visiting U of Chicago--where to stay

The University of Chicago is not in the best of neighborhoods. It is south of the city. Do you want to be near the school or near downtown? Public transportation is great, so you won't need a car. Familiarize yourself with the El map:

http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/systemmaps.html

It looks like the green line puts you pretty close. You might have to hop a bus or taxi.

Here is a great place to stay on the north end of downtown. It is right next door to the John Hancock Building:

http://www.senecahotel.com/

Priceline is good for Chicago too.

good advice. I will look into your suggestions; thank you!

Many of the schools in proximity to the University of Chicago do not recommend using the Green line to get to Hyde Park. The Green line is considerably west of the school, and isn't regularly served by cabs.

I believe that Metra is the better choice for Hyde Park, or one of the express buses from downtown.

My daughter goes to school in Hyde Park, and the public transportation choices from there are not ideal.

Yes, I just looked at the U of C choice, and they recommend the No. 6 bus or the Metra electric. These both go from north of the river--the bus goes south down State Street and the Metra has stations on Michigan Avenue at Randolph and further south. This might make staying downtown at somewhere like the Palmer House or Hilton a better choice than staying way north of the river.

The Hyde Parke Express is the #2 bus, which probably gets you closest to where you're going. Ideal hotel locations would be along Grand Ave. just north of the river, or in the Loop along State Street. The bus stops immediately outside the Renaissance, for example.

I wouldn't stay as far North as the Seneca.

If you want to take the Metra, definately stay in the Loop, as that train doesn't go north of the Randolph Street (Millenium Park) station.

Don't take the El unless you know where you're going--it's too far and in pretty urban areas.

Stay in the Loop, which is Chicago-speak for downtown. It is full of great sights like the Art Institute and the Navy Pier. Have fun!

I just checked some prices. Chicago can be very expensive on the weekends. They get a lot of trade shows in that fill up everything. It looks like everything downtown will be over $200. If you Priceline, it sounds like region 4, Millenium Park would be the best for the bus? If you don't mind going further you could add region 5, north Michigan Avenue. I would forget region 1, Greater Chicago. There will be some fleabags in that group. Anyone concur?

hmmm. the hotels do seem steep, so if I have to bite the bullet and pony up for $200+ per night, I want to make it good. I'm coming into Chicago to see Univ of chicago with my daughter on Friday, but then we have th whole weekend to poke around the city. I do want to be well-located and have taken the transportation issues in mind that have been mentioned here. does the river north area sound like a good choice? it seems a little funkier than the other nice areas (loop, magic mile, etc.), and it seems a tad closer to univ of chicago campus should we want to revisit the campus over the weekend? if those in the know agree that it's a good neighborhood for our needs, any hotels you recommend. Again, value would be good, but we understand it might add up to the $200+ range. At least at that cost, I want to make it nice!

and again, I'd like to avoid a car AND we've never been to Chicago.

kflodin,

Use priceline and you should get a great hotel for under $100 per night. The Hyatt Regency on E. Wacker, The Palmer House and the Chicago Hilton Towers would all be great hotels that you could take cabs or public transportation from to get to Hyde Park.

Check which weekend is the marathon, though. If you hit that, all bets are off for a reasonably priced hotel.

Kevin

I think River North is generally considered to be the area north of the Chicago River and west of Michigan Avenue. It would NOT be closer to the University campus, which is in Hyde Park. (I'm assuming your daughter is looking at undergraduate programs on the main campus, roughly 5700 South, and not anything at the Gleacher Center?)

River North would be a fine area for restaurants and entertainment, seeing the rest of the city over the weekend, etc. Actually, ALL of the areas--Loop, River North, Michigan Avenue--are within walking distance of each other. I'm not sure about currently, but many people in the past have used priceline and gotten great deals.

Kevin
Good point on the marathon. Yikes. I checked on-line and sure enough the marathon is that weekend (Sunday, 10/12, and we're there 10/10-13). I went on priceline and bit the bullet. I booked The Hyatt Regency for $252 a night. Given the marathon, I think that will have to do (it was among the best rates quoted in the centrally located neighborhoods we've been discussing), and it looks quite nice, so I'm sure we'll have a lovely time. I'm sure I'll be checking in on what to do/things not to miss when I catch my breath from this hotel search! Thanks, everyone.

I was doing priceline for that very weekend and didn't take something at 1/2 that right next to where you will be.

