She had the ability to light up a room with her personality, her singing, and a witty sense of humor as bright and dynamic as any firework.

Charlotte Elizabeth Hostetter Curtin

Born 20 Oct 1912 • Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey

Died 04 Jul 2005 • JFK Hartwyck nursing home Edison, Middlesex, New Jersey

Parents: Charlotte Ross Golden and Fred Hostetter

Children: Geraldine, Dolores, Dan Jr., Raymond, Joyce, Donald and Carol Lee

Siblings: Anna, Mildred, Gertrude, Myrtle, Marjorie, and one Boy who died in infancy, whose name we do not know.

Happy Birthday to Charlotte Elizabeth Hostetter Curtin
by Kerri Corby Fawcett

Early Life in Jersey City

Autumn of 1912 saw a second daughter join the family of Charlotte Golden Hostetter and Fred Hostetter. On Sunday, October 20th, little Charlotte Elizabeth Hostetter was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. She joined her three year old sister Anna Eva. By the time of the 1915 census, Charlotte was not the youngest in the family as Mildred Gladys was now two months old. This family of five were living at 226 Linden Avenue. The little girls were joined by Edward Golden, the brother of their mother Charlotte, for this census and then again in 1920 when the family were living at 221 Winfield Avenue. Two more sisters, Gertrude Helen and Myrtle Barbara, were there as well.

Growing Up Among the Hostetter Sisters

The teenage years for Charlotte and her sisters Anna and Mildred were busy helping to take care of their younger siblings when their parents were busy at work. Our cousin Charlotte McCormack Vroom (so many Charlottes in this family!!) told me about the Hostetter sisters and how the three oldest, Anna, Charlotte and Millie, would like to go out when they were supposed to be babysitting and the three youngest, Gertie, Mertie and Margie, didn't like to be alone in the apartment so the oldest told the young ones to sleep outside in the bread box. Apparently these bread boxes were common near shops and bakers would drop off fresh baked bread in the early hours and the shop keepers would get the bread in the morning and sell it. The boxes were large wooden or metal structures and were around until the early 1950s. I do not know how the young ones felt safer outside in a bread box, or if they were ever discovered by the bakers dropping off their bread! They also had similar milk boxes on the streets too so the girls had their pick of hiding spots. On occasion the local policeman would come by and hit the box with his truncheon to tell them it was time to go inside the house and get to sleep!

The Mystery of the Missing Glass Eye

Cousin Charlotte also told another story of the three oldest sisters in the house with Aunt Charlotte's boyfriend at the time, around 1928. They sent the youngest outside to look for their father returning to the apartment after work. Apparently their father Fred came home earlier than expected and in all of the rush the boyfriend had to quickly leave by going down the fire escape. In all of the commotion the young man lost his glass eye somewhere in the kitchen! They had a very quick look for it but he had to go. They never did find the glass eye and Charlotte never saw the guy again! Apparently Aunt Margie, the youngest of the Hostetter sisters, was about 5 years old at the time when this happened and she said she had vivid memories of this story.

Radio Sewing Club and Family Life

There were some wild times back in Jersey City, but also some calmer family moments. We found some newspaper articles mentioning Charlotte joining her mother and older sister Anna at various Radio Sewing Club events hosted at the member's homes. Often clubs like this would make items for charity like baby clothes or things for veterans while the ladies enjoyed listening to the latest radio programs and having a bit of a gossip session too!

Daniel Joseph Curtin and the Beginning of a Family

Just a few years later, Charlotte would find the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Daniel Joseph Curtin. Dan was born on February 19, 1905 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was previously married on January 21, 1931 to a woman named Helen Malvey. They had a daughter together named Joan Dolores Curtin, who was born on October 31, 1931 in Jersey City. Their marriage soon broke down and they separated in November of 1932.

Charlotte and Dan’s Seven Children

Charlotte and Dan would go on to have seven children, four girls and three boys: Geraldine, Dolores, Dan Jr., Raymond, Joyce, Donald and Carol Lee. Sadly, Dolores passed away at the age of 9 months. Cause of death was pneumonia. While the children of Charlotte and Dan were raised in Jersey City, now many of their descendants are all over the United States from the East Coast to the West Coast.

A Devoted Partnership of More Than 50 Years

According to New Jersey State records, Charlotte and Dan did not officially marry until September 1970 in Jersey City. While times were not always easy, they would be devoted to each other for over 50 years. Dan passed away on June 25, 1985 in Edison. Charlotte would go on for just over 20 more years and she passed away at the age of 92 on July 4, 2005 in Edison. She lived the longest of all of her sisters and she raised the most children.

Thirty-Six Years at Margaret Hague Hospital

Charlotte was a nurses aide and worked the night shift, 11pm to 7am, for 36 years at the Margaret Hague Hospital where so many of us were born. It is nice to know that she was there during the first hours of our lives. She was a hard worker who was very devoted to her family. Charlotte finally retired in the late 1970s and was now able to spend more time with her expanding family.

A Personality as Bright as a Firework

While I did not know her very well, I always thought it was fitting that she should pass away on the Fourth of July. As the USA celebrates by lighting colorful fireworks into the night sky, it will always make me think of Aunt Charlotte. From what I have heard about her, she had the ability to light up a room with her personality by singing songs and her witty sense of humor which was as bright and dynamic as any firework. She will never be forgotten by the many family members that hold her in their hearts and continue to talk about her to the future generations.

Happy 113th birthday Aunt Charlotte.