Geneva and her television at Hickory, Norfolk, VA abt 1955-1959

Geneva was an extrovert and enjoyed life. When she was young, Charlie Chaplin was all the rage, and she used to dress and walk like him putting on regular shows for her younger sisters, my mother, Evelyn, and Margie and their mother. Because Geneva was so much older than my mother, Evelyn didn't know who that girl was who came by the house, ate, and put on little skits. She didn't realize that Geneva was her sister until she matured some! Geneva was sent to her grandmother Lizzie (Weckenmann) Mertens and Leo Mertens, Sr.'s, home when Geneva was 10 years old to take care of them in their old age. They lived about a mile or two apart. Geneva cooked and cleaned and tried to go to school and have some social life, while she was there and stayed until the old folks passed on, after which Geneva became betrothed and married Ralph Irvin Mince.