Sean Paul Murphy, Writer

Sean Paul Murphy, Writer
Sean Paul Murphy, Storyteller

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

My Family: A Celebration of Mothers

I may be a day late and dollar short for mother's day, but I do want to take the time now to celebrate my mother, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, etc. Here are the ones of whom I have pictures.


Here I am with my mother Clara at the release party for my book "The Promise, or the Pros and Cons of Talking with God." She actually approved of the book. That said, she IS NOT the inspiration for the mother in my upcoming novel "Chapel Street."

RITA CECILIA ROSENBERGER PROTANI POLLOCK

Here is a picture of my maternal grandmother Rita. She turns 98-years-old this month. We are blessed to still have her! (She subsequently died on 19 October 2018.)

Here's a home movie of her wedding to her second husband Robert Burns Pollock.



MARGARET ANGIE ROBERTSON MURPHY

Here is a high school picture of my paternal grandmother Margaret Angie Robertson Murphy, wife of Paul James Murphy, Sr. Late in life I learned the secret to really getting on her good side. On the day of a family event, you waited until after you knew one of her children had already picked her up and then you called and left a message asking if she needed a ride. You'd get same credit for leaving the message as you did for actually giving her a ride. She lived to be 92-years-old.

Obituary from the Sunpapers, Originally published October 5, 2006:

Margaret R. Murphy, 92, homemaker

      Margaret R. Murphy, a homemaker and longtime member of Hamilton Presbyterian Church, died Saturday at the Brightwood nursing home in Lutherville of complications from Alzheimer's disease. She was 92.
     She was born Margaret Angie Robertson and raised in Dunmore, Pa. In 1938, she married Paul James Murphy.
     The couple moved to Royston Avenue in 1952.
     Mr. Murphy, a district manager for the Baltimore Insurance Co., died in 1979.
     Mrs. Murphy taught Sunday school at Hamilton Presbyterian Church, where she had been president of the women's association.
     "Her major hobby was trying to get us to read the Bible," said a son, Brian R. Murphy of Hamilton.
     Mrs. Murphy was a member of Opti-Mrs., the women's auxiliary of the Optimist Club. She also was an avid Scrabble player, family members said.
     For the past two years, she was a resident of Quail Run, a Carney assisted-living facility, and had moved to Brightwood several weeks ago.
     Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Leonard J. Ruck Funeral Home, 5305 Harford Road.
     Also surviving are three other sons, Paul J. Murphy Jr. of Hampton Roads, Va., Richard T. Murphy of Wilson Point and Kevin E. Murphy of Gardenville; two daughters, Carolyn L. Dabirsiaghi of Glen Arm and Sharon M. Sartor of Willingboro, N.J.; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Another son, Douglas E. Murphy, died in 2003.

LORETTA G. MCLANE MURPHY

Here is my great-grandmother Loretta G. McLane Murphy, wife of Frank J. Murphy. She was an interesting woman I will probably write an individual blog about. She was the first woman in my family to graduate from college. She was a teacher and also a bit of a poetess. She also married for love against the advice of her domineering older sisters. She died of a sudden heart attack at the age of fifty-one. She was eating lunch and simply feel forward into her tomato soup. Interestingly, her husband died exactly the same way a few years later, falling face forward into a bowl of tomato soup at lunch.

MRS. LORETTA MURPHY DIES OF HEART ATTACK
-----
Wife Of Fire Chief Frank Murphy, Of Dunmore 
Fire Department -- Was Former Loretta McLane

     Mrs. Loretta McLane Murphy, wife of Fire Chief Frank J. Murphy, died of a heart attack this morning at her home, 802 North Irving avenue, Dunmore. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Murphy was a teacher in the Lincoln (No. 4) School of Dunmore, and at the time of her death was a member of the Parent-Teacher Association of that school. She was a communicant of St. Mary's Church, Dunmore, and was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and was active in other parish organizations. She was vice president of the Lackawanna County Ladies' Auxiliary of the Six-County Firemen's Association and took active part in the various activities of this organization for many years.
     Besides her husband she leaves the following children: Francis, Paul and Eileen Murphy, also the following sisters and brothers, Maria, Anna, and Mrs. P.J. McLaughlin, of this city; Mrs. Lynn Morrison, Rochester, N.Y.; Mr. Michael McLane, retired Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad conductor, Dunmore; Ambrose McLane, of New York city.

