Finding the Good: Lessons from My Mother, Ada
By HelpfulHannah (Hannah Williams)
People say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and when I look in the mirror today, I see Ada looking back at me. My mother was a 4'10" piece of dynamite—an orphan who grew up in the Rebecca Kratz home and went on to become the "Doris Day of Philadelphia." She was a salesgirl at Blum’s downtown by day and a jazz-singing powerhouse by night.
Mom was a woman ahead of her time. In an era when most mothers stayed home, she was "off and running" as a working mom. She was a master of reinvention; I’ll never forget playing in the driveway and seeing a glamorous blonde walk up, only to realize my red-headed mother had changed her look again! I would beam with pride every time.
A Life Set to Music
Though she made sure I had a musical background—mercifully swapping my accordion for a violin—her greatest gift wasn't an instrument; it was a philosophy. She taught me that life is inherently good. She believed there is good and bad in everyone, but your job is to find the good. If you can’t find enough of it? It’s okay to just walk away.
Some of my fondest memories are of singing "You Are My Sunshine" and "Get Happy" in the car with my sister, Sarae. Mom spent her free time singing at VA hospitals and institutions, always believing that you can’t be unhappy when you’re singing or bringing joy to others.
Keeping the Dance Alive
While I didn't inherit her "Doris Day" vocals, she recognized my talent for dancing early on. "Keep doing it, Hannah," she’d say. "It makes you happy." She was right. To this day, there is nothing I love more than a Saturday night spent listening to a live band and letting loose on the dance floor.
When people tell me, "For a second, I thought you were your mother," I take it as the highest compliment. Ada taught me to smile, to work hard, and to find the sunshine in every day. I carry that spirit with me every time I help a new family find their own "happy place" here in Philly, Bucks, or Montgomery County.
This is my entry to the 2026 May Challenge," The Women Who Shapen Us."
Hosted by our own Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Real Estate Svcs. and Carol Williams
Let HelpfulHannah help you! 📞 (215) 820-3376
Serving Philadelphia & the surrounding areas since 1984
Serving Philadelphia & the surrounding areas since 1984
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