BioM: Larsen, Donna Mae (1955)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Abels, Larsen, Grota, Paff, Dziedzic, Richardson, Lundeen, Whitworth, Lyon, Gundenschawger, Verritt

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 12/01/1955

Larsen, Donna Mae (12 NOV 1955)

Santa Monica, Calif. will be the home of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Abels, who recited their nuptial vows on Saturday morning, Nov. 12, 1955.

The aisle of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church led to an autumn setting where Miss Donna Mae Larsen, daughter of Mrs. Benjamin S. Grota of Berlin, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Abels of Beaver Falls, Pa., were married by the Very Rev. F. A. Bruckwicki.

For the double ring service, the church was elaborately decorated with bouquets of white, ballet blue and autumn violet mums, and gladioli.  The reserved pews for the relatives were marked with sprays of flowers tied in white ribbons.  The Sisters of Notre Dame were in charge of the flower arrangements.

Sister Mary Christina presided at the organ when the children’s choir sang the Salve Regina Mass at ten o’clock.  "Ave Maria" was sung during the offertory and "On This Day" was rendered while the bride placed a bouquet, combined of autumn violet and ballet blue mums, on the Blessed Virgin Mary altar.

Appearing in a gown of imported French lace over satin, the bride was escorted to the altar by Mr. Benjamin S. Grota.  The gown was styled with a fitted, long sleeved bodice and detailed by a portrait neckline gracefully outlined with delicate tulle ruching.  The full chapel train skirt was fashioned with cascading tiers of scalloped embroidered tulle and lace.  Her hand rolled veil of imported silk illusion fell from a handmade Queen’s crown extravagantly sprinkled with dainty beads in changeable pastel colors.  She carried a prayer book adorned with seed pearls and two large orchids placed on the cover.  Lily of the valley was attached to the end of each white satin bookmarker.

Preceding the bride down the white carpeted aisle were the matron of honor, Mrs. Kathleen Paff of Beaver Falls, Pa., sister of the groom, and the bridesmaids, Miss Diane Dziedzic and Miss Lorraine Richardson, friends of the bride from Milwaukee.

The honor attendant and the bridesmaids were attired in autumn violet gowns fashioned of shirred nylon chiffon fitted styled bodices and full floor length skirts.  Stoles of plain nylon chiffon fell in graceful folds over their shoulders and they wore satin bandeaux with single rose trim in colors matching their dresses.  The matron of honor carried a muff trimmed with orchids, while the two aides had muffs of velvet in ballet blue on which were tinted autumn violet flowers.

In her role as junior bridesmaid, Miss Ann Grota, Berlin, was dressed in a ballet blue gown, made identical to the other attendants.  She carried a muff matching the senior bridesmaids.

Raymond Abels traveled from Beaver Falls, Pa. to be best man at his brother’s wedding.  Acting as groomsmen were William Whitworth and Merle Lundeen, fraternity brothers of the groom from Milwaukee.  Ushering duties were performed by Thomas Lyon and Phil Gundenschawger, both of Milwaukee, and also fraternity brothers of the groom.

The mother of the bride chose a brocaded taffeta dress in royal blue to greet the guests.  For her sons’ marriage, the groom’s mother selected a violet velvet dress.  Both complemented their costumes with gardenia corsages.  The bride’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Verritt of Palm Beach, Florida, were in attendance at the wedding.

Peek’s Plantation, near Wautoma, was the setting for the dinner and reception, with 125 guests attending.  Throughout the event, Mr. Leonard Umbreit of Berlin furnished appropriate music.  The floral arrangements on the tables, in keeping with the bridal colors, were made by Mrs. Harry Schissler of Berlin.  Gracing the bridal table, along with tapers, was the four-tier wedding cake decorated with a bride and groom figurine and miniature attendants, dressed identical to members of the wedding party.

For traveling to the West Coast, the bride donned a hand embroidered tweed suit in blue and gray with gunmetal shoes and purse.

The new Mrs. Abels is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, where she was a member of Theta Phi Alta sorority.  Until the time of her marriage, she was a private secretary to the Dean of Milwaukee School of Engineering.  Pre-nuptial events included a personal shower given by the office personnel of the Engineering School.

Mr. Abels, who is a graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering, is employed at Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica.

Guests were present for the nuptial ceremony from Beaver Falls, Pa.; New York, N.Y.; Chicago, Ill.; Cornell, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, Chetek, Thorp, Owen and Clintonville, Wis.

Following the rehearsal Friday evening, a buffet supper was served to the bridal party and immediate relatives at Hotel Whting.