Rest in Peace, Beautiful Margie

My Brother, My Pal, My Conscience - You are with me always

Today on the 3rd anniversary of my brother's passing on to eternity, I feel a bit like the little girl in this photo taken in 1947, i.e., annoyed and somewhat peeved.   How could you leave me, Charlie? Charlie, on the other hand, is admiring the beautiful bride, as he looks up in wonder.  I hope today, somewhere in the great beyond, he is looking up in wonder. I feel his spirit strongly but it doesn't necessarily take away my feelings of annoyance.  I want to feel his hug and touch his hand.

I recently came across a "make-believe" letter that Charlie probably wrote as a school assignment.  We are together in the letter and it seems so right.  I feel so proud and happy that he though enough to "take me" to Grand Forks, North Dakota, with him!  I had to laugh when he asks, "Did Meg fall on her head anymore?"  Was Meg in the habit of falling on her head?  I also smiled when I saw that he signed a letter to his Mama ( a person, as he once said, he'd known from an early age) with "Yours Truly" rather than "Love".  I can only imagine that this was part of the criteria for his school assignment or possibly his dry, ever present sense of humor.  Here is the letter copied in his own handwriting for your reading pleasure.  Nice penmanship for a little boy, huh?

 And finally, a photo of the wonderful man.  I love you Charlie.   I have loved you from day one and will love you forever.  Your sister, Mary

Joseph Thomas O'Donnell's 1st Communion

What an adorable little boy!  Joseph Thomas O'Donnell was the 5th child born to Margaret (Coleman) and TJ O'Donnell.   Joe was born on July 23rd 1922 in Brooklyn, NY.  He was the first boy and my mother told me that the family was thrilled beyond words to finally have a son after 4 girls (not that there is anything wrong with girls, mind you).  Joe married
Marie G. Murphy (DOB: Feb. 7, 1925) (her parents were Mary MacKenzie and Edward Murphy) at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Brooklyn, NY. 
Joe and Marie have two daughters, Sharon Anne (Robert F. Smith) and Diane Marie (John J. O'Rourke).
Joe worked for Chase Manhattan Bank.  For his service to his country, Joe received the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, Silver and Bronze Stars, etc.  During WW II, he fought in, and survived, the Battle of the Bulge (Belgium).  He gave his life in service to his country on October 13, 1951 when, as a First Lieutenant, he was killed as he courageously led his men up Heartbreak Ridge in Korea.   There never was a sadder day in the life of the O'Donnell Family.

Frank & Nellie (Cotter) O'Donnell's firstborn

This is a photo of James O'Donnell, Frank O'Donnell and Nellie Cotter O'Donnell's 1st born child.  I believe he died as a young adult but I am not clear on the circumstances of his death.
He certainly is a good looking guy and he reminds me of many of his siblings. 

Annie & Thomas O'Donnell with son, TJ - my grandfather

May Coleman Geary and Margaret Coleman O'Donnell

 

This is an old photo I found at my Dad's house. The arrow points to May Coleman Geary

and although it is not marked I believe the woman who is seated second from the left is my Grandmother, Margaret Mary Coleman O'Donnell.  Not sure if there are any other family members or people we know in this photo.  I don't know where or when it was taken.  Any other Coleman family descendants know anything about this photo?  

Johanna Kispert & Jacob Fries - Poppi's Grandparents

This is the wedding photo of my father's (Charles A. Fries, Sr.) paternal grandparents - Jacob Fries and Johanna Kispert.  The only other identified person in this photo is the guy standing next to the groom. He is the brother of the bride and his name was Joseph Kispert.  Jacob & Johanna were the parents of my Grandpa Joseph Fries.  I heard that Jacob came over from Laufach, Germany with his parents when he was 9 years old.   I do not know where he met his wife, nor do I know what nationality she was although she does not look German to me.  She is wearing a dark wedding dress which appeared to be the style in the late 1800's.   She almost looks like she could be pregnant but I don't think things like that happened back then.  But, then again I remember our family doctor, Dr. William Carrington (he was a very interesting, entertaining character from Claredon Ave in Brooklyn) saying that first babies only took a 7 months gestational period rather than 9!   Certainly whatever the case, no one looks the least bit happy.   Did you ever wish you could get into a time machine and go back just for one day every once in awhile.  I guess that's why the movie, "Back to the Future" was a success.

