No. Brunswick recognizes two grand residents
Florence Chopin and Margaret Paris named Grandparents of the Year
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK — A combination of good parenting skills with the ability to spoil someone rotten tends to make the best grandparents.

Two grandmothers were honored with the Grandparent of the Year award during a Township Council meeting on Dec. 4.

Florence Chopin was nominated by her granddaughter Stephanie Mitchell. While reading her nomination letter, Mitchell said that her grandmother is her best friend, raising her while her parents worked throughout her life. She said that she and “Grams” would play Old Maid, go out to lunch and always smile.

“I just thought it would be really cool to nominate her because she deserves it,” the 14-year-old said. “She’s just been there and always helped my family out and watched us and supported us in whatever we do.”

Mitchell credits her grandmother with teaching her how to cook, which has fostered a goal of hers to open a bakery.

“I think from seeing her, compared to other grandparents, she’s more friendly. She’s not as much of a grandmother as a friend,” she said.

Chopick shares the sentiments, always feeling close to not just Stephanie but all of her nine grandchildren.

“At first I was very surprised and taken back a little by this, because I certainly didn’t expect anything like this. I was certainly very happy,” she said of her proclamation.

Directing her feelings toward Stephanie, she said, “We’ve been very close since the time she was an infant. I’ve been taking care of her because her parents both worked. I’ve spent a lot of time with her … and I enjoy every minute of it.”

Chopick has always played with her grandchildren, sharing lunches and Wednesday night dinners. She believes her relationship with her own maternal grandmother enabled her to share those same memories with her own kin.

“It’s marvelous because you have the joys but you really don’t have the responsibilities,” she said. “I am very thankful for this. It’s very nice for grandparents to hear this from their grandchildren.”

Margaret Paris received a special reward with her nomination, receiving recognition from someone not directly related to her.

Paris’ daughter-in-law Dawn decided to highlight her mother-in-law’s efforts during her pregnancy, C-section and the months that followed. She said Peggy would wash bottles, prepare meals and do the laundry, all while taking the children outside to play. She also baby-sits on Wednesdays so that the parents can have a little alone time away from their children.

“I think it’s very nice of her,” Paris said of the letter. “It really does [mean something] when it’s someone other than your daughter. I agree, it’s something special, but like the letter said, I do a lot for all my grandchildren, and I know Dawn appreciates that very, very much and we have a lot of fun together.”

With her seven grandchildren ranging in age from 1 to 21, Paris baby-sits, helps clean, shops and builds castles. She goes to musical performances and plays performed by the older children and flips pancakes, breads pork chops and cuts watermelon with the younger ones.

“I just try my best to be there whenever I can,” she said.

Paris lost her husband over 20 years ago when her own children were just teenagers. She feels her experience as a single mother helped create an even better grandmother.

“I guess because I went through raising my kids, I try to spend as much time with my grandchildren. The best thing in the world is to have grandchildren,” she said.

“Being a grandparent, I believe you have more patience with them because you don’t spend 24 hours a day with them. It’s a joy to see them, and you do what you can for them and you watch them grow, and when you get tired you go home,” she added.

Enjoying the laughing and the giggling the most, Paris hopes her grandchildren remember all of the good times they spent together throughout their lives.

“I simply believe I do the right thing with them, I spend time with them, I play with them, not just watching TV, but I play with them and have fun,” she said.

The essay contest was sponsored by the North Brunswick Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services.