On November 29, 2014, May Strauss, daughter of the late Lewis and Birthel Strauss, sister of the late Lewis Strauss and Lillian S. Charlet, aunt of Patricia S. Pekary and Pamela Strauss, grand-aunt of Shannon Pekary, Christopher Pekary, Diana Donaldson, Shayne Burkowske, Steven Burkowske, Isaiah Pekary, Josiah Pekary, Alaina Pekary, Ruben Pekary, Abby Pekary, Ashley Strauss, Michael Donaldson, Hallie Donaldson, Logan Donaldson, Villian Donaldson, Eric Burkowske, Hannah Burkowske, Abigail Burkowske, and Olivia Burkowske.

Graveside Services were held on Monday, December 1, 2014 at 3:00 PM in Loudon Park Cemetery, 3620 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229.

I'm Pat Pekary, and May Strauss was aunt to my sister, Pam, and me. May was never married and was predeceased by her parents, Lewis and Birthel Strauss, and also by her brother, Lewis Strauss and her sister, Lillian Charlet. May was quiet, but enjoyed talking about her younger years when she and her Mom, my grandmother, would frequently take the train to New York for a day of shopping, using the free passes from the railroad where her Dad worked. I spent many hours with May and my grandmother, Birthel, in their home in Morrell Park. They enjoyed cooking, made the best french fries in the world, and were always encouraging me to eat because they thought I was too skinny. Oh, those were the days! My grandparents didn't own a car, and May never had a driver's license. They walked everywhere. Recently May told me when she and her Dad walked everywhere people they knew would stop and offer them rides. May wanted to accept the ride, but her Dad would say, "No, we can walk." She would complain that she was tired sometimes, and he'd tell her to sit and rest a few minutes, but then they could continue walking. He would tell her, "You can do it". In her 90's May continued to walk the length of the hallway three times a day to the dining room, with her walker. She said she enjoyed walking. I think that walking habit contributed to May's good health and longevity. May also loved her garden. She planted vegetables and flowers, and hand-watered them daily. She loved beautiful flowers! Sometimes she would sit outside to tan her legs, and over the last few years she talked with me about those times in the 1940's and 1950's, and how she liked to tan her legs in the summer so she wouldn't have to wear nylons.
In her 30's May worked for Chuck Thompson -- famed radio announcer for Gunther Brewing Company's franchise, and WITH-AM's play-by-play voice for both the International League Orioles and the Baltimore Colts. When the American League's St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and became the Orioles in 1954, Chuck's previous connections with the Gunther Brewing Company prevented him from becoming a broadcaster for the franchise. The National Brewing Company had purchased the team's broadcast rights and hired Ernie Harwell as the lead voice, but still wanted Thompson to be part of the coverage. Chuck agreed to work with Harwell on Orioles broadcasts on WCBM-AM and WMAR-TV in 1955. During the broadcasts Chuck reported the daily horse racing results, and May's job was to gather and prepare the racetrack results for Chuck. May told me she enjoyed meeting the interesting and beautiful people who visited the radio station. I remember one year when I was little, May had the radio station announce my birthday.
May didn't travel and didn't want to travel. She was very close to her parents and continued to live in her parents' home after they passed away until she moved to Charlestown to live with her sister, Lillian. Before they moved to Charlestown, May talked with Lillian on the phone daily and spent one day a weekend with her, helping Lillian tend her lawn and bushes. They'd also take walks and sometimes friends joined them. Then Lillian would treat May to dinner or Sunday brunch, and help May grocery shop for the following week.

My Dad visited his parents and May several times a week until he and my Mom retired and moved to Florida. When I was little he usually took me with him, after dinner. After he retired and moved to Florida he visited May and Lillian each Christmas when he returned to Maryland for the holidays, until he passed away. Everyone called my Dad Lew, but May always referred to him as "Lewis". He, Lillian, Lillian's husband Joe, and May enjoyed getting together, eating crabs, and drinking beer. I remember many evenings watching them, hearing their chatter and laughter. Every Christmas Lillian and Joe brought my grandparents and May to our home to spend the day. Lillian and Joe had a party every year on Christmas night, and I'd watch the adults party and dance in Lillian's Club Basement. May enjoyed dancing, and I remember her smile and laughter. May's nice smile continued, and she had beautiful skin and complexion. In her 90's she looked like most women do in their 60's and 70's.

May loved chocolate, and her favorite tv shows were "Lawrence Welk" and later "Dancing With the Stars". When she moved to Renaissance Gardens she enjoyed the daily activities -- especially the music activities and monthly special trips. She especially looked forward to having her hair and nails done each week. I want to thank May's friends. I also want to thank Toni Harrison, who continued to visit May weekly, and Lisa Roeder and all the social workers who cared for May and set up Skype sessions so May and I could talk and see each other when I was in California. When I phoned and visited May she told me "everyone is nice here". I am grateful that Renaissance Gardens provided a good quality of life in May's aging years, and I want to thank the entire staff -- nurses, aides, activity director, nutritionist, beautician -- everyone in Renaissance Gardens who tenderly cared for my aunt. She was a dear sweet woman, and I can see her now growing beautiful flowers in God's garden. May she rest in peace.