Elder Interview-Bertha Skenandore
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Bertha SkenandoreEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.389Tags
Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Skenandore, Bertha L. (Cooper) Born 02/02/1921 Parents: Absolom Cooper and Eva (Summers) Cooper Maternal Grandparent: Emmerit Summers Paternal Grandparents: Martin Cooper and Margaret (Summers) Cooper Her father spoke the Oneida language. Her mother passed away when she was 5 years old so her grandparents brought up her and her siblings. Her grandfather did farming. Her grandmother stayed home. The only transportation they has was horse and buggy. They did their shopping in DePere at Hocks. Her grandmother’s favorite dish to make was potatoes and meat. The Nuns use to take care of them for Christmas and they’d get clothes and a big box of stuff. She went to school at High View until 5th grade. Her father built a house on Cooper Road in the 1930’s. He also had all kinds of jobs on the side. He use to play the violin. Her father went to a boarding school in Oneida. He would tell Bertha and her sibling’s stories in the Oneida language. She never learned the Oneida language but could speak it. Her Uncle Gus use to go out hunting and he would bring home rabbit and squirrels. She went to St. Joseph’s School for a couple of years also. She was 13 years old when her grandmother passed away. She learned how to make corn soup and corn bread. Her father worked in a lumber camp all winter and came home in spring. Bertha got married when she was 18 years old to Isrel Antone. He was from Bowler. After World War II her husband came back from the war and built them a house on County Trunk U and Reformatory Road. She has 2 children, 8 grandchildren, and quite a few great grandchildren. Her first husband passed away so she remarried to James Skenandore. They moved to Chicago with Jim until he retired. They then moved back to Oneida until he passed away. Now her daughter is living in her house and Bertha is living in the elderly housing.Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media