“The Cocoa Song”
Words and music by Marianne Fridell
with Mrs. Somer’s 4th Grade Class
©2019 Marianne Fridell
I was born in Illinois. Me, 2 sisters and 4 boys
Rebecca was like a mom to us. We walked to school, didn’t ride the bus.
When you open up your heart, this is what I know
When you open up your arms, families will grow.
It was a long time ago, when we dumped the dark cocoa.
Mom made us eat choc-o-late. Something that we never forgot!
Choc-o-late, choc-o-late, something that we never forgot!
My high school sweetheart married me—Neil and I raised our family.
Wanted 8 boys but just got 3. A girl came along for harmony.
When you open up your heart, this is what I know
When you open up your arms, families will grow.
I just want to let you know, kids all call me Grandma Jo.
They will come and they will grow. And love spreads out as they go.
Kids will grow and we know– love spreads out wherever they go.
Teachers teach both tall and small. I taught the littlest ones of all.
A daycare provider and a wife. A teacher who can change your life.
When you open up your heart, this is what I know
When you open up your arms, families will grow.
Those little ones now are grown. Many have children of their own.
Friends from church. Friends from town. Friends are found all around.
Friends branch out from you and me, and grow into our family tree.
There’s the family of my birth and the family we raised.
When you love the people you meet, your family grows each day.
When you open up your heart, this is what I know
When you open up your arms, families will grow.
Grandkids visit to say hello: munch peanut brittle with a cup of jo.
From Jo-Jo to Grandma, my life is full. Baking up love for all of you.
When you open up your heart, this is what I know
When you open up your arms, families will grow.
We learned a lot from Grandma Jo.
Now it’s time for us to go.
Let’s all go get some cocoa!!!
Joann Elva Miller Witt was born on April 26, 1941 in Aurora, Illinois. Joann was the second youngest of 7 children. Three of those siblings are still living.
Until the age of 6, Mrs. Witt grew up in the country. Her dad milked cows. The milk would be placed in 10-20 gallon jugs. Waste was not something that her mom allowed, so when one of the kids dumped a whole can of Hershey’s cocoa in one of the jugs, they had chocolate pudding, chocolate milk, chocolate cocoa, and anything else chocolate that her mom could think of to make. To this day, Mrs. Witt limits herself to one cup of cocoa a year!
Joann played games like jump rope, jacks, hopscotch, Anne-Over and built snowmen while growing up. Joann did not attend kindergarten. She attended her first year of school which was also 1st grade, in Big Rock, Illinois. She walked to school each day. A mile was not that far of a walk and she feels it was good for them to get fresh air. Her first-grade teacher, Mrs. Mattingly, made quite an impression. She loved Mrs. Mattingly because she was so welcoming. She also met Jean who would become her best friend in school. They are still friends today!
Joann had chores such as making beds, doing dishes and heating up the water when there wasn’t any. They all had to do chores because there were so many of them.
Joann met the love of her life at the age of 17 in high school. Joann graduated high school and attended two years of college for teaching. Neil and Joann were high school sweethearts and went on to marry during their college years. From that union, three sons and one daughter were born. Joann and Neil now have 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Mrs. Witt and her family moved to Custer in 1974. Joann always knew she wanted to be a teacher. As we all know, teachers come in many forms. Joann has taught many children in her home by being a day care provider. She couldn’t wait for all the littles to show up each day.
Joann always felt honored so many parents entrusted her to provide a fun and loving environment each day. Joann provided daycare for 33 years. She even won an award for her float one year in the Gold Discovery Day parade. She was the Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, surrounded by the children in her day care. Grandma Jo, as she was called by her daycare family has always felt the biggest rewards came from babysitting. She loved that she was able to provide a fun and caring place for children as their parents worked each day. She considers it to be an honor to be entrusted with the little ones each day.
Joann sees herself as a home body. She is very close to her sister Jane, who is only 11 months older than she is. She enjoys baking and having her grandchildren stop by for a cup of coffee. She believes people can always find a family, anywhere you go. She also tells us that she is not short but built low to the ground for speed and accuracy!
We have learned a lot from Joann, but the greatest lesson is:
Family can be found anywhere!