Mother’s Day 1959

May 10th, 1959…mother’s day.  A beautiful young wife (from Ireland) and her movie star handsome American husband were ready to welcome their first born into the world.  At about 5:30 am (or so the story goes), this beautiful young wife became a mother for the first time to a bouncing 9 lb baby girl.  The story is also told that this baby girl was born already lifting up her head because she was about a month overdue.  The doctor said, “Well, Josephine, say hello to your month old newborn.” They named her Kelly (after her grandmother O’Kelly in Ireland).  The rest is history.  This year, her birthday falls on Mother’s Day yet again, and I have to say it makes her a little sad.

Happy mother’s day mom from your very first Mother’s Day present.  I surely do miss you.  “I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I’m living, my mommy you’ll be.”

Dear Mother

As I remember you today

I reflect on tales of the motherland

From folklore of headless dog spirits

To the meaning of the shamrock and the Trinity

A cottage in which 11 children grew

In a land the beauty of which I have never seen

I remember the music, the dancing of the jig

The tales of the leprechaun and his pot of gold

I think of the courage it took to leave your family

To come to a strange land and start anew

The strength it took to have 10 children of your own, yet bury 3

The stern hand with which you raised us

Was also the gentle hand that guided us with love

The firm voice that called our names down the line

Could be soft and comforting at any moment

In our big house filled with love, and lots of children

I think how you truly came to this country with nothing

And really did achieve everything

And you carried yourself with grace and dignity while doing so

All these things and more I remember

As I remember you today

Dear Mother

My mother

My mother was born  in County Limerick, Ireland.  All her paperwork says she was born the 16th of March, 1934, but she would tell us she was born on St Patrick’s day.  Mother was one of 11 children born to my grandparents.  Tonight I look at some of her paperwork, and wanted to share some bits of history.

She came to this country in November 1955 aboard the Queen Mary, (a trip she would tell us took 2 weeks). Her Declaration of Intention issued by the United States Dept. of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service was issued in the State of New Jersey, County of Ocean, and dated the 5th of April, 1957.  This is the declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States.

Mother initially was a nanny in New Jersey when she arrived in this country and eventually, joined the WAC (Women’s Army Corps) and served as an LPN.    While serving, she met a young man on a blind date on the 14th of January, 1958.   In her little pages from what I call her “Harry Diary”…she writes…”I went out on a blind date tonight, was I surprised!  My date turned out to be real nice”….Then on the 5th  of April, 1958 she writes “Wonderful day.  I am so very happy.”  That man turned out to be my dad.    My folks married on the one year anniversary of the signing of her declaration of intention.

Her installation clearance record  is dated the 22nd of July, 1958 and her efficiency rating was excellent.  She received her honorable discharge on the 28th of July, 1958.  Her highest civilian education level was 8 yrs elementary.  You see, back when she was a child in Ireland, the kids got pulled out of school to go to work.  She passed her GED test for High School equivalency in 1957.  Her rank in the WAC was PFC (E-3) (T) and her specialty was 910.00 Med Corpsman.

My mother became a United States citizen on the 25th of June, 1971.  That was a big day at our house.

My parents had 9 children.  I am the oldest, and was born on Mother’s Day, the 10th of May, 1959.

My mother passed away on the 17th of July, 2001, which was my youngest daughter’s 9th birthday.  My granddaughter was born on St Patrick’s day 2006, which would have been my mother’s 72nd birthday, and 7 plus 2 equals 9.  (You do the math.)

Dear Mother

As I remember you today

I reflect on tales of the motherland

From folklore of the headless dog spirits

To the meaning of the shamrock and the Trinity

A cottage in which 11 children grew

In a land the beauty of which I have never seen

I remember the music, the dancing of the jig

The tales of the leprechaun and his pot o gold

I think of the courage it took to leave your family

To come to a strange land and start anew

The strength it took to have 10 children of your own, yet bury 3

The stern hand with which you raised us

Was also the gentle hand that guided us with love

The firm voice that called our names down the line

Could be soft and comforting at any moment

In our big house filled with love and lots of children

I think how you truly came to this country with nothing

And really did achieve everything

And you carried yourself with grace and dignity while doing so

All these things and more I remember

As I remember you today Dear Mother

Written in honor of Josephine Patricia O’Kelly 1934-2001

Taffy OKelly