105 year old woman, survivor of 1900 hurricane, is buried
By JENNIFER LIEBRUM Houston Chronicle
Jennie Sheppard Graham Karbowski, one of the last survivors of the most devastating hurricane to hit Galveston, was buried Monday. Karbowski died Friday at the Highland Park Care Center in the Woodland Heights. She was 105. Karbowski was still going strong until a fall just after her 104th birthday forced her into a wheel-chair, her daughter, Sheppard Aurich, 84, said hours after her mother's funeral. Karbowski was 12 when the 1900 hurricane washed over Galveston, killing 6,000 people and destroying two-thirds of the city with winds exceeding 100 mph and waters 17 feet deep in most places. She recounted her family's struggle for survival for a Chronicle reporter in 1988 as Hurricane Gilbert threatened. Then 100, Karbowski told about being trapped in high water and her mother's frantic attempts to rescue her six children from floodwaters. Karbowski remembered watching the horse and buggy of a would-be rescuer tumble and disappear, bodies of the dead float past, her baby sister almost drown and being separated from her little brother. All survived, and Karbowski went on to marry William J. Karbowski and have three children. She outlived her husband and one of her daughters, Jennie May. She later moved into Aurich's home northwest of downtown Houston and lived there for the last 45 years.
Aurich said she attributed her mother's longevity to her never-ending roster of things to do. "As long as she was healthy and could go, she went," Aurich said. "She didn't care how long she lived as long as she could keep doing the things she loved." The pair enjoyed doing things together eating out, getting their hair done and attending the Zion Lutheran Church and its various functions. Karbowski also had a talent for handmade dolls, which she made for a church to give to children. The day Karbowski fell, she was rushing to get to lunch with Aurich before a beauty parlor appointment. The fall was the beginning of the end, Aurich said. Unable to walk, Karbowski moved into the retirement center. "She started saying she wanted to go," Aurich said. "Just last week she said, `I want to die.'" Karbowski was buried in the pink full-length dress she wore only once — at her 100th birthday party. She leaves behind six grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and some great-great grandchildren. Aurich, who plans to move to a retirement home to live out her days, recalled her mother's last words of advice: "Don't fall."
By JENNIFER LIEBRUM Houston Chronicle
Jennie Sheppard Graham Karbowski, one of the last survivors of the most devastating hurricane to hit Galveston, was buried Monday. Karbowski died Friday at the Highland Park Care Center in the Woodland Heights. She was 105. Karbowski was still going strong until a fall just after her 104th birthday forced her into a wheel-chair, her daughter, Sheppard Aurich, 84, said hours after her mother's funeral. Karbowski was 12 when the 1900 hurricane washed over Galveston, killing 6,000 people and destroying two-thirds of the city with winds exceeding 100 mph and waters 17 feet deep in most places. She recounted her family's struggle for survival for a Chronicle reporter in 1988 as Hurricane Gilbert threatened. Then 100, Karbowski told about being trapped in high water and her mother's frantic attempts to rescue her six children from floodwaters. Karbowski remembered watching the horse and buggy of a would-be rescuer tumble and disappear, bodies of the dead float past, her baby sister almost drown and being separated from her little brother. All survived, and Karbowski went on to marry William J. Karbowski and have three children. She outlived her husband and one of her daughters, Jennie May. She later moved into Aurich's home northwest of downtown Houston and lived there for the last 45 years.
Aurich said she attributed her mother's longevity to her never-ending roster of things to do. "As long as she was healthy and could go, she went," Aurich said. "She didn't care how long she lived as long as she could keep doing the things she loved." The pair enjoyed doing things together eating out, getting their hair done and attending the Zion Lutheran Church and its various functions. Karbowski also had a talent for handmade dolls, which she made for a church to give to children. The day Karbowski fell, she was rushing to get to lunch with Aurich before a beauty parlor appointment. The fall was the beginning of the end, Aurich said. Unable to walk, Karbowski moved into the retirement center. "She started saying she wanted to go," Aurich said. "Just last week she said, `I want to die.'" Karbowski was buried in the pink full-length dress she wore only once — at her 100th birthday party. She leaves behind six grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and some great-great grandchildren. Aurich, who plans to move to a retirement home to live out her days, recalled her mother's last words of advice: "Don't fall."
