Wednesday, November 27, 2019
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Patrick, Shawn & Lisa –
The story of our family began on January 12, 1882, in Kitchen Settlement, near Frederickton, New Brunswick, Canada. It was the day that our great grandparents, Charlotte May Kitchen and Jeremiah Stephen Connolly were married. As you know, they were a typical Irish Catholic family, and over the next 30 years had sixteen children, including my grandmother Bessie Rebecca, the twelfth born, and your grandmother Johanna Ruth, the youngest.
When there are that many children in a family, it’s typical to have a few siblings that you’re closest to, which certainly was the case with Johanna and Bessie, and by extension, with your mother Jane and my mother Kathleen. In 1960, when I was six, I had the honor of being the ring bearer at your mother’s wedding at St. Teresa’s and vividly remember the reception at the Lucerne Inn. That winter, I had my first sleepover, spending a Saturday night at Jane’s apartment at 67 Sanford Street in Bangor.
Jane was an Air Force wife, and soon found herself in Aviano, Italy, where Patrick and Shawn were born. Over the years they lived in many places, including Wisconsin, Colorado, and Italy again, and along the way came Lisa and Susan. During those years your family usually came back to Maine each year and I eagerly awaited for the chance to see my cousins. In 1967 when driving across country, we stayed with you for two nights in Colorado, and I had a very special day with a visit to the Air Force Academy.
Eventually you returned to Maine and settled back in Brewer. Jane was always one of my mother’s closest cousins, so seeing her and the rest of your family was something that happened quite often, including coming to our summer cottage in Lamoine. Getting back to Charlotte May Kitchen and Jeremiah Stephen Connolly, from their sixteen children came 38 grandchildren, including Jane and my mother, and Jane was one of the few still alive.
Jane will now join so many of our family members, including my mother, at Mt. Pleasant cemetery in Bangor. Their grandparents Charlotte and Jeremiah are there, silently watching over the many generations that have come from that union in 1882 (a picture of their headstone is attached.) It is with deep regret that I will not be able to attend your mother’s service. Jane was always a very special person in my life and will be greatly missed by all, including me. That said, please know that I will be there on Friday morning in spirit.
My best to all of you,
Stephen (Stevie) Ward