CAROLINA CHRISTINA STARK ROBERTSON

This is my great-grandmother Carolina Christina Stark Robertson. She had a hard childhood. She never went to school. She had to stay home and help her mother raise the younger children. She learned to read with the help of two people, her paperboy and my other great-grandmother Loretta McLane Murphy. Despite the educational assistance, Carolina, a staunch Protestant, certainly did not approve of her daughter dating and later marrying Loretta's Catholic son Paul. Caroline died of a heart attack walking home after tending the grave of her husband Arch Robertson in Dunmore Cemetery in Scranton.

Story from The Scranton Times, October 6, 1948:

DROPS DEAD AFTER VISIT TO SPOUSE'S GRAVESIDE
Mrs. Caroline Robertson's Death Attributed 
To Heart Attack By Deputy Coroner

     Mrs. Caroline Stark Robertson, 62, who resided with her daughter, Mrs. Paul Murphy, 18 Arnold Avenue, was stricken fatally by a heart attack yesterday afternoon in the 100 block of West Warren Street, Dunmore, immediately after leaving the Dunmore Cemetery where she had visited the grave of her husband.
     Dr. Nicholas DeLeo, Dunmore, deputy coroner, attributed death to a heart attack. Lieut. James Samela and Detective Thomas McDonald, Dunmore police, investigated. 
     Mrs. Robertson was the widow of Arch Robertson who died three years ago. The daughter of the late Jacob and Sophia Farber Stark, she was a member of the Petersburg Presbyterian Church and its Ladies' Aid Society.
     Survivors, in addition to her daughter, are a son, Ernest, Stroudsburg; a brother, Jacob Stark, Scranton; a sister, Mrs. Frank Ellis, West Scranton, and five grandchildren.
     The funeral will be held Friday morning at 11 o'clock from the Miller Funeral Home, 436 Cedar Avenue. Interment, Dunmore Cemetery.

MARIA ANNA KOSTOHRYZ ROSENBERGER

This is my great-grandmother Maria Anna Kostohryz Rosenberger, the wife of John George Rosenberger. Her most famous quote was the frequently repeated line: "Go sh*t in your hat, George, and wear it." Born and raised in Baltimore of immigrant Bohemian stock, she died of a heart attack in her living room while watching television with the family. No one remembers what show they were watching. Probably Gunsmoke. She liked westerns. Sadly, I have no memory of her. She died a few months after I was born.

Death notice from the April 24th Baltimore News Post:

ROSENBERGER
On April 23, 1961, MARY A (nee Kostohryz) of 3204 Evergreen Avenue, beloved wife of J. George Rosenberger and dear mother Mrs. Rita Pollock, Mrs. Helen Ernst, Norbert and Anthony Rosenberger, and sister of Mrs. Cecilia Ritter. Also survived by five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
     Services on Thursday at 8:15 A.M. from CVACH FUNERAL HOME, 900 N. Chester Street, Requiem Mass at St. Wenceslaus Church at 9 A.M. Interment in Garden of Faith Cemetery. Visiting hours 2 to 10 P.M.

ASSUNTA MASTRACCI PROTANI

This is my great-grandmother Assunta Mastracci Protani, wife of Vincenzo Protani. She lived in small town of Arnara, Italy, until my great-grandfather kidnapped her and took her to America. Her, I remember. I was taken to see her when I was a small child. Sadly, the family became estranged and we lost track of her. Man, I wish I could have talked to her as an adult.... She lived until the age of ninety-four in 1983. Here's her homemade spaghetti sauce recipe. Click here.

