NameAnna Justina Jurina 
BirthApr 6, 1898, Szottina, Nyitra, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary4,28,29,21,23,30,25,31,26
Birth MemoWilliam R. Vajda wrote she was born "just north of Prague" on April 4, 1900.
Szottina has been incorporated into modern day Senica, Slovakia.
Residence1907, 122 Vittencz, Nyitra, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary31
Reside MemoLived with her grandfathe Josef before immigrating to the USA. His address was 122 Vittencz.
ImmigrationNov 18, 1907, New York City, New York, USA28,21,23,30,31
Immi MemoSailed on the S.S. Rhein from Bremen, Germany. Arrived at Ellis Island, New York, where her name is inscibed on a wall of immigrant names. She traveled without any family members, meeting her parents that had immigrated earlier. She had $5 with her.
Employment1920, South Nyack, Rockland, New York, USA29,21,30,26
Employ MemoListed "servant" as occupation on 1920 US Census. Also worked as a cook and maid. Listed as "maid" to Cornell family on 1915 NY Census. Listed as "housemaid" on 1922 marriage license.
Burial1962, Maycrest Cemetery, Mahwah, Bergen, New Jersey, USA17,27
Burial MemoBuried next to her husband, Stephen Joseph Vajda Sr.
Buried Section R3, Grave 184B; Div 3EC
OccupationMaid
EducationAttended school only through sixth grade.
Her middle name may have been "Justine."
32Shirley Ann Vajda wrote that "she spoke Czech, Polish, and a little German." William R. Vajda wrote that she "could understand and speak German, Czech, and English."
21,23"She was an intelligent woman who took care of all the family business."
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Used the surname "White" frequently due to anti-immigrant pressure.
21,33Played semi-professional baseball, probably for the Fibre Conduit Company of Orangeburg. Once pitched against Hall-of-Fame pitcher Leon Cadore at "Bell Anns" (an aspirin factory that had sports complex with Stephen's team's home field). Cadore is famous for pitching 26 consecutive innings in an extra-inning game in the majors–then a record. He went on to start and get a relief appearance in the 1920 World Series for the Brooklyn Robins, who later became the Brooklyn Dodgers. Cadore started game four against Hall-of-Famer Stan Coveleski. The Robins lost to the Cleveland Indians in seven games.
8,19,21,34,33“During the winter of 1987, Grandpa was 89, and spent most of his time alone at his house in New Milford, NJ. My Dad was 64, and still taking small jobs with Uncle Bill. Dad tried to go over to Grandpa's every day during lunch, to visit and check on him. He started to notice an odor, and he knew it was familiar, but he just couldn't identify it. It was a sickish, sweet smell, and it got stronger over the weeks. Grandpa was always wrapped in a blanket, too. One day Dad and Uncle Bill just took the blanket off Grandpa, and found that his feet were rotting with gangrene! ...Dad and Uncle Bill were just horrified, and Dad couldn't believe he didn't remember where he knew that smell from- the rotting corpses in the war! They put Grandpa in a kitchen chair and carried him out to the van and went to Hackensack Hospital. Dad said the young "kid" doctor was in their faces, asking them how they could not know what shape their own father was in. Dad and Uncle Bill felt so ashamed. When Dad told Ray and I about it, he said; "what was I supposed to do, undress my own father?--he's a grown man!" Grandpa died within the week, I thought from a heart attack, but maybe just a massive infection. I don't know if he had diabetes, either. I guess Grandpa had just given up. Well, that's the story. I hope it doesn't depress you. I can still hear my Dad's voice, all excited and emotional, telling it to Ray and I. Your parents came for Grandpa's funeral, and Kim and I and Bruce were there, too.” - Susan Vajda
35“...Grandpa still enjoyed a lot of things until that winter. Dad and Bonnie took him to the Lake all summer, where he used to work in that big vegetable garden all day, in a long-sleeved white shirt and straw hat. Before Dad retired, they had started taking him up there every weekend. Also, Uncle Bill and cousin Billy lived close by. He was pretty much of a loner, at least in old age.” - Susan Vajda
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