That's steep. Don't forget you have about 17% or more taxes added after that cost.

I wish I would have seen this thread sooner.

Have a good time- but don't judge Chicago by that weekend- because it is not a normal one.

I would triple check that your bus route isn't altered or detoured in any way if you are roaming on the 12th re transit, especially. Loop streets, some of them are closed completely.

My DIL ran two years ago and it was so mobbed that my son couldn't even get to the curb location to see her at any one point.

No car, don't bring a car here.

I would plan something inside or away from the mobs- maybe the Art Institute or Shedd.

Or, if it is beautiful that day, take in the race. You can watch the start from the overpass on Randolph and all of the runners will go right underneath you. Grab breakfast after the race has stated and places aren't crowded at all. Walk over to the base of the Sears Tower for a great view. Lunch in Chinatown is another great place to combine seeing the marathoners and a Chicago institution. Finish in Grant Park where you can see the excitement of the finish line.

Chicago is my favorite marathon and I have had a few friends run it. October weather in Chicago is usually great (until it rains on the trick-or-treaters).

Have fun,

Kevin

Wait, did you use the bidding option on priceline or just book one of their offered rates? If you didn't bid and you can cancel your Hilton, you might want to give bidding a try.

I tried to drive around the LA marathon once. Have you ever tried to drive around a marathon? I gave up.

yeah, the NY Marathon runs through my neighborhood here in Brooklyn, so I know how mangled a city can get on marathon day. But I so appreciate your suggestions of how to navigate the city that day and what we might do... we will not have a car, which was our inclination even before we knew it was marathon weekend. this is the only long weekend we can arrange to make a trip to the midwest to see schools in that region, so it is what it is.

As for the hotels... the bidding thing intimidated me. It appears that you get what you get once you commit without knowing what the hotel is. Given that it's marathon weekend, I figured rates would be up everywhere so the one we got was what we had to settle for. Stupid? Is it worth giving bidding a try? what if we hate what we get -- are we locked in?

I think if you stick to those two areas I told you about, I would give the bidding a try. I don't think there is a dump in that central area, but I could be wrong. Why don't you post a new thread about priceline bidding on chicago hotel areas and see if anyone has more advice to offer. I too have never used the bidding on priceline option. Very scary! But I have heard there are great deals to be found.

Don't know what the #2 Hyde Park Express is, but the #6 Jeffrey Express is the one we have always taken from the loop to Hyde Park. You can get off on Stoney Island a block from campus. Ask the driver.

In downtown, you catch it on State Street southbound. I believe it runs up to just south of the river on Michigan and then loops west to State, where you catch it on the way southbound. It runs frequently. You can get the schedule off the internet, I'm sure. The metra runs from Randolf St., which is further south. We used to take the train a long time ago, but only take the bus now. I think this is because the bus runs more frequently.

Yes, the No. 6 is the bus referenced on the University's website.

I have used Priceline for Chicago repeatedly over the years.

Quite frankly, I think it is too late to get a great deal, but maybe not a good deal. It might be worth trying if you are not locked into that Hyatt, and can cancel it with no charges.

This is what I do, others do differently from risk tolerance levels etc., and/or not wanting a bad location to where they're going. But once you win on Priceline/bidding that amount goes on your credit card immediately. So there is no cancellation or reason that you can withdraw. You have to understand that from the beginning.

If you are intimidated or don't understand what you are bidding for- than don't do it.

I always get good rooms exactly where I want to be for between $69 and $99 a night, regardless of what is in town. How I do it is too hard to describe in length here, and it is too close to 10/10 to do that well for a marathon weekend. But you might get much better than $252 for that length of stay, IMHO.

Anyway, if you have the Hyatt reservation made- and you can cancel it- you might want to try this.

There are other myriad ways but this is what I do. I will bid 4 star only and IMHO, Loop only to start. Priceline keeps changing the groups, but I think right now they are Loop, Michigan Ave/North of the River (anything other than that you do NOT want)-in two separate groups.

Just start with LOOP only and 4 star only. It will tell you something like this "a 4 star hotel in Chicago is $275 a night etc. etc.- maybe $375"- and when you bid $89 or something it will tell you, you are way too low. Ignore that, IMHO. It is too late in the game to bid REAL, real low- but maybe this late, start with about $119. If you fail up to $155 or so, and you are refused another try- THEN add the second (North River/Michigan Ave)category and try again.

