(John 3:16) – Be Thankful, Patient, Forgiving, Charitable, Kind and Smile as it is infectious. God Bless America; Protect our 1st Responders, Military and President!
As I norm I try not to place too much sentimental value on material things. Life is too short to worry about such foolishness.
I do have however an old tattered Catholic Bible of my grandmom Cotterall’s that I am quite fond of for reasons other than those you would expect.
I was only six months old when my Maternal grandmother passed and for that matter only a little over a year old when my Paternal grandmother passed. Both of my grandfathers were long passed.
So, my attraction to this damaged cover and tattered bible is it was held, cherished and read from time to time by not only my grandmother but two of her sons who became priests, (Reverend’s Fred and William) and one of her daughters, a revered Sister of the Saint Joseph Order, Sr. Joseph Andrew a.k.a Aunt Marie.
I might add that our grandmother was a longtime member of Our Legion of Mary and her husband my grandfather, Andrew was a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus in Our Mother of Sorrows Parrish at 48th and Wyalusing. They are interred with several family members in Old Cathedrals Cemetery not far from St. John’s Orphanage.
That bible, which I read from time to time, but not nearly as much as I should is my only real cherished connection to my mother’s parents and family. I am sure it had a role in playing an integral part of her family.
What one thing would be in your story?
Front Row – L to R Aunt Jean McFarland, my mother Marian holding baby Joe Cotterall, Aunt Betty
Back Row – Joseph, Sr. beside his wife Margaret (Peg), Grandmom a(Nee: Annemarie Knauff) and grandpop Andrew Joseph Cotterall
Back Row: Fred & Bill who would later be ordained priest. Aunt Marie would enter the nunnery for the Sisters of St. Joseph as Sr. Joseph Andrew
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