James gets a surprise in a card from Uncle Ken and Aunt Criss

James Aunt Criss at her senior prom in 1968 with her date Randy. James Dad says he remembers Randy and Criss going steady for quite a while. 1968 was a good year in Detroit, with the Tigers winning the world series and of course Senior Prom.

A year after this picture was taken a new High School was built in Dearborn Heights, Annapolis High. Criss little brother (James Dad) would go to this school ten years later, and Criss newphew James would go to this not so new school anymore about 40 years later.

You can always date some of these pictures taken in front of the house by how big the pine tree and blue spruce were at the time.

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Criss celebrating her First Communion, here is a little background on this event which is sort of a rite of passage in the Catholic Church.

The sacrament of First Communion is an important tradition for Catholic families and individuals. For Catholics, Holy Communion is the third of seven sacraments received. It occurs only after receiving Baptism, and once the person has reached the age of reason (usually, around the second grade). Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist occupies a central role in Catholic theology and practice.

Charles Thomas Kleiber (James Grandpa) purchased 6 lots at Michigan Memorial for $920 plus $10 carrying fee. Charles put $5 down and agreed to pay $15 per month to pay off the balance (no interest so long as the payments were on time).

At the time, the Kleiber family was living at 1089 Lindberg in Wyandotte Michigan and Michigan Memorial was over 25 years old and located in nearby Flat Rock so it seemed to be a perfect match. Shown in this picture is Peg and Criss looking down at the first person buried in the plots, James Great Grandpa Graf.