We will Survive

Catherine (Burke) O'Leary (1879-1934)

 Last week I mentioned how hard it was for my Great Grandmother, Catherine (Burke) O'Leary to keep her family going after her husband Florence died in 1922.

How did Catherine do it? 

She was 43 years old with 6 living children (ages 3-14) to support.  She had been married for 18 years (1) and had born 8 children including 2 sets of twins. 

1904: Florence and William (Billy)  - * Billy died at birth*

1905: Everett Francis

1907: Mary Ethel (May)

1908: Annalene Gertrude

1911: Mildred and Myrtle  - * Myrtle died at birth*

1915: Edward Joseph

May, Florrie, Annalene and Everett O'Leary

c. 1912

Present day Map of Cumberland , RI c. 2021, Lonsdale Mill Village 

Highlighted:  O'Leary home and Ann and Hope Mill 

Ann and Hope Mill

Annalene (O'Leary )Walker standing in front of childhood home at Lonsdale Mill Village, Broad Street Cumberland, RI c. 1988

Annalene (O'Leary) Walker said that each O'Leary child quit school after the 6th grade to work in the mill. Their pay went towards the rent. So Florence Jr.(Florrie) was already working in the mill for 2 years when his father had his accident in 1918. 

Monthly rent was about $8.00. 

Milk was .32 cents/gallon

Bread was  .5 cents /loaf

While the older children worked at the mill  Catherine  hired herself out to do house work for neighbors. According to her daughter, Annalene she was also a lay-midwife and successfully delivered a set of twins for a neighbor.  In 1924,  Catherine  completed the “The National Red Cross Home and Hygeine and Care of Sick “ course in Pawtucket. This gave her an additional source of income. Her certificate is one of the few surviving artifacts from this family which leads me to believe she was very proud of her accomplishments!

American Red Cross Certificate for Mrs. Catherine O'Leary 1924

Catherine Burke

 C 1900

(Left to right)

Sarah Agnes *Sadie* (Burke) Glancy - (sister of Catherine Burke), 

Nora(O'Leary) O'Connor- (Catherine Burke's Sister-in-Law)

Catherine (Burke) O'Leary

Catherine (Burke) O'Leary 

c. 1929

Catherine O'Leary Gravestone

St. Joseph's Cemetery

Berkly Village, Cumberland, RI

Catherine O'Leary died March 20, 1934 from pneumonia. 

She is buried near her sister Sarah Agnes (Burke) Glancy -"Sadie"