Speaking of Dot - Her 1st Communion Photo

This photo was in a folder labeled
Rappaport Studio
1431 Broadway
Bklyn, N. Y.
On the back of the folder in my Mom's (Rita O'D Fries) handwriting it says
Dorothy O'Donnell.
Dorothy looks so sweet and so pretty and I can see a bit of all
the O'Donnell siblings in her face. I spoke to my Aunt Margie O'Donnell Foulkes' daughter, Lynn Foulkes Fischer ( my Godchild) this evening and I would like to add some history that her Mother, Margie, shared with her. Because Margie was eight years younger than Dot and Dot had to be sent upstate New York to residential care at Craig Colony at a relatively young age, Margie didn't really get to know Dot very well. Margie also dreaded the long car ride required when the family went to visit Dot. By this point in her life, Dot was rather sickly and probably heavily medicated and I can only imagine a bit scary for a young, sensitive child such as Margie to witness. Also sometimes Margie was told that she reminded family members of Dot when Dot was younger. When Dot died at Craig Colony, she was waked in a room in a house in Friendsville, Pa. which I believe very likely was her Grandma Hannah Coleman's house which was located in Friendsville and was the place where Margaret Coleman O'Donnell and her children would vacation every summer. My Aunt Margie remembered the frightening experience of having to sleep upstairs in the same house where her dead sister's body was laid out. Dot was buried in the Friendsville Cemetery down the street from the Catholic Church and her Grandma Hannah Coleman's house. Possibly, some family members might like to take a trip together "to the country" to see the places important to the Coleman-O'Donnell Family!

Dot & Anne O'Donnell's Confirmation Photo

For those who may not know, TJ & Margaret O'Donnell had a daughter named, Dorothy Regina O'Donnell. She was  their third child (after Rita & Maureen) and was born on Dec. 7, 1919 - almost a year to the day before her sister, Anne Rose O'Donnell, who was born on Dec. 10, 1920.  The two sisters were very close.  Dot suffered from some type of seizure disorder - origin unknown - although there was speculation that it might have been caused by a fall from a ladder in gym class or as a result of being gravely ill after experiencing a ruptured appendix.  Dot's seizure condition became uncontrollable and she was eventually went to live at a facility in upstate New York known as Craig Colony.   Dot died on June 2, 1942 at the age of 23.  Although Anne was heartbroken when she lost her beloved sister,  she "carried" Dot in her heart her entire life and was looking forward to meeting her again in heaven.

Sharon & Bob Get married - How Many People Can You Identify?

My Mom Saved Marie Murphy O'Donnell's birthday card

I dare say, Marie was very close to the O'Donnell
Sisters and they felt the same about Marie.

Sharon O'Donnell's birth is announced!

Letter to Eleanor Kile Coleman 24 Feb 1991

I didn't have the energy to re-type this
- hope you are able to read it ok.  My mother was a fantastic genealogy
researcher.  I wish I had all the stuff she worked so hard on.
Don't know where all these files are or even how to use them.  She researched back to the early 1600's - Amazing.
I never realized how smart she was until she was gone. 

I Was Rotting Away in the Basement

I found my HS Graduation photo in the basement at 35 Ledgewood Dr - water stained and moldy.   I guess life does that to us!  For the record I graduated in June 1962 from Our Lady of Wisdom Academy in Ozone Park, Queens.

My brother, Marty, was in much better shape.  His photo was plastic- coated and he looks as good as new.  He graduated in 1964 or 1965 (I'll have to ask him) from Newtown High School (Elmhurst, Queens, NY).   What a handsome guy.  Looks like a movie star, doesn't he?

G. (George) Francis Coleman & Hannah C. Byrne Marriage License

This is the Marriage License of my Great-Grantparent's G. (George ) Francis Coleman and Hannah C. Byrne 

This photo of Hannah Byrne Coleman was taken on October 19, 1940 at my Parent's Wedding (Charles A. and Rita O'Donnell Fries)

The Old Friendsville Church

 

This picture was in an old frame among the memorabilia.  I took it out of the frame to scan it and on the back is written M. O'Donnell.  This is a picture of the original Friendsville, PA church which was built in 1831.  The old church was located where the current Friendsville cemetery is located.  This is the cemetery where my Grandma Margaret (Coleman) and Grandpa Thomas Joseph O'Donnell are buried.   Dorothy O'Donnell and Anne R. O'Donnell are buried on either side of their parents.  Many, many years ago the pastor of the church died after falling from a tree in this cemetery.  I think the church burned down but possibly another family member can confirm or dispute this information. 

