About Nonnie

Nonnie Marker is the pen name of Jan Yinger. Jan has related her family history in this story. She has a collection of her mother's lifelong diaries and memorabilia. Jan has blended the information from these treasured family heirlooms with her childhood memories to bring you into the past with her family. She lives in Florida with her husband and cats.

This book is a genealogical portrait of my family presented in story form and taken from the diaries and pack rat collections of my mother. She recorded daily events for eighty-seven years of life with her Hungarian immigrant family, and anyone who crossed her path. You are right there with her as she faces discrimination, struggles with poverty and finds joy and tears in a close-knit, loving family. These Seven Houses are all in a row directly across from the Village Cemetery. The small village has passed its heyday, as the train used to always stop here for passengers, but now only delivers coal or loads up on grain. At this beginning point in time the First House next to the railroad trestle is occupied by a Hungarian couple, Joe and Lizi. The next property, "The Little House", "The Big House" and "Homer's Hovel" are all on one deed and the owner has recently passed away. The fifth house is occupied by the Bly Family. Next in line is "Mammas Land of Dreams" where Mariska lives with her parents and two brothers. The Seventh House from the Cemetery is the Wolfe House, the last one in line.