This post is inspired by an image of Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie held by the Library of Congress and shared on Sepia Saturday.
While there were many musicians in my family none were as accomplished or well known as these two. What did strike me in this image was Ella’s hat. What a fabulous thing, and to wear it while performing is pretty unusual by today’s standards. The hat took me immediately back to an image of my grandmother and her full siblings. The hats are a little less flamboyant but similar nonetheless.
When I was first given this snapshot it perplexed me. Why did they all appear to be dressed in mourning, yet all looked so happy? I asked my grandmother Alma, who explained that it was taken at the funeral of her father James Edgar Gordon (Gordy) Moore on the 3rd June 1967. His death wasn’t unexpected as he was in his early 80s and had been apparently invalid and living at the Ovens & Murray Home in Beechworth. What was a happy event, was the five siblings all being together, hence their happy expressions.
L to R: Jack (Bluey), Alma (Bub), Richard (Dick), Edna and Albert (Bert) Moore, Wangaratta, June 1967
Funerals are much better when joy is found. The whole purpose is to bring the family together and it’s obvious that happened.
That’a nice link. Those hats were something else weren’t they. Jollity at funerals is not unusual. I have a similar photo of us all at a family funeral. Much better than everyone looking sombre.
Choosing the right hat for a funeral would be a challenge I think. A smile is easier even in times of sadness.
Now that more people are choosing to have a “celebration of life”, rather than a funeral, hopefully we’ll see more happy photos of families together. I love this photos on so many levels. Thanks for posting.
As you say, they were in mourning, but being all together – even for such a sad occasion – brings its own happiness in its own way – especially if the siblings didn’t see each other all that often.
You are so right La. One of the boys had travelled over 8 hours to be at the funeral and not long after this another brother moved two states away so this was a once only occasion. I’m so glad my great grandmother broke with protocol and took the photo.
A Splendid Photo. Full Of Life. As It Should Be. Thanks For Sharing.
Thanks for stopping by Tony. I have just enjoyed listening to Ella on your blog. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
A “hats” post did occur to me, but I decided against it. I remember my mother and aunt wearing very similar hats to those in your family photograph.
Hi Sue, What you did come up with is wonderful, and really extensive, and you did manage the hats as well if you count those in the Gilbert and Sullivan image. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Jen, a great post and photo. Funerals are often the one time that whole families get together… it certainly has been that with many of our family funerals. I would rather wakes be a celebration of life, that is something we can hold on to, our happy memories. It’s often the only we get through the day.
Thanks for your comment Chris. I did this post in a rush so totally forgot about the family reunion/funeral dynamic that is so common. Out of this funeral I have a photo of five siblings together that we wouldn’t have otherwise, so this funeral did unexpectedly create a happy memory.
I would never have done it once, but now, we always take photos… though I completely forgot at my Dad’s… other things to think about.
I absolutely love this blog and look forward to it, my family being from Wangaratta originally. I remember so well those hats and loved running my hand through the feathers .
Thanks Patrice. It’s funny how evocative something as mundane as a hat can be, but they weren’t mundane to us as kids I guess. Thanks for reading. There is more coming soon. 🙂
What family names do you have from the area?