Eventually the Friendsville church was reconstructed down the road and across the street where it still stands today.   My Great Grandma Hannah (Byrne) and Great Grandfather, G. Frank Coleman were married in the "new" Friendsville Church on April 27th, 1886 at 11 A.M.This photo was taken on their wedding day.  Back in those days it was customary for the bride to wear a dark dress. My Great Grandma Hannah had 8 children - 4 boys and 4 girls.  My grandmother, Margaret Mary Coleman O'Donnell was their first child.  Hannah was pregnant with her eighth child, Kathleen, (Kathleen eventually married Maurice Fitzgerald and for many years they owned a general store in Friendsville) when her husband died of a blood clot after suffering a broken leg from an accident on the farm (slipped on ice, I believe).   It was Good Friday and Great Grandpa was 49 years old at the time of his death.  Hannah raised the eight children on her own (she never remarried) ----- come to think of it who would want to marry someone with eight kids!!  She said that she had to work so hard that her middle name was "Work" i.e., Hannah Work Coleman.  She was present at my parent's wedding (Charlie & Rita (O'Donnell) Fries) on Oct. 19, 1940.  I believe she died in 1943.

The reception was held at 3PM at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Byrnes, (my great, great grandparents) who owned a farm in Friendsville.  The farm is no longer standing but my mother pointed out the site to me on several occasions when we took our little trips to "the country".

Fr. Tomas Burns, Maryknoll Missioner Extraordinaire

 I discovered this photo in a box of photos and memorabilia from my father's house.   On the back it says "Tommy Burns (Bobby's brother) in my mother's handwriting.  
Tommy Burns is a Maryknoll Missioner who has spent over 40 years as a missioner in Peru.  The Peruvian people have become his family and Peru is where he appears to be most at home.  When I met him many years ago he was studying to become a Maryknoll missioner.    I was dating his slightly older (i.e., Irish twins) brother, Bobby, and also knew his slightly younger brother, Kenny.   At the time, their only sister, Kathy, was just a little girl.  I remember her fondly.   The family lived in a small apartment in Jackson Heights, Queens.  I found it amazing that the 3 brothers were 6'3", 6'4" and 6'5" while their parents were both about 5'7".   I remember that his mother was a very sweet, lovely lady and I liked her very much.   One year (probably 1965 -66)  Bobby took me out for New Year's Eve and when he picked me up he asked if I minded if we went back to his apartment in Jackson Heights to get his brother who was home from the seminary for Christmas vacation.  I was a little surprised by the request but I said "sure, that's fine with me".  I remember how nice it felt to  drive along in Bobby's car while I sat in the middle between two tall, dark and handsome young men.   We went to his friend's house for a party.  I have always enjoyed doing this sort of thing,  meeting people and visiting with them in informal, relaxed settings.  I preferred this to a fancy nightclub or show.   That New Year's Eve, I sat on the couch next to Tommy while he shared his dreams for his future and I remember being amazed that such a young man - not much more than a teenager - had such remarkable ambitions to do the work of God.  It seemed so loving and generous.  In my mind I actually questioned whether he would really follow through with this ambitious goal or whether he would eventually throw in the towel and take an easier path for himself.   Well, he persevered and this June (19-22) at the 2014 Maryknoll Affiliates Conference I was privileged to meet some of Tomas' "family" from Peru.   This photo below was taken on June 20th at Maryknoll.

This photo was taken on June 22, 2014 - Father Tomas' friends from Peru.  Carlos, Lucia, Raul & Martha

Richard Rohl's thoughts about God. I like what he shares here.

Personal and Transpersonal

Mature believers eventually move toward a  transpersonal notion of God as presence itself, consciousness itself, pure Being, the very Ground of Being, God with us, and God in all things—and yet many of these very same people frequently find it helpful, if not necessary,  to still relate to God through the intimate sharing of one trusting self to another. My only question would be, “Why not?” I believe it takes two to love—a giver and a receiver. You really cannot fully give yourself, fall in love with, or surrender to a concept, an energy, a force, or even to enlightenment as an idea. Persons love persons, and the brilliance of Judeo-Christianity is that it keeps the whole spiritual life intensely personal in this very rich sense, and yet also moves beyond it  (“Transcend and Include” is the big principle here). The personal God revealed in both the scriptures and the Perennial Tradition makes known a divine nature that is seductive, self-disclosing, and immensely self-giving to those who are interested.  This experience of “overflow” invites us into more freedom than most of us are even ready for, along with intimacy and real friendship.   Such a relationship deeply empowers  anyone who engages with it. For me, it really comes down to this:  the individuals I know who are most  genuinely happy and also fruitful for the world invariably relate to God in a way that is deeply personal, intimate, and almost conversational. Yet these same persons would be the first to admit and recognize that their personal God is also transpersonal and sometimes impersonal, and “the one in whom we all live, and move, and have our being”  (Acts 17:28), and, finally, beyond all names for God. God is humbly recognized as beyond any of our attempts to domesticate, understand, or control the Mystery. All names for God are “in vain.” Adapted from Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi, pp. 237-238, 239, 245-246 Gateway to Silence: I am a hole in a flute that the Christ’s breath moves through—listen to this music.     —Hafiz

