One would think that an interest in family history would mean that I keep in constant touch with my own family. Actually, I am not one to spend a long time talking on the phone. Thank God for email, otherwise I wouldn't keep in touch with my family at all.
I think what amazes me most about the O'Connor family chain letter is how well written they are. Far and away from our current method of email and texting shortcuts. It also amazes me how diverse each of the brothers and sisters are. Over the next few days, I will introduce each of the siblings.
Sarah (Sadie), the eldest, more formerly known as Sister Mary Rosella, had been the first to leave the family nest in Lima, Ohio. At the age of 20, she entered the Order of the Sisters of Charity. When the chain began, she was teaching at St. Mary's School in Lansing, Michigan, and there she remained until 1952 when she was reassigned to St. Leo's School in Detroit. Throughout these ten years, she was content and happy with the activity of her teaching duties and with the life of her religious community. Ye she was able to visit regularly with her brothers and sisters and to participate vigoorously and with enthusiasm in the life of her family.
Francis (Shan), the eldest brother, had shouldered the heavy responsibilities of the family since the death of his father and had followed in his father's footsteps in the field of insurance. In 1942, he was Assistant Superintendent of Insurance for the State of Ohio and was living in Columbus with his wife Carolyn, his daughter, Nan, 22, and his son Donald, 20. In 1943, Shan became associated with the Union Continental Life Insurance Company and in 1946 moved to Youngstown, Ohio. During this period covered by these letters, Nan joined the Air Service Command at Wright Field in 1943; became Society Editor of the Ohio State Journal in 1944; went to Florida in 1948 to become active in Catholic educational work, and in 1952 was preparing to become a postulant of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. During the same period, Don entered the Army in 1942; spent the war years of 1943 - 1945 in England and France; returned to take a position with General Electric at Syracuse, New York; married in November 1951; and became a father in September 1952.
So there are the first two (of ten). All of the rest are just as diverse and led really interesting lives. I guess that is why blogging interests me. These people were just documenting their everyday lives--lives that 60 years later, I find truly fascinating. Maybe 60 years from now, someone will find my day to day life interesting.
Let's see, what have I done of interest in the last couple of days? I saw Live Free, Die Hard yesterday (pretty good movie), I went to work today and now I am doing this. Maybe it will get more interesting. ;)
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