Last updated 5 Aug 2021

Franciska "Francis" Pfaeger who was called O'ma was born in Baden bei Wein, Austria in 1892. .

Francis worked in a resort hotel (maybe where she met Papa's father?) in Austria in the early 1900's, Papa was born when she was 20. She raised John on her own until she met and married a man named John Janda.

The Janda family immigrated to Chicago in 1923 where they opened a series of Bavarian taverns and restaurants. My mother remembers being in the kitchen watching them make sausages. 

Photo on the left: the elder John Janda behind the bar with wife Francis and his mother Marie Toupal; Photo on right is elder John Janda in his later years with a young Lorraine Lahner (Granny!) working along side him c 1939.

Granny remembers that John Dillinger and his gang used to frequent the tavern! 

Oma lived with my grandparents (Granny & Papa) until her passing in 1984. I spent many holidays, family dinners and summers with them and remember her little black shoes and her thick Austrian accent. She was very loving and kind. A bit of a 'tough nut' sometimes but a very good woman.

Francis' father was August Pflager, born in 1866 in Austria. He died before her tenth birthday. Francis' mother was Maria Prezehaso. Maria was born in 1866. 

Maria was the daughter of Stanislaus Prezehaso who was born in 1825 in Zwadka, Ukraine, and Franciska Ebner Laucher who was born in 1831 in the Czech Republic.

Oma had three half-siblings (her mother remarried after August's death) who all stayed in Austria.