"Our" Birds flew away this evening

The photo was taken on 7-8-14
This evening, July 11, 2014, (by the way Happy Birthday, dearest Maureen) before dinner, I brought a step stool and my camera to the geranium plant on our front porch.  I had taken a few photos just the other day of a bird's nest inside the plant.  There were four baby birds in the nest and they looked so cute.  They had their eyes opened but they didn't move as I pulled back the leaves to get a better look at them and to take their photograph.
About a week or two before Bob and I noticed that a bird flew out of the plant whenever we opened the front door.  Shortly after our discovery, Connor and I got the step stool and took a peek and saw some tiny little eggs in the nest.  Connor commented that one of the eggs had a crack in it.  From then on I was ever so careful whenever I watered the plant.  I did not want to disturb the nest or drown the babies!
Tonight, I got the step stool out of the mudroom, set it up right next to the plant and then grabbed my camera ready for a photo shoot.  Low and behold the birds were all snug as a bug in a rug, so I pulled back the leaves to get a better photograph.  What a shock when the mother bird took flight and the  four baby birds followed right behind her.  I was so frightened that they would nosedive into the ground but they followed their Mom and I watched in amazement as they soared through the air, up higher and higher until they reached the rather large trees across the street from our house.  I imagine this was probably their first flight, but they did a great job.  It was a once in a lifetime experience for me, and although I hope I didn't make them leave home before they were ready, I enjoyed being a witness to this miracle of life.  Bob and I looked into the nest before we went upstairs to our bed for the night and the nest was empty.   I guess they are gone for good.  I wonder whether they met up again in another tree or whether their relationship is over. 

In case you didn't find him

Can you find TJ O'Donnell in this photo?

This is an undated photo but as far as I can tell it is from the NYPD.  I am certain that all family members will be able to tell which guy is TJ.  Of course he is the best looking guy by far - not that I am prejudiced in any way.

• I also came across rather detailed notes of TJ's work history written in his own hand which states that he worked for Thomas O'Donnell (that was his father) from 1900 to 1906. 

• He left to accept a position at Binghamton State Hospital - Charles G. Wagner Supervisor, from October 1906 to May 1907.  He states his reason for leaving this job as "to accept position on Brooklyn Heights R.R. Co."

• The next job is listed as a "Conductor" for the Brooklyn Heights Railroad Co. on the Brooklyn Bridge(Badge No. 1084)(in Brooklyn , NY) from May 1907 to August 1908.  His Supervisor is listed as E.F. Reeves.  He states his reason for leaving this job "left to accept position at St. Joseph, Pa." 

• The next job is listed as "Farmer" St. Joseph, Pa from August 1908 to April 1909 and his supervisor is listed as Thomas O'Donnell (which by the way is his Dad).  He states that his reason for leaving this job was "To accept position at Binghamton State Hospital, Binghamton, NY. "

•  The next job is listed as "Attendant" at the Binghamton State Hospital in Binghamton, NY from April 1909 to Nov 1909.  He states his reason for leaving "to accept position as Patrolman on Aqueduct.

• The next job is listed as "Patrolman on Aqueduct Shield no. 125,  at the Board of Water Supply City of New York, Municipal Building, NYC.  States Aqueduct Patrolman Nov 1909 to July 1915 and his reason for leaving this job is listed as "Completion of work".

It surprised me to see that my grandfather went to work in Brooklyn, NY from 1907 to 1908 and then returned to the farm in St. Joseph's Pa, from 1908 until 1909.  He also worked two different times at Binghamton State Hospital (Oct 1906 to May 1907 - a period of 7 months) and again from (April 1909 to Nov 1909 -another period of 7 months)

Mother and Child - Dec. 31, 1977

I remember this evening well.  It was New Year's Eve, December 31st 1977 (soon to be 1978)and Bob and I were just about ready to leave for a New Year's Eve party at Maureen and Frank Seier's house in another part of Hicksville, Long Island.  The photo was taken at Marty & Donna's house on Sunnyfield Rd.   If I remember correctly Marty & Donna were having a few friends over to their house to celebrate New Year's Eve and they had offered to babysit for Brian for us.   He was all ready for bed and I imagine I tried to get him to sleep before we left.   The party at Frank and Maureen's was very nice.  I spent quite a long time sitting and talking to Frank's twin brother, Joe Seier.  I am not sure if he had a date that night but he was still single and was "finding his way' and needed to talk.  The next day, Brian's Aunt Diane stopped in for a short visit since she was on Long Island for the holiday.  I was so proud when Brian called me "Mama" in front of her.   She smiled and said, that's right Brian, I know she is your Mama.  I had waited a long time to be a mother and my dream had finally come true.

Charles A. Fries, Sr. and "his" pony

Isn't he adorable?  He also reminds me a lot of my grandson, Connor, which is impossible of course but you could have fooled me.