1945 Class Notes for 2015
I was so glad to hear that four of our classmates attended the Reunion! This was just the second reunion I had to miss. The other time was the one that came too close to the birth of our fourth daughter to leave. And now it is difficult to travel.
Ann Gormly was there along with Katie Esdohr Dillon, Natalie Cregg Ballard, and Sister Margaret. The mood was joyous. The mass was said by the brother of Sister Seton Cunneen ‛65. She and Seton were about to be off to Europe for a retreat for Jubilarians.
Ann Gormly celebrated her 90th birthday last year in Roscommon County, Ireland and met members of her mother’s clan, the younger ones of whom she had not met. To celebrate this year, she just returned from an SND Heritage retreat in Namur, Belgium. She began it with a small pilgrimage to Amiens and Cuvilly, retracing sites in the life of our foundress, St. Julie Billiart before she founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She lives with Sister Seton Cunneen ‛65. Her retired priest brother lives in Harding Township, NJ and she travels up to visit him from time to time.
Katie found pleasure in the Reunion though missed more classmates. She still lives in their family home of 58 years and enjoys gardening, city living, and keeping in touch with her large family.
Natalie also enjoyed the royal treatment extended at reunion. She sold her house a year ago and has moved in with her son in Fort Bragg, California. She is doing well though, she finds it quite a change from Mass and feels fortunate to have her son who looks out for her every need.
One of the first to respond was Mary Scannell Slattery. She is still living in her home in Old Orchard Beach and enjoying the ocean and people around her. Her daughter lives with her and helps her with daily living, and her children and grandchildren are nearby. She keeps in touch with Joan Forsyth Harmon and Sister Margaret.
Mary Clayton Crozier is still alive and graduated from Mt. Holyoke in 1946, and had a long history working in communications and journalism in Boston and is volunteering with the Ward 5 Democratic Committee in Boston in communications. She is very active in the community. At one time, she headed up publicity for a local television station. She also has two grown children.
A leisurely chat by phone with Genevieve Lavins Lohmuller had us reminiscing about a TC trip we had both taken with Sister Margaret, along with other classmates, back in ’97, traveling across Ireland studying its literature and history. Genevieve and her husband moved to a retirement community some four years ago where Herb died this past May. Last year she and Herb celebrated their birthdays with a party and every one of their children/spouses, grandchildren/spouses, and great-grandchildren were there. All 70! And the family continues to grow with two new great-grands.
Margaret Shuk Burbank, though still a Conn Yankee, has lived in Texas a long time. She is still in her home and has the good fortune to have one of her daughters living with her, and her son and his family close by. She still keeps up with housework, gardening, fun times with friends, and still drives.
Sister Alice M. Talone ‛77, sent a copy of an obituary telling of the passing of Mary June Hall Jordan last November only a couple of hours after her beloved husband (Sam) of 67 years. Sadly, our class keeps shrinking.
A phone chat with Jean Sullivan Ross brought word that she is enjoying all the beautiful weather year round while living with her daughter Mary and husband Warren in Maine in the summer, which is quiet, and Florida in winter, which is busy.
Anne O’Donnell Clark reports that she and Frank are happy living in their senior community where, among other pleasures, they can enjoy daily mass. They enjoy occasional visits from their four children and Facebook keeps them in touch with their ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren, and they are involved in the lives of many nieces and nephews who live in the area. She and Frank feel blessed to have had each other for 68 years.
I find living here in my continuing care residence is a good place for me to be able to live without the daily cares of yore, knowing that help is here should I need it. I’m as central as I was to my family. I didn’t move far from where I was, and do still drive, so I still keep up with old friends and former activities as well as adding more social contacts inside my present environment
It was so good to hear from each of you. I hope you all have a good year and we’ll hear that from you and more next year. God bless.
Nan Hogan Mackinson
macknancy9@gmail.com