You can venture to 3 star and still get nice, nice places, but honestly- I wouldn't do 3 star this late- because you don't sound "unfussy". I am "unfussy" and don't mind walking 10 blocks now and again either- but the 4 star are all so "Hyatt-like" that you wouldn't stand a chance of being bummed.

You can do a search on Fodors, right here for Priceline bidding tactics to learn more about the bidding sites that will give you current winners for 4 star and what people won them for- exact $$. But I think it is too late to get a $99 or $119 anyway- so if you do not want to spend the time reading those dense sites- you might want to just try it as I wrote it.

There are some of us who don't ever read bidding quote sites and win Priceline or hotwire rooms all the time. And the super priced bidding wins too, not the rote quoted rates as taken that appear on their facepage formats, either.

Good luck! I have won Intercontinental, Swissotel, Hotel Alegro, Burnham, Hyatt, Renaissance- all at different times. One time I paid $69 each for two nights when the same room on the spot was getting $405.

If you don't want to bet, and want straight line good deal prices Loop only-
www.hotwire.com - NOT cancellable www.quikbook.com- which are cancellable

I bet they are sky high this late in the game though.

My nephew graduated from U.of C. and then was a grade aid there for 2 years doing other reasearch. Right now he is in Germany and Italy traveling for a company he only works for part time.

U.of C. graduates are totally and forevermore the first people hired anywhere. Still.

That neighborhood there in Hyde Park is doable but you have to know EXACTLY where you are going. Visit the Regenstein and John Crerar Libraries if at all possible.

I will quickly do a few sites I know to see what it out there for a straight quote and post again if I find a good one.

I just did a quick search on
www.quikbook.com

This is available RIGHT now and is cancellable as well.

Tremont (nice little boutique hotel and I wish I would win this one once)100 E Chestnut -
Michigan Ave./Rush and not too far North at all
Tremont is $206 per night right now.

This is the kind of location that will make the other non-U.of C. days for shopping and for meals FABULOUS. I'm pretty sure Ditka's is right there too.

Also straight out flat $248 at the Hard Rock -LOOP location. Your daughter might like that better than the Hyatt.

That's just on quikbook without bidding at 7:15pm central time 9/13/08.

Tons (about 30) places show lots of vacancies yet. I'd bid for sure on Priceline and take a chance.

But I have a great risk tolerance and love being sent somewhere new- it's like an adventure to me. Stick with 4 star.

Found the best one yet, but it is a wee bit further North.

www.hotwire.com and this one is LIKE a bid but not a bid- not as tricky- but you don't know the name of the place and it IS totally locked in and on your credit card when you accept it. It's Michigan Ave./Streeterville 4 full stars plus a spa at $176 per night. You are going to have to take the bus to U.of C. anyway, and this is a fun spot too- not at all far from Loop anyway you look at it and maybe this would be GREAT for a Marathon weekend and not right in the muck of cheek to jowl crowds either.

I would either go for the Tremont or this one- if I was afraid of bidding.

hotwire and quikbook are super worthy to have your reservations "made"- I've never had a mess up.

Good stuff JJ5! Could you check the Priceline site for the OP and tell him exactly the terminology for your recommended areas? I think they did change them from what you wrote.

They are these designations:
#4 Area- Millenium Park, Grant Park, LOOP

#5 Area-North Michigan Ave- River North

I would do 4 star just on #4 first and then add #5 if that fails

It's too bad I didn't see this before she had made the $252 choice. I've never done that kind of choosing, so I'm not sure if it could be cancelled. When you get into the booking itself, if you are bidding it is always non-cancellable. But I'm not sure if that method, which is really just a straight rack rate price with maybe a 5 or 10% deduction for multiple days only, is cancellable the way she did it.

Nothing wrong with the Hyatt, but I think Tremont would be dishy for the daughter/friends, and also maybe the $176 with the spa and where it is (I looked at the map and that one would be a 10 on food and very close to bus anywhere going South- and I bet with a good map google you could even figure out which hotel it is before you even commit to it. It has all the 4 star features BUT a pool, but it also has a full spa and is close to MI Ave.

With all the added taxes, you are talking about saving in the ballpark of $300 to $400 just on the room alone. Shopping/meals- they could be OH so much better. LOL!

I think I might have just talked myself into going down the weekend after that one if I can get it for less than $100 per night.

