Across the street from us when we lived on West Main Street in Richland was JoAnn Weiant (pronounced WEE-ant) and her three children, Julian, Ellen, and Kathleen.

JoAnn had been a friend of my mother’s ever since their school days, and they had relatives in common. That is, JoAnn’s uncle Leo Blecker married my mother’s aunt Marie. So there were several things that bound our families together.

I recall one time my mother closed her beauty shop for a week and she, my sister, and I went to the shore with JoAnn and her kids. Sometimes my mother and JoAnn would go to the movies and take some of the kids along; that’s how I got to see South Pacific, which made such a big impression on me at the time.

I got along well with all three of the Weiant kids, but Julian was three years older than I was and he often had his own group of friends to hang out with. So it was mainly Ellen and Kathleen, but especially Ellen, that I palled around with. Ellen was a year older than I was and Kathleen a year younger.

Ellen had become good friends with my cousin Kathy when she came to town, and the two of them became quite close during the first few years of grade school. That was a bond that lasted, as they’ve continued to keep in touch, if only sporadically. 

Ellen and Kathleen also got along well with my sister Donna. I remember them coming over and playing the Barbie board game with Donna.

Actually I sometimes joined in, as up to four could play.

Hey, it’s a board game! You roll the dice and move your token around the board. It’s just like all the other board games. Besides, nobody else wanted Poindexter as a boyfriend, and I didn’t mind. I figured he was the rich one.

When I got to seventh grade and had to write essays for English class, I’d show them to Ellen to get her opinion before submitting them. She often gave me a good tip or two.

As nearly always happened, once we moved to South Race Street, I didn’t see much of the Weiants anymore.

But I do remember going to Ellen’s senior class play, where Ellen played the maid. It was a relatively small role, but Ellen was hilarious in it, and she’s nearly the only thing I recall about that play.

As you’ve probably guessed, word has come that Ellen died on June 10. To give her full name now she was Ellen Victoria Weiant Kline Buchanio. She had been ill for some time, so her passing did not come as a complete surprise.

There hasn’t been an obituary so far, and I’ve heard that a memorial service is being delayed so that her extended family can attend. If an obituary is posted, I’ll be sure to link to it.

Update: Here it is: https://www.thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com/obituary/ellen-buchanio