CHRISTMAS DINNER 2018

A couple of days ago I received an email and photo from Joan Reynolds Fogarty.  Joan keeps me up to date on her most amazing school friends and classmates.  This group of St Patrick's graduates must surely take the prize for longstanding friendship and loyalty to one another.  Here is Joan's email.

“Our Class had our Christmas dinner last night at Portobellos.  We had the private room upstairs which was nicely decorated for Christmas and it was lovely. The view of the harbour was magical.  The service was excellent, and we enjoyed a delicious meal.  We exchanged our usual Christmas gifts.  Patricia Connolly Leonard gifted each of us with a lovely piece of crystal in honor of the event.  This was certainly a lovely gesture, and we were very much surprised and appreciative.  Patsy set up a lovely table, decorated with lights, to display her gifts to us.  It is so nice to get together three times a year to catch up.

Joan and classmates

Standing:  

Brenda Casey Grouchy, Joan Reynolds Fogarty, Mary Fitzgerald, Judy Fitzgerald Squires, Catherine Corbett Stanley, Rosemary Ashley Healy, Mary Bulger Corcoran, Joan Connolly Alston, Patricia Connolly Leonard, 

Seated: Kathleen Dobbin Benson, Eleanor Sears Vatcher, Betty Fitzgerald  Pye. 

There were twelve of us present last night, with a few unable to attend. The following classmates have passed away since we started getting together in the 90s:  Joan Pridham Janes, Carmel Madden O'Mara, Irene Viscount McCrate, Betty Antle Coffin, Bonnie Beck Byrne, Emily Bishop Monahan, Maureen Byrne Coughlin.  Very sad.  A few of the other regulars were not able to attend last night. 

Our next get-together is mid May.”

Once again, Joan, I am in your debt. Thanks for all the help you give me.  It is a delight to hear about you and your classmates.  You certainly are an outstanding group. A very MERRY CHRISTMAS to each of you.  Long may your friendships flourish.   

ESCAPE FROM HURRICANE FLORENCE

We are all aware of the hurricane that hit the USA last month.  In September, Hurricane Florence brought devastation to the Carolinas, causing about $13 billion in damages and, more tragically, 53 fatalities. Two St Patrick’s Graduates, Teri HEALEY Evans and her sister, Betty HEALEY Brown, were caught up in this frightening ordeal.  Teri has shared some photos and her story with us.  I will let Teri tell it.  

“I had gone to beautiful North Carolina on July 25 to spend some time with my sister Betty and her husband, Billy.  Early in September we were hearing on the news that a massive hurricane was forming and that it looked as if the eye was going to make landfall in Wilmington, NC.  That was alarming because the city of Wilmington was only about 25 minutes away from where Betty lived in a lovely little town called Burgaw. Her home was situated along Cape Fear River.

Well the weatherman was right, it was heading our way. We had to evacuate because the Cape Fear would indeed flood and all the roads would wash out.  Not to mention all the trees that would fall due to high winds, making any chance of the roads being passable.   To give you an idea of the type of home Betty had I can describe it as a bungalow built on 12 foot pilings.  Because it was up so high (12 foot off the ground) we never in a million years thought that the river would rise that far as to get in to the main house, it had never before. So before evacuating we only secured the grounds and anything at ground level.  Unfortunately Mother Nature had different plans for it.  The River rose 25+ feet, meaning 13 ft or more of water got into their beautiful home and destroyed it and all the contents.  The River stayed that high for over a week ruining everything.  Thankfully, we had evacuated and were safe.

I have attached a few photos for you to see.

The first photo is a sort of 'before' picture (Betty and 
Billy hosted a wedding at their property on July 28th)

The second is of the river beginning to rise.  

The third photo shows the River half way up the house.

 (After this it was too dangerous to go there by boat anymore)

The fourth is a photo of the Restaurant we often ate at which was

 only one mile from Betty's house.  All you can see is the roof.

And sadly, these photos only show a very small fraction of the devastation caused by Florence.  Betty and I have many, many friends there who have also lost everything.  I've been home since October 16 and I still can't get some of the horrible destruction our of my mind.  It was just like a war zone when I left.

Betty and Billy have found temporary housing and do plan to rebuild but that could take up to a year to get everything back to a livable state.  However, they are safe and count their blessings everyday.  As do I now to be living in beautiful Newfoundland!"

Thank you for this account Teri.  It must have been terrible for all of you.  I can understand why you are glad to be back in "beautiful Newfoundland".  There are worse things than "rain, drizzle and fog"!

GATHERING 2015 - 1974 GRADUATES

Last year, Christine Butler (Rossiter) organised a reunion for the girls who graduated with her in 1974.  It was a huge success and the ladies suggested doing it again.  Christine has once again taken the lead and is planning a gathering for May 2015.  To help spread the word and alert everyone to this event, I am posting details here.  Please pass the message to any classmates or teachers you know and make this reunion an even greater success than last year!

CHRISTINE'S GRADE 3 CLASS.  ARE YOU IN THIS PICTURE?  IF YOU ARE, YOU ARE WARMLY INVITED

TO A GET- TOGETHER ON 31st MAY 2015! 

(CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM.)

 

The gathering is planned for SUNDAY, 31st MAY.   Please meet at 2 O'CLOCK at 35 NEWMAN ST, ST JOHN'S (COWAN HEIGHTS), where Donna Walsh (Constantine) will be delighted to welcome school friends to her home.  You will then have a few hours to do a lot of chatting and laughing before a POTLUCK SUPPER is served at around 5 O'CLOCK. 

 

It is sure to be a very enjoyable meeting of old friends so don't miss it!  However, Christine must know in advance how many will attend!  

Please contact her by email on butlerchristine@nl.rogers.com 
 

DONNA WALSH SENT US THIS PHOTO
OF THE HAPPY GATHERING LAST YEAR. 
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SOME PHOTOS OF
THE UPCOMING EVENT IN MAY 2015.