Frankly, summer was MUCH higher, and I'm delighted at the straight rack rate prices on those sites I posted for Marathon weekend. The only "high" night that puts the total up so much actually, is Saturday. Sometimes it is Friday or Sunday that is that much or higher.

Tremont within that section near Ditka's would have numerous different eating choices for both bread and circuses. That one or Senaca, I would like to win sometime.

Chicago itself, in numerous areas is flooding tonight for the first time in many years. DesPlaines River up and into many homes, worse than 12 years ago.

You can do your Priceline research on bidding for travel.com to see which hotels have been won, the price, and the dates. This, along with all the great recommendations on this post should help you secure a nice hotel for less than the $252 @ the Hyatt.

wow JJ5, thank you so much for your incredibly detailed explanations. I am totally in grateful awe!! really! I just quickly checked in before I'm running out for a soccer game with daughter #2, but I'm going to print out your guidelines and see what happens. I will be brave, I will! I would be more adventurous if I knew the city at all, because while I'm not totally unfussy, being a New Yorker, I'm not afraid to poke around a city either. But I've never been to Chicago and I haven't had much time to closely research the city as a vacation choice since the schools are the main reason for the trip and the lack of knowledge has made me cautious. The Hyatt can be cancelled though ( i have to double check when I'm back at my desk), so if I can find some time this p.m. I'm going to give this a try. I'll keep you posted. Again, you've been invaluable. And nice to hear your thoughts on UofC, too!

and thanks KellieBellie, too.

Sorry, the website is biddingfortravel.com. It has always been accurate when I have secured hotels via Priceline or Hotwire.

JJ5, I owe you big time!!! I followed your advice and went on to Priceline bidding. I made sure the Hyatt $252/night was cancellable and I bid on 4-star hotels in the Loop area only for $119 a night and I got....(drumroll)... an acceptance at the Hyatt!!! So, I now have the same nights at the same hotel for more than half the price of my original reservation. I'm thrilled. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Holy cow! I love scoring huge travel deals like that!

See, yowza, isn't it worth it to take a chance??

You will be treated exactly like any other excellent guest at an excellent hotel. Your hotel also has an undergound that attaches it to the Swissotel (there is a view there at the Swissotel from the gym/women's area and gym/pool itself- where you can get a freebie view to the lake front all the way looking South- you can see the entire curve to Hyde Park and where your university visit will be-despite it being 50 to 60 blocks distance. Besides shops and restaurants and all kinds of venues down there in this walkway type of mall, it also leads to the River and Michigan Ave. entrances- and under the streets westward, I think-so if the marathon sidewalk density is obnoxious, you'll have a cut-through.

Honestly, it's karma. I'm half tempted to go down that very week now- 16 to 18th- just to do several museum related excursions.

You just seemed open to instruction, and many are not- have little tolerance and are fussy- mostly both.

It's so true that you will have LOTS more to spend now on the good stuff- and there's lots of that.

It will be an easy walk nearly everywhere downtown/loop/and all the way up to Watertower Place from where you are. My favorite places are all alone the Chicago River- for that very reason.

The Impressionists at the Art Institute, that group experience to see them one upon the other- it's worth the fee even if you only have an hour or two.

Also, if at all possible and you have any time try to see Wicked. You can walk easily to any of these.

I'm so glad you got a decent price this late. Good for you for taking a chance.

U.of Chicago is like no other place. Also its schedule for quarters, class projection toward "major" etc. are quite unusual. It is also extremely, extremely diverse and at the same time not about "stuff".

If she actually ends up there for school, more power to her. It's a road start that can lead to virtually anywhere.

Thanks for posting your result. Give us a nice trip report, if you can.

JJ5, thanks for all your suggestions (and to all the other fodorites). We are very excited and searching and inquiring as we build our itinerary. I will definitely do a trip report. I found doing those reports for the Fodors community has been a wonderful way to save the memories (and resources) for us, too!

We took our son to U of C last month for a visit and had a great time in chicago. One thing you might like that we did was go on a Seagway tour. We covered a lot of area and touring in that fashion was a lot of fun for a teenager. Plus if I can do a Seagway and not fall off, anyone can do it. If you want the company name that we used, I can get it. Be sure to visit Millinium Park, we really enjoyed the fountains and "bee" or "cloud". Shopping along Michigan Avenue was also a lot of fun. We ate pizza at Lou Malnotti's (check spelling of last word) and Graham Elliots plus we got popcorn at Garetts (again check spelling). Go on chowhound.com for restaurant recommendations.

