FRIENDS TOGETHER AGAIN

Maureen O'Brien Roach, Kay Johnson Parsons, Carmel Hayes, Diane Mulcahy Jackman, Mary Johnson Godsland, Phyllis Reardon, Brenda Murphy and Janet McGrath Crane, a group of St Patrick's girls who, though not all in the same class, went around together while growing up in St John's. Their bond of friendship proved strong and they have done their best  to meet up every year.  Sadly, Brenda passed away in 2009 and she is much missed by her friends.  Diane now lives in Calgary but recently spent some time at home.  Of course,  that meant a happy little reunion for those of the group who could make it.  Mary Johnson Godsland sent this photo of the ladies.

Friends together again

L-R: 

Maureen O'Brien Roach, Carmel Hayes, Diane Mulcahy Jackman, Kay Johnson Parsons, Mary Johnson Godsland

It is always inspiring to see how friendship flourishes and survives despite the  years and the miles.  Thanks for sharing, Mary.  Please keep us up to date with any and all of your get-togethers.  

FRIENDS FESTIVE GATHERINGS

We have two nice festive pictures to post today. The photos come to us courtesy of Joan Reynolds Fogarty and Pat Hurley McDonald.

Joan Fogarty and her school friends really have something very special.  Their friendship! These ladies have been friends since their school days at St Patrick’s and they maintain that friendship by being there for one another in good times and not so good times.  They also meet up several times a year to share a meal, chat, laugh and just take pleasure in each other’s company.  Long may they continue to do so!

This photo was taken on 2^nd December at The Sheraton Hotel where the friends held their Christmas Dinner and enjoyed a lovely evening.

BACK ROW: Rosemary Ashley Healy, Joan Connolly Alston, Kathleen Dobbin Benson, Judy Fitzgerald Squires, Mary Bulger Corcoran, Brenda Casey Grouchy, Joan Reynolds Fogarty

FRONT ROW: Madeline Adams Thomson, Catherine Corbett Stanley, Mary Fitzgerald, Betty Fitzgerald Pye, Eleanor Sears Vatcher.

Our second festive photo  comes from Pat Hurley McDonald.  Again we have a group of school friends who have become life-long friends.  Janet McGrath Crane is home from Florida to celebrate Christmas with her daughters and their families so, as always, the friends took advantage of the opportunity to meet up.  The celebratory meal took place on 16^th December at Milestones Restaurant on Torbay Road.  From the looks of the ladies, we can see that it too was a happy and enjoyable event.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Kay Johnson, Cynthia Murphy, Maureen O’Brien, Pat Hurley, Carmel Hayes, Mary Johnson and Janet McGrath.

Many thanks to Joan and Pat for the photographs and thanks to both of you for all the help and support you give to this blog.  We wish you and all your friends a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy 2016.  We look forward to hearing about your future escapades.  May they be many and may they all be happy ones!

FRIENDS FOR LIFE, AND BEYOND!

I have heard it said that in order to have a friend, one must be a friend.  If that is true, then Eileen Maher Hickey must have been a most excellent friend indeed!   I am happy to post the following article which I have received from Betty Simms.  I think it perfectly illustrates that ties of friendship can last a lifetime and longer.

 

"Some St Patrick's girls and friends of Eileen Hickey (nee Maher) gathered at Lucky's Restaurant on May 27th to honour Eileen on her Birthday.  Eileen, who passed away in April, always enjoyed going out to lunch with the girls."

 

Friends who gathered to honour the late Eileen Maher Hickey
on her Birthday

 

 

"The St Patrick's girls in the picture are Doreen Noseworthy (Walsh), Mary Kennedy, Maureen Sullivan, Betty Simms, Marina Grace, Bernadette Moyse (Grouchy), Alice Flynn (Hennessey), Jenny Finlay, Bernice Devereaux (Rose) and Bride Ryan (Colbert).  Dot and Nettie are long time friends of Eileen's."

 

Betty has sent us the Order of Service Sheet from Eileen's funeral.  It includes a beautiful and very touching poem written by Eileen's son, Martin.

 

 

Page 1, Order of Service. 
Note Martin's  touching poem.

 

 



Page 2. 

 

Page 3.  
Family and friends have all 
played a part in Eileen's Funeral

 

 

Page 4

 

 

Thank you, Betty, for sharing this with us.  We have lost a great friend in Eileen and we will miss her very much.  But, oh, the happy memories she has left us!  Rest in peace, dear Eileen, our friend for life, and beyond.