Tributes

Adeola Maria Crochet was born in Algiers, LA on July 23, 1924, but her birth certificate simply says “Algiers.” This almost became a problem 75 years later when the DMV would not renew her license because she was not a US citizen. In New Orleans, she first spoke French, the language of her parents. At 18 months old, she moved with Momo and Papa to San Angelo, in West Texas, where she grew up, working in the family grocery store during the Depression. The first Fashionista of the family, Addie was “quite the looker” and worked in a French dress shop where the sales women modeled the clothes. During WWII, she packed parachutes at Goodfellow Field, got lucky, and met Truman Lindeman - Daddy. They married in 1948 and tried to go to Big Bend for their honeymoon, but their budget got them only as far as the springs of Balmorhea. They learned to cook together. After they had three girls, Daddy went to work for Kelly Air Force Base and moved the family to San Antonio where two more daughters were born. Addie kept house and took care of the girls; Daddy worked and often traveled for work. When the girls got older, Addie started an antique business, an addiction she inherited from her father, and passed along to her girls. This was a happy time for her and the family. Soon Daddy retired at 50 and began casting jewelry in sterling. Boom, suddenly they’re in the jewelry business. They were the first venders at USAA, and they had a booth at the Northwest Center Flea Market working the weekends. They hit the jewelry shows in Vegas and Tucson, and it was fun and profitable. Always an artist, Mom enjoyed water coloring, ceramics, flower arranging, and ribbon roses. She made gorgeous Christmas wreaths using metal shears and tin can lids. She designed and strung amazing necklaces and earrings in semi-precious stones and amassed a large clientele. But her family was the most important thing in her life. She once said having children and a library were her goals in life. Our family became quite wealthy, book-wise. After Daddy passed in 2012, Mom found herself lost for a while. After 63 years of marriage, she was exhausted from caring for her husband and missed him terribly. She retired their business, and began enjoying outings with her children: estate sales, ballets, operas. She loved games and was considered a card sharp. The family gathered frequently to play games: Rummy, Dominoes, Trivial Pursuit, Sequence. You name it, we played it for quarters. She mainly relied on her loving daughters for entertainment and companionship. When the time came, she moved to a lovely apartment at The Village at the Incarnate Word. Her Catholic faith was strong, and her apartment was just down the hall from their beautiful chapel. She delighted in her grand and great grandchildren, taking pride in their many accomplishments. With her impish grin and sparkling eyes, her laughter was infectious. Our beautiful Mother left this world at 7:47 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Hundreds of thousands of fireworks marked her passage. She is free and happy with Daddy and Cheryl now. “More precious was the light in your eyes then all the roses in the world.” Edna St Vincent Millay

Tributes

Adeola Marie Lindeman

July 23, 1924 - December 31, 2022