted.  Veronica often said that Gilbert was meant to marry Evelyn first, as it allowed Veronica to have the little girl she always wanted since she could not carry her own.

Veronica and Gilbert seem to have had a happy life together until, after twenty-seven years of marriage, Gilbert died of eye cancer in 1969.  Veronica was devastated, and she relied heavily on Emily to help her through her grief.

Veronica eventually got a job working in the St. Edward’s rectory as a way to distract herself.  After that, she became very involved with the Church, often going to bingo, and began a group that said novenas to Our Lady of Sorrows.  Later she joined the Ministry of Prayer and Praise, which asked all members to pray daily in their homes for special intentions.

Veronica was always a very nervous, anxious person, Emily says, and dealt with her stress by being organized and by decorating the house, one of her favorite pastimes.  She loved to paint as a child and continued to do so as a young wife and mother, frequently painting the walls of the house different colors.  She also enjoyed doing crafts and loved to study history and to listen to music.

Veronica has lived independently until very recently when she began to fall repeatedly.  Emily has been in the habit of stopping in to help her over the years, though she has had her own family—five sons!—to raise and her own declining health to deal with as well.  Emily arranged for a nurse to visit Veronica once a day, which helped for a time, but it was eventually not enough, either.  Veronica then made the decision on her own to go to a nursing home.  She seems relatively happy with her choice, though at times she becomes teary when spoken to.

Emily, on the other hand, seems very guilt-ridden and, at times, is critical of the facility.  She continues to visit her mother, sometimes bringing her two little granddaughters, Veronica’s great-granddaughters, which cheers Veronica immensely.

(Originally written: May 1995)

If you enjoyed this true story about the past, check out Michelle’s historical fiction/mystery novels, THE HENRIETTA AND INSPECTOR HOWARD series, set in the 1930s in Chicago:

Or you might try her new stand-alone historical women’s fiction, THE FALLEN WOMAN’S DAUGHTER, also partially set in Chicago:

Or a brand-new series, THE MERRIWEATHER SERIES—Small-town historical fiction based in 1930s Wisconsin!