Women’s Army Corps WWII Hero Series
Mabel Jaques – WAC Nurse
Mabel’s Memoirs, part 1
By Karen A. Smith
Meet Mabel. She is one of the oldest living WACs that served on active duty in the European Front during WWII. She has many stories to share and here we would like to share some of them with you in a 7-part presentation.
Have you met someone who was almost 100 years old and wondered what they have experienced, witnessed, and how they may have impacted others? The wrinkles and frail body belongs to someone who was once young, adventurous and often a wonderful role model.
We would like to highlight one such person by sharing excerpts from her memoirs of an extraordinary life. Her name is Mabel Albrecht, and she turned 100 years old this year.
On February 15, 1917, John and Mabel Jaques received a late Valentine; the arrival of a baby girl, Mabel Agnes. Born in a small cottage on 15th Street in Detroit. the youngest of 5 children (pictured right); 4 girls and one boy. Here are excerpts from her happy childhood: When I was 1 year old we moved to the Big House. It was called the big house because it had 10 large rooms. This house was built by my grandfather Jaques. He lived with us until he died. The Big House had a front porch that extended around the front and side of the house. Many nights after supper my family would sit out there until about 11 o’clock. There were many families in the neighborhood that had 3 or 4 children and we all played together.
I remember the games we played often were Hide-and-Go Seek and Run, My Sheep, Run. When it was dark, everyone had to be home on their own porch. Our porch was always the gathering place for many children. We would sit on the front steps exchanging stories until the streetlights came on. Many plans were made on the Jaques’ front porch.
When I was 12 years old, I used to faint a lot. Those were the days when we would fast from midnight to the time of receiving Holy Communion the next morning. The ushers would take me out of church and revive me. Father Dougherty, our pastor, would always give me a little wine. This brought me to in a hurry. Some of my friends would say that I would faint on purpose so as to receive the wine. (Maybe that is what started me on drinking good wine once in a while.)
My mother had friends in Canada. Windsor Canada is right across from Detroit. Before the Ambassador Bridge was built, the only way to get to Canada was by ferry, which took cars and people. During the summer my mother would take us on a boat ride. We could ride all day for ten cents. This was one of our family’s summer outings.
March was housecleaning month. Every room in our house was thoroughly cleaned. Every wall, ceiling, and wall paper too. Rugs were taken and put outside on a line and beaten with a racket similar to a tennis racket, but made with heavier metal. We children used to enjoy this chore.
Our neighborhood was a very friendly place and everyone knew each other. We had a man who would come around and sharpen knives and scissors. We also had a banana man who came around weekly with fresh bananas. A nearby candy store sold penny candy and ice cream for a penny too. Those were the happy days, which were nice to remember.
End of Part 1
