This is my Great-Aunt, Alema Otelia Anderson Minghetti. She was my grandfather, Hiram’s, sister. She was born on this day in 1928. Her parents were John Frederick and Alice Mathilda Eliason Anderson. John was 51 and Alice was 44 when Alema was born. She joined Hiram Eugene (5) and Kermeth (4) when she was born in Shafter, California.

My grandfather, Hiram, would call her every year on her birthday. I remember that my grandmother, Pearl, would remind him to call his sister.

She was an amazing artist, who would send us handmade cards. I think I still have all of them. She also painted many pictures. I have one displayed in my home.

She was a deaconess in the Lutheran Church for many years. She met Charles Church “Chuck” Minghetti and was married in August of 1969. They did not have any children. They took care of her mom, Alice, from the time they married until my great-grandmother’s death on December 26, 1979.

Chuck and Alema lived in San Luis Obispo, California, not far from the Mission. It was a Spanish style home. One memory that stands out is a trip that my dad and I made to visit them in the early 1990’s. I think it must have been about 1993 or 1994. I know that it was before my dad got sick (story for another entry).

I have been interested in my family history since around 1992. Anyway, back to my memory: Chuck and Alema loved to travel and meet new people from all parts of the world. On one trip they traveled to the Seattle area to visit some Anderson cousins. She had a tape of one of her grandmother’s sister’s (Christine Johnson Anderson) grandchildren telling about her life and journey to America. To me it was a priceless family heirloom. How I wish I had that tape. I am not sure what happened to the tape after the deaths of Chuck and Alema.

Alema passed away on August 1, 2009 at the age of 81. I miss her and Chuck a lot.