Enjoy life ... one day ... we will only remain alive through memories and photographs!

I have always been fascinated with the seniors in my family and community. Their stories of yesteryear and the wisdom that they have to impart, are an invaluable resource to all the lives that they touch. I have made it a priority in my life to nurture relationships with my elders. As an only child, my grandparents repeated stories, places and dates to me so that I would remember them. Sometimes they even quizzed me on those facts. Around age eleven, I began "interviewing" and recording their oral histories. I did this on a small cassette tape recorder that I received as a tenth birthday gift. From about 1975-1983, I captured dozens of hours of my relatives, friends and neighbors on audio. I was asking the right questions before I even understood how important it was to do so. These tapes are in my possession today and are a priceless treasure to me. I am currently making digital copies of those recordings.

Slowly, over the years and through my love of genealogy, I have become the "Keeper Of The Memories," on both sides of my family. Everything that my large extended family has or knows about regarding family history seems to come to me. In my possession are the physical documents, family bibles, family tree charts, a briefcase full of prior genealogical research, tens of thousands of photographs and the heirlooms that come with the position of family historian. Even my husband's relatives are giving me wonderful items of interest that pertain to his family history. I feel very honored to have these reminders of days past and I will be happy to share, contribute and collaborate with my relatives in their personal journey to find their ancestors.

My family names are: Bennett, Vercolio, (Vercoglio) England, Hollingsworth, Cox, Corn, Kuykendall, Corgiatt, Lencio, Farrester, (Forrester) Lusk, Evans, Goins, Moyers, Ocanstata, Childress, (Childers) Robertson, Cool, Kool, Cazzey, Ferguson, Dobbs, Drummonds and Westfall (Westphalen) to name a few.

On my husband's side I am intensely researching: Rodecki, Rozycki, Glowacki, Hazeltine, Bulkeley, Sperring, Beck, Oldis, Romeyn, Brinkerhoff, Kipp, Van Saun, Van Houghten, Shade, (Schade) Hooker, Rawson, Jones, Huyler, Cory and Hathaway.

Professionally, I am a video artist. I help people document their stories and bring their memories to life through personal documentaries and short videos. I have now married that skill with my love for genealogy.

Over the last decade I have pursued my interest in genetic genealogy and I have helped unite, reunite, and gather biological information for several adoptees and those with long lost family. As a family historian, I have created an inclusive, well documented family trees for myself and others. It is mind blowing to consider what has to happen for just one human being to come into existence here on this Earth.

I love Find A Grave! It has been an invaluable resource in my genealogy quest. I hope to contribute more in the future and would be willing to photograph headstones in my local area of South Bend, Indiana. Thank you to all the members who have made it their mission to share such valuable information for Find A Grave users.

*** You may use my photos and captions for other genealogy sites like Ancestry, Family Tree, US Genweb, etc. with the photo credit: "From The Photo Collection of Deanna Rodecki." Many of my photos are one of a kind originals and I have spent years collecting, archiving, and restoring them. I would like my relatives (near and far) to know where they can be found. Once again: PLEASE CREDIT MY PHOTOS! Thank you in advance for understanding.
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Enjoy life ... one day ... we will only remain alive through memories and photographs!

I have always been fascinated with the seniors in my family and community. Their stories of yesteryear and the wisdom that they have to impart, are an invaluable resource to all the lives that they touch. I have made it a priority in my life to nurture relationships with my elders. As an only child, my grandparents repeated stories, places and dates to me so that I would remember them. Sometimes they even quizzed me on those facts. Around age eleven, I began "interviewing" and recording their oral histories. I did this on a small cassette tape recorder that I received as a tenth birthday gift. From about 1975-1983, I captured dozens of hours of my relatives, friends and neighbors on audio. I was asking the right questions before I even understood how important it was to do so. These tapes are in my possession today and are a priceless treasure to me. I am currently making digital copies of those recordings.

Slowly, over the years and through my love of genealogy, I have become the "Keeper Of The Memories," on both sides of my family. Everything that my large extended family has or knows about regarding family history seems to come to me. In my possession are the physical documents, family bibles, family tree charts, a briefcase full of prior genealogical research, tens of thousands of photographs and the heirlooms that come with the position of family historian. Even my husband's relatives are giving me wonderful items of interest that pertain to his family history. I feel very honored to have these reminders of days past and I will be happy to share, contribute and collaborate with my relatives in their personal journey to find their ancestors.

My family names are: Bennett, Vercolio, (Vercoglio) England, Hollingsworth, Cox, Corn, Kuykendall, Corgiatt, Lencio, Farrester, (Forrester) Lusk, Evans, Goins, Moyers, Ocanstata, Childress, (Childers) Robertson, Cool, Kool, Cazzey, Ferguson, Dobbs, Drummonds and Westfall (Westphalen) to name a few.

On my husband's side I am intensely researching: Rodecki, Rozycki, Glowacki, Hazeltine, Bulkeley, Sperring, Beck, Oldis, Romeyn, Brinkerhoff, Kipp, Van Saun, Van Houghten, Shade, (Schade) Hooker, Rawson, Jones, Huyler, Cory and Hathaway.

Professionally, I am a video artist. I help people document their stories and bring their memories to life through personal documentaries and short videos. I have now married that skill with my love for genealogy.

Over the last decade I have pursued my interest in genetic genealogy and I have helped unite, reunite, and gather biological information for several adoptees and those with long lost family. As a family historian, I have created an inclusive, well documented family trees for myself and others. It is mind blowing to consider what has to happen for just one human being to come into existence here on this Earth.

I love Find A Grave! It has been an invaluable resource in my genealogy quest. I hope to contribute more in the future and would be willing to photograph headstones in my local area of South Bend, Indiana. Thank you to all the members who have made it their mission to share such valuable information for Find A Grave users.

*** You may use my photos and captions for other genealogy sites like Ancestry, Family Tree, US Genweb, etc. with the photo credit: "From The Photo Collection of Deanna Rodecki." Many of my photos are one of a kind originals and I have spent years collecting, archiving, and restoring them. I would like my relatives (near and far) to know where they can be found. Once again: PLEASE CREDIT MY PHOTOS! Thank you in advance for understanding.
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