Patricia (Pat )Manister Droz was born in Canton, Ohio. Her formative years through high school were spent in Loudonville, Ohio. She attended Ohio State University where she met and married Julius (Jay) Droz in 1958. Together they had five children.

She entered the field of bookkeeping in 1976 and continued in this career first as a bookkeeper for a private accountant and further as manager/bookkeeper for Inova Fairfax Hospital Treasure Trove (a consignment/thrift store in Annandale, Virginia).

Retired in 1998 she continues using her bookkeeping skills as Treasurer of Inova Fairfax Hospital Auxiliary in Falls Church, Virginia and as Assistant Treasurer of her church, Peace Lutheran, located in Alexandria, Virginia.

Her interests include cooking, reading and traveling. She and her husband, Jay, currently reside in Springfield, Virginia and New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
(2/2002)


GRANDSON'S FAMILY HISTORY REPORT - 9/20/2004

Family Immigration

In 1893, Antoni Drozdowicz was born – my great-grandfather; my father’s grandfather; an immigrant to America. In 1911, Antoni married Anna, and in 1912, they set off on a ship to the United States of America. The name of the ship was The Konigen Luise. He and Anna immigrated to escape lifetime conscription (military service) into the Russian Army.

When Antoni came to Ellis Island, he couldn’t speak English. His last name was changed to Drozdz. Antoni was a landscaper, and Anna was a seamstress. They settled outside of Cleveland, Ohio. To get acquainted to life in the U.S., they went to to a Polish settlement. They had their own Polish baker, butcher, grocer, and even their own fishmonger. Then, my grandfather was born in 1929, during the Great Depression. Antoni changed my grandfather’s last name back to Drozdowicz. In 1946, he enlisted in the Army, changed his name to Droz, and played in the Army band. In 1952, he was shipped to Korea. He married my grandmother in 1958.

My grandmother’s family has been in the U.S. as long as she can remember. She was also born during the Great Depression, but she wasn’t affected by it. She lived on a farm, where they raised their own livestock, so they never went hungry. Their neighbors were also farmers, so they could trade their goods for food. Her father was a carpenter, so they also brought in enough money to buy the essentials.

Through my grandfather’s family, many food traditions have been passed down throughout the years. Kuchin (Easter bread), hard-boiled eggs, and kielbasa (polish sausage) with horseradish have been foods for Easter. Also, some everyday foods were placki kartoflane (plah-tskee karto-flah-neh – potato pancakes), golabki (stuffed cabbage) and nalesniki (polish crepes).

There’s not a lot known about my mother’s family. My mother’s side of the family was also from Europe. My grandfather’s side was from Germany/Holland, and my grandmother’s side was from Czechoslovakia. The story passed down is that my mother’s side came to the U.S. on the Mayflower. It’s interesting, though, that they share the same Easter traditions. Also, my mother’s grandmother’s name was Anna, and so was my father’s grandmother’s name. They were also both seamstresses. Coincidence, eh?

This is the immigration of my family. I hope you enjoyed it.

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