Childhood

Susan (Susie) Jungwirth was the 10th of 11 children born to John and Katie (Meyer) Jungwirth. She and her twin brother Henry (Heinz) were born on December 17, 1911, in the family home at 2738 N. Southport Avenue, in Chicago. For information on Susan's parents and siblings, click here.

She was baptized "Susanna Catherine," on February 4, 1912 at St. Alphonsus Church; her godparents were uncle Nicholas Meyer and his wife Susie. Click here for family baptismal records.

Note: Birth certificates were not required by Illinois law until 1916, and Susan thought she never had one. However, a birth certificate was found in 1991, filed by the midwife, that named her "Frances." No wonder the county clerk couldn't find a birth certificate for Susan!

As the youngest girl in the family, Susie was doted upon by her mother and her older sisters (Kate, Gertrude, and Marie). Before they married, her sisters all worked and had money to spend on Susie for fancy hair bows and dresses. Susie's mother Katie often took her to the movies which, although silent, were extremely popular in the period from 1915-1927.