105 year old woman, survivor of 1900 hurricane, is buried
By JENNIFER LIEBRUM Houston Chronicle
Jennie Sheppard Graham Karbowski, one of the last survivors of the most devastating hurricane to hit Galveston, was buried Monday. Karbowski died Friday at the Highland Park Care Center in the Woodland Heights. She was 105. Karbowski was still going strong until a fall just after her 104th birthday forced her into a wheel-chair, her daughter, Sheppard Aurich, 84, said hours after her mother's funeral. Karbowski was 12 when the 1900 hurricane washed over Galveston, killing 6,000 people and destroying two-thirds of the city with winds exceeding 100 mph and waters 17 feet deep in most places. She recounted her family's struggle for survival for a Chronicle reporter in 1988 as Hurricane Gilbert threatened. Then 100, Karbowski told about being trapped in high water and her mother's frantic attempts to rescue her six children from floodwaters. Karbowski remembered watching the horse and buggy of a would-be rescuer tumble and disappear, bodies of the dead float past, her baby sister almost drown and being separated from her little brother. All survived, and Karbowski went on to marry William J. Karbowski and have three children. She outlived her husband and one of her daughters, Jennie May. She later moved into Aurich's home northwest of downtown Houston and lived there for the last 45 years.
Aurich said she attributed her mother's longevity to her never-ending roster of things to do. "As long as she was healthy and could go, she went," Aurich said. "She didn't care how long she lived as long as she could keep doing the things she loved." The pair enjoyed doing things together eating out, getting their hair done and attending the Zion Lutheran Church and its various functions. Karbowski also had a talent for handmade dolls, which she made for a church to give to children. The day Karbowski fell, she was rushing to get to lunch with Aurich before a beauty parlor appointment. The fall was the beginning of the end, Aurich said. Unable to walk, Karbowski moved into the retirement center. "She started saying she wanted to go," Aurich said. "Just last week she said, `I want to die.'" Karbowski was buried in the pink full-length dress she wore only once — at her 100th birthday party. She leaves behind six grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and some great-great grandchildren. Aurich, who plans to move to a retirement home to live out her days, recalled her mother's last words of advice: "Don't fall."
By JENNIFER LIEBRUM Houston Chronicle
Jennie Sheppard Graham Karbowski, one of the last survivors of the most devastating hurricane to hit Galveston, was buried Monday. Karbowski died Friday at the Highland Park Care Center in the Woodland Heights. She was 105. Karbowski was still going strong until a fall just after her 104th birthday forced her into a wheel-chair, her daughter, Sheppard Aurich, 84, said hours after her mother's funeral. Karbowski was 12 when the 1900 hurricane washed over Galveston, killing 6,000 people and destroying two-thirds of the city with winds exceeding 100 mph and waters 17 feet deep in most places. She recounted her family's struggle for survival for a Chronicle reporter in 1988 as Hurricane Gilbert threatened. Then 100, Karbowski told about being trapped in high water and her mother's frantic attempts to rescue her six children from floodwaters. Karbowski remembered watching the horse and buggy of a would-be rescuer tumble and disappear, bodies of the dead float past, her baby sister almost drown and being separated from her little brother. All survived, and Karbowski went on to marry William J. Karbowski and have three children. She outlived her husband and one of her daughters, Jennie May. She later moved into Aurich's home northwest of downtown Houston and lived there for the last 45 years.
Aurich said she attributed her mother's longevity to her never-ending roster of things to do. "As long as she was healthy and could go, she went," Aurich said. "She didn't care how long she lived as long as she could keep doing the things she loved." The pair enjoyed doing things together eating out, getting their hair done and attending the Zion Lutheran Church and its various functions. Karbowski also had a talent for handmade dolls, which she made for a church to give to children. The day Karbowski fell, she was rushing to get to lunch with Aurich before a beauty parlor appointment. The fall was the beginning of the end, Aurich said. Unable to walk, Karbowski moved into the retirement center. "She started saying she wanted to go," Aurich said. "Just last week she said, `I want to die.'" Karbowski was buried in the pink full-length dress she wore only once — at her 100th birthday party. She leaves behind six grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and some great-great grandchildren. Aurich, who plans to move to a retirement home to live out her days, recalled her mother's last words of advice: "Don't fall."
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