Death notice from The Sunpapers:

PROTANI
On August 24, 1980, ASSUNTA (SADIE) beloved wife of the late Vincent Protani, devoted mother of Rose Taresco Flowers, Josephine Navarria, Carmella Rinaldi, Roy Protani, Mary McCubbin, Angela Protani and Vincent Protani and the late Frank, Nick and Clara Protani, dear sister of Rosario Mastracci. Also survived by 55 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
      Friends may visit at the Dippel Funeral Home, 7110 Belair road, 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Christian wake service Tuesday evening 7:30 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Wednesday morning 9 A.M. at St. Anthony's Church. Interment Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery.

MARY JORDAN MCLANE

This is Loretta's mother, my 2nd great-grandmother Mary Jordan McLane, wife of James McLane. She was born in England of Irish descendant and came to America and settled in Scranton as a child. This photo was taken in 1888 after the death of her husband. She lived another forty-one years before dying at the age of eighty-six. When I finally saw a picture of her, I recognized her immediately. Her strong genes gave us the face I long associated with the Murphy family. And she wasn't even a Murphy!

Obituary for Mary Jordan from a Scranton newspaper:

HUNDREDS PAY TRIBUTE TO BELOVED RESIDENT
Body of Mrs. Mary McLane Laid to Rest in St. Mary's Cemetery
Requiem Mass in St. Mary's

     The funeral of Mrs. Mary McLane, one of Dunmore's oldest and most beloved residents, was held this morning from the family home, 802 North Irving Avenue, at 8:15 o'clock, and was largely attended.
     At 9:30 o'clock in St. Mary's Church, of which Mrs. McLane was a devout communicant, a high solemn mass of requiem was celebrated by Rev. M.E. Loftus; Rev. Charles Gallagher was deacon, and Rev. Charles Carroll was subdeacon. Margaret Haggerty sang the solos of the mass. As a processional she sang "Jesus, I Come To Thee," at the offertory "Panis Angelicus" and as a recessional "Ave Maria."
     Interment was in the family plot in St. Mary's Cemetery. The casket bearers were, Andrew J. James and John O'Haro, Thomas Jordan, William F. Grady and P.J. Dempsey.

                                  MARGARET HENNING ROBERTSON


I can't guarantee it, but, through the process of elimination, I believe this is a photo of my 2nd great-grandmother Margaret Henning Robertson. Although she was Scottish, Margaret was born in Ireland on 4 May 1840, but her family returned to Scotland. Her husband Adam Robertson decided to immigrate to the United States at the height of the Civil War. (So did her father and some of her siblings.) She didn't want to leave Scotland, but Adam said he was going with or without her. She decided to go. According to family lore, it was a long, miserable journey during which they only ate hardtack. She died in Dunmore, Pennsylvania on 30 Augusts 1908. 

Death notice from the Scranton Republican, Aug. 30, 1908:  (They misspelled her last name.)

ROBINSON - In Scranton, Pa., Aug. 28, 1908, Margaret Robinson, aged 68 years, at 116 Church Street.  Funeral Monday at 2 p.m.  Burial in Dunmore Cemetery.

SOPHIA CHARLOTTE FARBER STARK
 

This is Caroline's mother, my 2nd great-grandmother Sophia Charlotte Farber Stark, wife of Jacob Stark. They called Jacob The Butcher of Petersburg -- probably because he was butcher in Petersburg. I never heard anything good about him, but I never heard anything bad about her! She was very active in the Petersburg German Presbyterian Church. She died of gall bladder problems at the age of sixty-two.

MRS. SOPHIA STARK.

