Happy Birthday 100th Birthday Grandma Senecal!

Today, 6 October 2011, would have been my maternal grandmother's 100th birthday. Eulalia Mary (Duprey) Senecal was born in Swastiaka/Black Brook, Clinton County, New York. the youngest of 6 children born to Eugene Duprey and Melinda (Sharrow) Duprey. She died on August 1, 1979 in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York.

I didn't know Grandma Senecal that well as we lived in Charleston, South Carolina and she was in Plattsburgh, New York. Before the Internet Age, the ways to communicate with loved ones not living near included the weekly Sunday phone call and letters. Of course the birthday and Christmas cards ALWAYS had money :)

Family lore has it that she was born "Lily Marie" but when her birth was registered it became "Eulalia Mary". In some correspondence I recently found of her sister, Mamie (Duprey) Willis, my grandmother was referred to as "Lily" or "Lola".

I know this family liked to celebrate any and all occasions, so in that vain I say "Happy Birthday Grandma" and don't worry this granddaughter will lift one for you today!!!

Better Late Than Never - Reflections of NGS 2011

As many folks I follow on social media are getting ready for the FGS Conference in Springfield, IL, I am FINALLY getting to my NGS Conference materials and pictures. I had good intentions of posting everyday while I was at the NGS Conference in Charleston, SC, my hometown. Well, we all know where good intentions can let us :)

For me the Conference was a chance to go home and spend time with my family and friends as well as get to hear some great genealogy speakers. I wish there had been more hours in the day so I could have participated in some of the activities offered. I attended sessions, had lunches with my best friend who had just lost her mother and dinner with family and friends. It was a great time! (And I got to celebrate my nephew's 1st birthday!!)

My only problem was that I was unable to capitalize on the momentum from the Conference and really attack my genealogy. WORK and LIFE got in the way. Now both are settling down and I hope to be able to focus on getting a clearer picture of what I REALLY need to be doing.

Here are some photos I was able to take while at the Conference:

Sweet Grass Basket Weavers:

Plantation Singers (http://www.plantationsingers.com)

Wedding Wednesday

Found these photos of my parents, Thomas Raymond Coughlin and Sharyn Ann Senecal, on their wedding day, 18 April 1966 at Holy Name Church, AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York.

And this great photo of my parents, maternal and paternal grandparents!!

Left to Right:
David Francis Coughlin (1909-1984),
Helen (Torrance) Coughlin (1910-1995),
Thomas Raymond Coughlin (1944-1998),
Sharyn Ann (Senecal) Coughlin (1945-1992),
Eulalia Mary (Duprey) Senecal (1911-1979),
Ernest John Senecal (1905-1967)

Tombstone Tuesday

Paternal great grandparents, Daniel and Agnes (Williams) Coughlin. Pic from 1992 trip to the North Country of New York! Holy Name Cemetery, AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York.

Wordless Wednesday

Maternal grandparents, Ernest and Eulalia (Duprey) Senecal. Printed on a postcard. They lived in AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York so a trip to Niagara Falls, New York would be a trip back then but doable.

Sidenote: Amazing what you find when you FINALLY start organizing :)

Tombstone Tuesday

These are my paternal grandparents, David Francis Coughlin and Constance Ann (Hall) Coughlin. They are buried at Holy Name Cemetery, AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York. Another photo from my 1992 trip....ah, to know then what I know now!!!

Happy Book Lover's Day!!

I just saw where today is Book Lover's Day. As family researchers, I think we all know a thing or two about books!! As a history major, I read a great number of books. Even today all those many years later, still reading and loving it!!

So Happy Book Lover's Day ya'll!!!