Nora and Dan, R.I.P.

Newspaper clippings from 1935 and 1952.

Update: Mom assures me her mother Nora was 50, not 48, when she died. "I've seen her baptismal certificate and I'm sure it wasn't issued two years before she was born." Here's a game for everyone: Name the "30" grandchildren born before grandpa Dan died on 9/11/1952 (assuming this news article is more accurate than the report of grandma Nora's death). And the two greatgrandchildren?

Wedding Bells

1947: The twenty-year-old twins have a double wedding, Joan to Jack, Jean to Rich. Among those in attendance: big sister bridesmaids Betty and Eileen, flower girl Marianne and ring bearer Cy.

1972: Siblings gather to celebrate the twins' Silver Wedding Anniversary: Noreen, Eileen, Agnes, Jean, Ted, Joan, Mary, Betty, Josephine.

Irish in Wisconsin

Maureen, Kathy, and friends at Irish Fest in Milwaukee

Ah, that feels good.

Baptismal Reunion

Birthday girl Beth with godparents Marge and Dan.

Candles on the Staircase

Staying up late: Margie, Nora, Marianne, Cy

Traffic Stoppers

Josephine, Noreen, and Agnes

Green Derby

Josephine and part of her clan pause while exiting a St Paddy's party to patiently pose for the camera.

Postcards from Forties Ireland

In the summer of 1947, Dan made his first and only trip back to the country of his birth. He sent these postcards home to daughters Mary and Peg:

While in County Kerry, Dan visited the parents of his son-in-law Pat: Tom and Mary Carr. Here's Mary sitting in front of her ancient farmhouse.

Ninety-five

Above, oldest son Ted, born 95 years ago today. Below, a more recent photo (a mere half century old) with son Joe and wife Catherine.

Eighty

Top to bottom: Betty, Jean, and Joan. Happy 80th Birthday, aunt Betty. Keep flashing us that million dollar grin.

Mass Cards

This afternoon, Mom was going through some papers of her mom's cousin Rose O'Shea, and found three generations of funeral mass cards.

Mary is mom's mother's mother, Mary Coffey O'Leary. Abby is Mary's sister, Abby Coffey O'Shea, Rose's mom. And here they are in July 1917, sisters Mary and Abby:

Mary's daughter Nora died ten days before Christmas, after celebrating her fiftieth birthday and silver wedding anniversary earlier in the year. Her twins were eight years old. The remaining card is for Nora's daughter Peg.

Seventeen

Taleese shares a hardy laugh with her aunt Beth.

And a quiet moment with her cousin David.

Backyard Portrait

Growing up on the West Side of Chicago: Papa Dan holds Nonie (Noreen), Mama Nora holds Josephine, born Christmas day 1918. Standing around are Mary, Peg (Margaret), John and Ted (Timothy). Five more children would be arriving later.

Easter Toddlers

Jacob passes an Easter sobriety test while grandma Kathy and aunt Jean look on. Emily and Lucas aren't sure what to make of it all.

Teen Daughters

Nora stands between daughters Josephine and Agnes.
Wishing everyone a happy Easter.