JJ5, I hate to disappoint you AND kflodin, but most of the Impressionist art from AIC is on loan to the Kimbell Art Museum here in Fort Worth- thru 11/2. I know, 'cause I've got tickets for this weekend.

(Which is kinda funky, as Chicago is my hometown AND I was born at a U of C hospital many moons ago!)

But, kflodin, it's not like you won't find plenty of other stuff to do! My first choice would be a visit to the top of the Hancock building to take in the Lake shore. And next I'd head to the Field Musuem of Natural History. Hands down, one of the best natural history museums in the world. (And worth the trip just to see "Sue".)

A MUST SEE-DON'T MISS- the architectural tour on the Chicago river. A+++++++

Have a great time! If you don't find Chicago one of the greatest cities in the US you've ever visited- I'll eat my hat!

Paula

PS Please realize that Chicago is MUCH more compact than NY. It's a large city- but it's all in one place.

sarge56, I was born at the very same hospital!

Is the 56 your age or when you were born or neither - we could have been roomies....

Believe me, whatever they have away on tour, there is still eons left to see. Last time at the Art Institute, I never got out of the Renaissance and went for another showing altogether. Also, their shop is the BEST for female present buying- it is fab. I use the online portion frequently. All my note cards and everything I use has Renoir or "The Diner" or some of the others from A.I. on it.

When I go in Oct. I plan to see the new Historical near Michigan Ave.- a little North- because I want to see the new Riverview related memorabilia. Riverview was beyond description- nothing like that exists in the USA today. Liability would be TOTALLY prohibitive.

In fact, you have inspired me. I'm going to get a group of about 8 to 11 of us old time friends and get us all to do "Riverview" together.

Daley is looking, within a bankrupt budget and with NO legistlature- to get the Navy Pier huge ferris wheel replaced with one much bigger and with HEATED gondolas. LOL! Only in Chicago!

And they wonder where the speculative and risky to the hilt futures application of credit and funds comes from? LOL. LOL! - Not from the Streets and Sans. people, that's for sure.

kflodin, with all honesty, I have to mention that I've seen several reviews and posts on other travel websites about the Hyatt Regency overbooking.

I hope that everything works out well for you.

If that is true, it can be averted by showing up on the early side.

Orcas- born at the U of C Lying-In Hospital, May of 1956. And I don't think we were roomies, as- as the name indicates- I was "rooming" with my mommy! (From what she told me, a very new and shocking idea at the time! Imagine- sharing your room with your hatchling!) Of course, I was number 6 and she had 5 kids at home aged 13 months to 4 years (2 sets of twins less than 12 months apart!), and she said she didn't WANT me in the room- as she needed to get as much sleep as she could before she took me home!

I'm the other 56, so was long gone by the time you were born in 56. I didn't know "Lying In" meant our poor Moms had to be with us when we were born. I'll have to ask my Mom about that. My brother was born there as well.

I was born at "Lying In" in 1948. I didn't stay with my Mother, nor did any of the women that were with her have their babies with them. It might have been different later. But I heard my Mother's story about 600 times in detail- as the "program" then was to stay in the hospital for LONNNNNG periods of time- not to walk/ move either. She "got to" DANGLE her legs after 3 days (lol) and she stayed in that institution the "normal" period for a vaginal birth at that time, for both I and my brother too in 1950- and she stayed TEN days for each.

TEN days- she said by the time she got home, she was so used to laying around that she couldn't stay up or walk- was pooped in 10 minutes.

Oh, how things have changed.

You had your choice about the nursery care/ baby care and at that time few mothers nursed and fewer wanted them with them. My Mom nursed but I went to some nursery- and she said one day I was MIA for about 2 feedings and she never did find out why.

That place was HUMONGOUS, you know- and it also had some considerable number of screw ups re switched babies etc.

We went from that to having to "get out" after a Caesarian in 36 hours, for awhile there. Women in the USA for birthing and birth control have been used like guinea pigs to the max.

I had 2 surgeries with 2 of my births and still never was in a hospital for more than 3 days. And now they have you "walked" almost at once just because of clots etc.