Mrs. Sophia C. Stark, aged 62 years, a lifelong resident of East Scranton died yesterday morning at 5 o'clock at her home, 1039 Wheeler avenue, following a long illness. The news of her death comes as a shock to a wife circle of friends. She was a prominent member of the Petersburg German Presbyterian church and had always taken an active part in the affairs of that congregation. She was also a member of the Queen Esther circle and of the Ladies' Aid society. Surviving her are the following children: Frederick, Jacob and Ernest Stark, Mrs. A. Robinson, and Mrs. W.R. Willis; also one brother, Fred Farber, and one sister, Miss Louise Price, all of this city. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon with services at the house at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. O.H. Dietrich, pastor of the Petersburg German Presbyterian church, will officiate. Interment will be made in the Petersburg cemetery.

KRISTINA BEDNAR KOSTOHRYZ

This is Mary's mother, my 2nd great-grandmother Kristina Bednar Kostohryz (seated), the wife of Jan Nepom Kostohryz. I wrote a whole blog about her. Read it here: My Ancestors: Kristina Bednar Kostohryz. I am keeping my Bohemian roots alive in my new book "Chapel Street." (Mary Kostohryz Klima, the young girl in the picture, lived on Baltimore's Chapel Street.)

Death notice from The Sunpapers (January 3, 1933):

KOSTOHRYZ -- On January 2, 1933, CHRISTINA, beloved wife of the late John Kostohryz.
     Funeral from her late residence, 2207 East Biddle street, on Thursday morning at 8:30. High Mass at St. Wenceslaus Church at 9 o'clock. Interment Holy Redeemer Cemetery.

MARIA KATERINA MASTRACCI

This is Assunta's mother, my 2nd great-grandmother Maria Katerina Fiori, wife of Michele Mastracci. She never took her husband's name. In Italy, women retain their own last names. She lived and died in the village of Arnara in Italy. I think it is pretty cool to have a picture of her!

SOPHIA ELIZABETH ENGEL FARBER

I wouldn't sake my life on it, but after conferring with some cousins, I believe this is Sophia's mother, my 3rd great-grandmother Sophia Elizabeth Engel Farber. She came to America from Germany circa 1852, probably as a result of the turmoil of the revolutions of 1848-1849. She died of the age of sixty-four in 1877 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

JULIANA PHILIPPINE FUCHS ENGEL

I do know who this woman is. She is the mother of Sophia, my 4th great-grandmother Juliana Philippine Fuchs Engel. She was born in 1793 in Rhineland, Germany and died in 1866 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. I don't know about you, but I think it is amazing to be able to look upon the face of an ancestor born in the 1700s. I bet she's somewhere looking down now, happy to have a 4th grandson celebrating her.

Here's a little song I wrote, and sang with my wife Deborah, to honor our family that went before us:



That will have to be the end of line for now, but I want to thank all of those women for making me the man I am today! If you're interested in how the influences of these women, both visible and invisible, played out in my life, be sure to read my memoir published by TouchPoint Press:



Here are some sample chapters of The Promise:
Chapter 7 - Mission Accomplished

Click here for more of my genealogical blogs:


Be sure to check out my novel Chapel Street. It tells the story of a young man straddling the line between sanity and madness while battling a demonic entity that has driven his family members to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting my family experienced.

You can buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble.


Learn more about the book, click Here.

Watch the book trailer:

  

Listen to me read some chapters here:


Read about the true haunting that inspired the novel here:
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 1, An Introduction
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 2, The House
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 3, This Is Us
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 4, Arrival
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 5, Methodology
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 6, Clara's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 7, Clara's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 8, My Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 9, My Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 10, My Tale, Pt. 3
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 11, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 12, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 13, John's Tale, Pt. 1 
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 14, John's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 15, Come Inside!
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 16, Marion's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 17, Marion's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 18, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 19, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 20, Lisa's Tale
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 21, Recap, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 22, Recap, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 23, Recap, Pt. 3

Follow me on Twitter: SeanPaulMurphy
Follow me on Facebook: Sean Paul Murphy
Follow me on Instagram: Sean Paul Murphy
Subscribe on YouTube: Sean Paul Murphy

No comments:

Post a Comment