My Mom's 100th Birthday

Lois at six weeks old

 My Mom's 100th Birthday

Today is my mom's 100th birthday. Yes, my parents were born two day apart, but in different countries. I always thought that was pretty cool!

Lois Jane Marguerite Flynn was born June 7th, 1918 at Grant Hospital in Chicago. That is where her children would also be born. She was an only child to Helen "Nelle" Manning Flynn and Roy James Flynn. Her mom liked the name Lois Jane, as she met someone in the park whose cute daughter had that name, so she decided to name my mom that. Her middle name, Marguerite is the French form of Margaret, her maternal grandmother's name, and her mother's middle name.

Lois at one year old

Growing up

 I found lots of fun tidbits in her baby book.

Lois walked at 11 months, and kept her parents busy. She danced at 18 months, and always enjoyed dancing. She participated in plays, ice skating and dance classes growing up. She also loved being a Girl scout, and reading Nancy Drew and Bobsey twins books.

Lois on her first birthday

School Minuet performance, April, 1924

My grandma wrote "Lois Jane danced the Minuet in costume at Lincoln School at age 5. She extended an invitation to everyone in the neighborhood to attend. She was the star of the performance, because of slightly exaggerating the steps, causing considerable laughter." Sounds just like my mom! Lincoln Elementary School was built in 1871 after the Chicago Fire, and is still a Chicago Public School today.

Lois and her dolls, at her grandparent's house

When she was little, Lois lived with her parents in Lincoln Park, on Belden. Her grandparents, John David Manning and Margaret Quirk Manning lived at 2223 Orchard Street, right around the corner. Her grandfather loved to take her for walks and they would often go to Lincoln Park Zoo. She always wanted to go see the monkeys, because he told her that there was a monkey named Lois, and she wanted to go see her namesake. It took her a while to realize that he would point out whichever monkey was convenient and tell her that one was Lois.

Lois holding Mugsey

 

Lois about 5 years old

Lois, age 7, with her mother, Nelle

Lois, age 7, with her father, Roy

Lois about 10 years old

Lois in High School

In her early 20's

Lois grew up in the Edgewater neighborhood, and went to Sacred Heart School on Sheridan Road. After graduation from high school, she went to Barat College. She was only able to complete about 2 years of college, and due to the Great Depression, she could not afford to continue. She took some secretarial classes, and started working for John Jacob Factor, aka: "Jake The Barber". He was a businessman, and my grandparents rented their apartment from him. When he found out she was looking for a job and had secretarial skills, he hired her. She said he was always a gentleman to her and her family. His brother was Max Factor, of the makeup company. At some point, Jake got in trouble with the law for being a con man. I don't think my mom worked for him for long, though. She then went to work for Illinois Bell as a telephone operator, then became an operator trainer. She continued in that job until getting married in 1950.

My dad must have sent flowers to my mom a few days before their wedding. This card has 2/12/1950 on the back

 They had a morning wedding ceremony on a snowy Saturday, February 18th, 1950 at St. Gertrude's church in Chicago. I guess in those days the Catholic Church didn't allow you to get married in Lent, so they married before Lent started.

Roy Flynn, her father, helping with her train on the snowy morning my parents married.

Kissing at their wedding

They lived on the North Side of Chicago for a while. There was a housing shortage after WWII, and it was still going on. They found an empty lot in the St. Walter's neighborhood in Morgan Park, and built a 3 bedroom home. My mom became involved with helping get the church built and the St. Walter's Women's Club started. Along the way, she had three children.

Charlie was born November 28, 1951

Kevin came along 14 months later on February 13, 1953

Lynn was born August 15, 1959

Charlie and Kevin

Kevin, 2 1/2 years old, Charlie, 4 years old

Charlie, 8, Kevin, 7 and Lynn, 4 months

Roy and Nelle Flynn, Chuck McGoldrick, Lois Flynn McGoldrick and family friends, the Jorgensen's. We kids called our grandparents Papa Roy and Mimi Nelle.

Lynn and Kevin with Roxie, 1966

Lois and Lynn, 1974

My mom, on the right with some of her friends from the "Do Nothing" club. On our deck at our summer home in Lakes of the Four Seasons.

Good family friends, Eileen and Russ Streff, with Chuck.

The "Do Nothings" out to lunch

Yvonne Graydon and Lois on a Disney cruise. They were great travel partners.

Lois, Mae Michaels Roche, John Chotka and John Perri enjoying a day on the Gulf.

Lois on the left and Marion Ruzich on the right, ant the Barat College/Mundelein 60th reunion in 2000

Lois with Kevin, Lynn and Charlie, Thanksgiving 1995

Lois with her kids and grandkids, Thanksgiving, 1995.

Mom's 90th Birthday
in 2008

Lois loved her family and friends, and would always be there for you if you needed her. She volunteered for Little Company of Mary Hospital for many years, working at their resale shop, then becoming a buyer for their gift shop. She loved helping people, and being around people.

She died October 10, 2011 at age 93 after a series of strokes. She had said she wanted to make it to 100, if she was in good health. I wish she had. I sure wish I could talk to her again.

My Dad was born 100 years ago

My Dad was born 100 years ago

My dad, Charles McGoldrick was born 100 years ago, June 5th, 1918, the oldest of five children. His parents lived on Water street in Donegal Town, County Donegal, Ireland, where he was born at home. His parents were Patrick Francis McGoldrick, of Donegal Town and Mary Elizabeth O'Brien, of Howth, County Dublin. At one point, his father worked as a weaver of Donegal tweed for Magee's. When my dad was less than a year old, they moved to Belfast where Patrick worked as a telephone lineman.