Someone needs to write a good book about that place- during the boomer birth years. My Mom said the "nursing" lesson was hysterical-a real trip- and a cleaning woman from the Phillipines solved her horrendous impacted breast milk problem (she had fever and nipples were split- red hard spots- all the worst agony symptoms of being on fire and ready tof bust- hard as hot rocks to the tough)- by getting some of her just laundered cleaning towels- soaking them in hot, hot water in the shower and then carrying them to her and laying them on her breasts with all of her 110 lb weight behind them. It worked. She said the nurses didn't have a clue.

It was called "Lying In" because that was the term used to describe that particular kind of agenda birthing experience- it was coupled by strict periods of rest and recovery until the uterus / organs returned to a certain size.

Your poor Mom with all those kids, probably got the only rest of her life there- and it was probably her only birth control too- it sounds like.

Sorry for the completion of hijacking the thread. sorry, kflodin- but I just had to tell them about that place.

There are so many of us born there that if I got the book going- if one of two of those people bought one, it would be a best seller.

I know a writer and don't you think it could be great?

Kind of like a "Devil in White City" but with a baby switcheroo and some detective work on someone's identity as the side story to the secrets held in that place. There has to be 10,000 at least.

JJ5, I can't account for your mom's experiences there. My mother was an RN, so I suspect she may have had different experience.

She DID tell me she was there 10 days and that it was the first hospital that would let you have the baby in your room.

Now, my Mom's been gone 20 years so I can't go back and clarify.

But I suspect it would be fun to learn a little history about the place. How bizarre that 3 of us reading this post were born there. That is just too wierd!

Paula

PS My mother was a good Catholic girl. Guess she and my father just didn't have "rhythm". She figured it out after #7 came 18 months after me. She demanded a hysterectomy and got one... along with an ex-communication from the Catholic diocese.

It's always been a "conscious" part of faith, and has never been the determining factor within the religion- quite different. Lord, is that interpretation just plain mis-interpretted by her and by you too. Excommunication is something the pope does to kings or persons of power per temporal examples of "power" and control- when they disobey. LOL!

In my entire 60 years, I have never, ever heard of any person who didn't follow the birth control "rules" being excommunicated.

Your mother could never have been "excommunicated" because she had an hysterectomy. If that was her understanding of any confession or chiding by any priest anywhere, personally to her, it is a totally wrong message and was a completely misunderstood interpretation.

And at the farthest reaches of what "diocese" interpretation/ rule is to individuals that are not "religious order", that is just not possible. Now or ever.

Where or when have you gotten your ideas about the "legality" of censureship or excommunication within Catholicism? Honestly, that's exactly the precise kind of thing that gets circulated through generations as "true" that is absolutely not.

Your Mom was dissed at the prospect of a chiding or some direct confessional priest to Catholic conversation and refused the Church because of the emnity felt-believe me, she had a right to feel that way and probably 3 out of 10 did then. But she was NOT communicated for having a hysterectomy.

Even if she was truly rigid or rules within conscious herself made her feel excluded because of "attitude", that wouldn't have been a mortal sin in the first place- that kind of operation especially (temporary birth control either). If you wanted to be top religious connected and felt the need to be reconciled/ live the letter of the dot the i's and cross the t's - then she herself could have always made a confession of "motive" and she wouldn't even have had any sacremental "blame" or any dis at all.

Believe me, I know about that hospital, and that's what the "Lying In" part of the name means. You don't need any other sources to ask. It's not about having a baby in the room, but about the length of time and method to post-partum care.

It's not an accident that there are 3 of us born there. I read somewhere, a LOOOOONGG time ago that majority IL residents of a certain age, were born there. It was a massive, massive operation.

All of my second cousins, my first cousins and half the people I know from the Southside of Chicago- were born there or Little Company of Mary in Evergreen Park. They would have 25 or more labor rooms all filled at the same time and have you in the hallways. When my Mom had my sister, we got to go and see her looking out the window. 10 days is a llooooong time to little kids.

JJ5-

Perhaps my attempt to be succinct in explaining my mother's excommunication for "having a hysterectomy" was misleading. Obviously, it was much more involved than just the act of having a medical procedure.

However, I think it highly presumptuous of you to make the statements you made without knowing anything about my mother, her situtation or her history.

"Trust me" when I tell you that my mother was indeed excommunicated and was informed that she could not receive the benefits of the sacraments following said excommunication. That was in 1959.