I got a copy of John NOVAK's obituary today from the Pratt Library periodicals department. The only relative listed is his wife Ida. It looks like they had no children -- a pity, since it rules out any possible living relative on that end of things. No church connection, either. Perhaps there will be something on the NOVAKs' death certificates that I requested from the funeral home. On the off chance it might tell me something about where John and Ida met, I sent off for his Social Security card application.

Now my best hope may be the 1930 census. I'll see if I can set up a time to look through it at the Chicago branch of the National Archives. My guess is that they'll be swamped for a while, since it was just released April 1st.

I got a reply back from the funeral home that handled Ida NOVAK's burial that just provided an extract of their records with information that I already had. They did, however, offer to get a copy of her death certificate for just $6.00. I think I'll ask for that and for her husband John's death certificate as well. I also sent a note off to the Pratt to see if they could locate John's 1962 obituary in the Baltimore Sun. Perhaps it will have a little more detail on the NOVAK family.

I spent some time this week regretting missed opportunities -- Ida, it turns out, didn't die until 1980 and was still living in Dundalk the summer I was working in Havre de Grace. Driving down to my parents' place near Seven Corners, VA, I was probably within a mile or two of her house.