- Cecily and Raymond Bliese and daughter Lana
Cecily was the sixth surviving child of Harry and Gwen Wheeler.
“Auntie Cec” was a warm, petite, lively and charming person who in her early adult years lived in Devonport in Auckland. During World War ll she fell in love with a young American Officer, Ray Bliese, and moved to California as a ‘War Bride.’ Ray had been married and Cec was his second wife.
Auntie Cec thus became the quintessential American wife and mother – glamorous, good looking and devoted to her family. Initially, Auntie Ces and Uncle Ray almost gave up on having children until their ‘miracle’ daughter, Lana Ray was born. Lana was given many beautiful, stylish clothes which, once outgrown, were boxed up and sent by Auntie Ces to her slightly awestruck younger NZ nieces on the farm at ‘Wainamu!’
Cec and Ray used to travel to one state a year and send many photos from their travels. Auntie Cec worked as a clothes buyer for a large store in California and acquired many of the mannerisms, sayings and accent of her adopted home.
However she never lost her deep connection and affection for NZ and her beloved siblings and their families who she would visit and stay with every few years in her later life.
Auntie Cec lived in San Mateo (a suburb of San Francisco) in her earlier life but later moved to Sacramento and that's where her daughter Lana and surviving family are today.
-Contributed by Sue Macky, Cecily's niece.
Cecily's dates: Born 8 Sept, 1919 Helensville.
Died California
Charles William sixth child of John and Maria
Married his cousing Mary Baylis
ing soon
“Auntie Cec” was a warm, petite, lively and charming person who in her early adult years lived in Devonport in Auckland. During World War ll she fell in love with a young American Officer, Ray Bliese, and moved to California as a ‘War Bride.’ Ray had been married and Cec was his second wife.
Auntie Cec thus became the quintessential American wife and mother – glamorous, good looking and devoted to her family. Initially, Auntie Ces and Uncle Ray almost gave up on having children until their ‘miracle’ daughter, Lana Ray was born. Lana was given many beautiful, stylish clothes which, once outgrown, were boxed up and sent by Auntie Ces to her slightly awestruck younger NZ nieces on the farm at ‘Wainamu!’
Cec and Ray used to travel to one state a year and send many photos from their travels. Auntie Cec worked as a clothes buyer for a large store in California and acquired many of the mannerisms, sayings and accent of her adopted home.
However she never lost her deep connection and affection for NZ and her beloved siblings and their families who she would visit and stay with every few years in her later life.
Auntie Cec lived in San Mateo (a suburb of San Francisco) in her earlier life but later moved to Sacramento and that's where her daughter Lana and surviving family are today.
-Contributed by Sue Macky, Cecily's niece.
Cecily's dates: Born 8 Sept, 1919 Helensville.
Died California
Charles William sixth child of John and Maria
Married his cousing Mary Baylis
ing soon