James Joseph McGoldrick was born in Belfast on January 24, 1920. Chuck looks like a proud big brother to Jim here.

Patrick Francis McGoldrick, Jr. was born in Belfast April 14, 1921. A few months later, Patrick Senior left for the United states with his best friend, Davis Ellis and his father, Francis McGoldrick, Junior. Then in October of 1921, Mary, her sister Teresa "Teasie" O'Brien Ellis and the three children joined the men in St. Michael's, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.



After a few months in Pennsylvania, they moved to Chicago, where Patrick, Sr. became a streetcar conductor.

Shortly after they arrived in the US. In South Fork, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

My dad's sisters were both born after they moved to Chicago. Mary Teresa, aka Mazie (on the right) was born in 1922, and Veronica was born in 1928. I love this picture! So pretty!

 Growing Up

 On the left are Jim, Pat and Chuck, playing in their yard. I love how the doll is almost as big as they were.

On the right are Pat and Jim, with Mazie on his back.

I imagine them having a great time running around the park, the yards and the neighborhood, playing ball and tag.

Chuck, probably about 10.

Patrick holding Mazie, Patrick's father, Francis (Frank) McGoldrick on the right, and Chuck, Jim and Pat in front. I am not sure who the lady on the left is, or the other children, but possibly she was Maggie or Cassie, Frank's sister. They may have been visiting them in South Fork, Pennsylvania. Taken about 1925.

Chuck, Veronica and Mazie

Pat, Chuck and Jim

Vacation time! Jim in front, Chuck rowing with my grandparents and Veronica.

 They liked to visit family. Maybe they were visiting in Pennsylvania, or maybe Teasie and her family in Detroit. I wonder what kind of car that is that my grandpa had?

I just love the sibling thing here, with Aunt Veronica (or Aunt Mazie?) sticking her fingers behind my dad's head. So cute! They had a great relationship. He had a great relationship with all his siblings.

Veronica and Chuck, about 1935

Photo-booth photos. I know where I got my curly hair from.

Another photo-booth photo. He always had a side part, so it is strange seeing a center part here.

Dad taking a selfie! He rigged a string to the camera so he could take a picture of himself. He was ahead of his time!

Contemplating life

High School Graduation, 1936

Dad with Aunt Teasie. He lived with her and Uncle David Ellis while he was training at Henry Ford Trade School, where David taught. That is where dad learned the Tool and Dye trade.

Aunt Teasie and dad

Dad and Tommy Ellis in Detroit

My dad's family visiting Teasie and David Ellis in Detroit. Cousins Tom and Frances Ellis are on the left.

Mom and Dad

My parents met at Paw Paw Lake in Michigan, at a Fourth of July weekend outing that their respective clubs sponsored. My mom was checking people in, and was intrigued by Chuck. They kept seeing each other all weekend, and he offered her a ride home in his new 1949 car. He lived on the south side and she lived in Rogers Park, so with the roads in those days, it as a bit of a drive.

When they were getting ready to go back to Chicago, my mom got behind the wheel, to check out the car. Another woman, Gisella, who liked my dad was sitting in the middle of the bench seat. When my dad came up to the car to leave, my mom waved her hand and said "move over, Gisella". My parents met in July, were engaged in November and married in February. Talk about a whirlwind romance!

Chuck on the docks at Saugatuck, Michigan, the weekend they met.

Lois on the docks at Saugatuck, Michigan, the weekend they met.

The infamous Gisella, standing behind Chuck.

Mazie McGoldrick Mannix, Olga Wioncek McGoldrick, Marcia McGoldrick, Chuck, Lois Flynn, Mary with Brian McGoldrick on his grandma's lap. Standing are Tom Lynch, Joe Mannix, and Patrick McGoldrick in back. Summer 1949, when my parents were dating. Picnicking on the Fox River in St. Charles, Illinois. Picture was taken by Veronica McGoldrick Lynch.

My parents, in St. Charles, Illinois, the summer before they married. I love this picture of them!

Chuck and Lois got married February 18, 1950 at St. Gertrude's Church in Chicago.

After the ceremony

Happily married! At the reception.

They drove  down US 41 for their honeymoon in Florida, and then flew to Cuba. It must have been interesting to see Cuba. Of course, this was before travel was restricted. I bet they brought back cigars for friends who smoked.

They had three children. Charlie was born in 1951 and Kevin 14 months later in 1953. My mom had me in 1959 at 41 years old. She said I kept her young. I guess I kept her pretty busy. They wanted more children, but she had six miscarriages, so it wasn't meant to be.

Our family, about 1961. I don't think I wanted my picture taken.

My dad and his business partner built a 32 foot steel sailboat that they christened Quicksilver. My parents enjoyed the sailboat for a few years. He and his business partner decided to go their separate ways, and Bob got the boat. My mom was glad, since they had two small boys at the time, and she didn't like them on the sailboat.

Mom and dad, probably in the 1950's

My dad usually wore his signature bow tie. It was easier because he owned a machine shop, and he didn't want to get his tie caught in a machine. It was unusual to see him in a regular tie.

I loved my dad!

Me, dancing with my dad at Kevin and Susie's wedding, April 20, 1974.

Daddy Daughter Dance, Freshmen year, 1974.

Dad and mom, about 1979.

Dad and mom at their condo in Florida.

My dad had a good life, but it was too short. He died at age 61 in 1981 from a blood clot, while in the hospital for complications of diabetes. They  had a good marriage, and made it to 30 years of marriage. My mom was so happy they did a 25th anniversary party, because they weren't able to do one for their 30th. I was 21 when he died. I really wish I had more time with him! So much I would have loved to talk to him about. So much he missed. I miss them both.