Chester PUCHALSKI {M} = Bertha Maria SALYER¹ {F}

Married ABT 1944, Leavenworth, Leavenworth Co, KS

Bertha Maria SALYER:

Born 16 September 1882, Wireman, Magoffin Co, KY
Died 28 February 1952, Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co, MI at Beyer Memorial Hospital²
Buried 3 March 1952, Detroit, Wayne Co, MI at Grand Lawn Cemetery
Birth: A Notification of Birth Registration states that Bertha Maria Salyers was born in Welch, WV., which is untrue. Bertha was born in Magoffin Co., KY.
Death: As of 1996, Beyer Memorial Hospital is Oakwood Health Care Center. The State of Michigan had no record of her death. On 2 July 1997, Bertha's granddaughter, Laurie SCARPACE McKenzie, finally obtained a death certificate from Washtenaw County, MI. On the certificate, 7311 Floral, Garden City is listed as her place of residence. The County promised to notify the State about the oversight. Bertha died of a heart block. Antecedent causes were auricular fibrillation and uncontrolled diabetes. She also was diagnosed with mellitus for 40 years. Bertha was 69 yrs, 5 mos, 12 days old.
Burial: There is a marker at Grand Lawn Cemetery, Grand River near Telegraph, Detroit, MI: Sec 20, Lot 21, Gr. 3. Her daughters, Orval & Olga, are there also. Bertha was mother to five (5) children: Helen, Carmen, Kermit, Orval and Olga. A grandson, Bob Looper, believes there was another daughter, Dottie. No substantiation can be found. In a letter written by Helen to her youngest sister, Olga, Helen refers to their deceased sister, Orval, as "Dobbie." Perhaps, this is what Bob Looper remembers. Bertha was a Detroit Street Car Conductorette during both World Wars. At one time she was part-owner of the Blue Moon, a bar-restaurant in Detroit. Daughter Helen could often be found helping out in the kitchen. Patty POYE Irvin remembers that she and her brother Kenny often sang in the tavern.
Census Date: 1930
Census Place: Detroit, Wayne Co, MI
ED: 82-350, Sheet 18-A. 3042 W. Warren
Grandma Bertha is listed as Bertha Bankhead/Burkheart; age 38, head of house; not married; 18 yrs old at last marriage; she was born in PA; both of her parents were born in TX. Also in the house was: Nettie/Netta Bankhead/Burkheart, her brother. Grandma Bertha did not have a brother! However her niece Phinetta was called Nettie/Netta. Phinetta was the daughter of Bertha's sister Susie. Nettie/Netta is listed 24 yrs old and single. In fact, Nettie/Netta was born in 1911 in KY. His/her birthplace was also listed as PA and his/her parents were born in TX. Nettie/Netta's parents were born in KY. She/he is listed as a truck driver. The third person at this address is Olga Poje - a roomer! 18 yrs old, also single; born in WV as were her parents. At least they got this last part correct! Mother was a stenographer with an insurance company - which was probably also correct.
The question arises - where is Frank Weiss? He should have been in the household too! There is a Frank Weiss listed in Iron Mountain, MI in the 1930 census. Perhaps he was there working in a copper mine.
Residence: 7311 Floral St.
Residence Date: BET 1948 AND 1952
Residence Place: Garden City, Wayne Co, MI
Bertha & Chester kept chickens in the backyard. Garden City does not acknowledge a street named Floral. Patricia POYE Irvin recalls that it was off Warren, west of Inkster Rd. The street was incorporated into Westland in 1966. The assessor's office believes that area may have been part of Nankin Twp. at the time of their residence. Two of Olga's children confirm Patty's recollection. Further, Bertha's death certificate lists Garden City as the place of residence at the time of her death.
Residence: 3042 W Warren
Residence Date: BET 1929 AND 1933
Residence Place: Detroit, Wayne Co, MI
Residence: 957 Gladstone
Residence Date: 1934
Residence Place: Detroit, Wayne Co, MI
Residence: 10026 Cascade
Residence Date: 1936
Residence Place: Detroit, Wayne Co, MI

Marriage: Laurie McKenzie is in possession of a partial diary written by Bertha telling of the abuse, both physical and mental, inflicted on her by Chester. Could the diary have been ramblings as a result of her diabetes?

1 : "Based on personal information/living during the person's lif"
1a: "1930 Census: Wayne Co., MI"; Primary evidence
ED: 82-350 Page 18A
2 : "Dept. of Vital Statistics, State of Michigan, Death Certific"; Primary evidence