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| CAROL AND GRANDPA MICKEY COUGHLIN |
Ancestry
I received my Ancestry DNA results in November 2014. I did not do much about an Ancestry tree until months later when I noticed messages from possible cousins. With their help I established and grew a McNiff Ancestry tree.
I accumulated records as I researched. Each branch of the family has sent out signals and hints telling me they want their stores told. Many of them died in infancy. They may not have lived long but now want themselves represented. I know they are calling to me because suddenly I will interpret a hint in a different way and get a lead or feel a tug to recheck a document and discover a clue I missed the first time.
I know my ancestors are at work keeping me on my genealogy journey.
The Pruntys are most vociferous, followed by the Simpsons and McNiffs. Somewhat dormant have been the Coughlins, my mother's paternal side. No hints, no DNA relative messages...nothing scandalous, no secrets revealed, no signs from the dead.
They have been peacefully hanging on the tree. I suppose one of them was eventually going to make themselves known...and one did, Mickey Coughlin. We pronounce it Cog lin
Background
Michael Aloysius Coughlin, aka Mickey, is my maternal grandfather. Ruth's father. I knew him growing up. My mother was his first born and she was close to him. In summers, we spent weeks in the Highlands, a coastal town on the Jersey shore and often he was there with us. I was pleased he shared his name with my fave baseball player, Mickey Mantle. He was definitely a Mickey, and not a Mike. Small, solid,, strong, scrappy.
His first wife, my grandmother Rose Prunty, died in 1957. The photo following is dated July 1957, one month after my grandmother died. He is pictured with his son, my Uncle Joe. Might be the only month he was alone. At least this was the impression I got from conversations I overheard. |
| JOSEPH COUGHLIN, MICKEY COUGHLIN JULY 1957 |
My mother always referred to her as Olive, from Bar Harbor, Maine. And she said it with her best imitation of a Maine accent. Every time. It imprinted on my mind
Florida
In the mid sixties, after spending a few years in Flushing, Queens, Olive and MIckey moved to Vero Beach, Florida.
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| VERO BEACH, 1961 |
He did travel north once more for a visit. Below is a photo of the last time we saw him. The year is 1972.
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| CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT, CHARLIE, LOIS, CAROL, MICKEY, GERALDINE |
New York Reunion
Mickey had been visiting New York for a mini reunion. My father, Charlie top left, Lois, me,
lower row Aunt Geraldine (his younger daughter) and Mickey. Aunt G borrowed my knit top because she had nothing to wear. Or maybe she liked my top. I liked it. I therefore am represented twice. My mother had only half her face in
the original photo. An unfortunate happening about which she complained every time the photo surfaced. This time I cropped her out. Ruthless. She is represented by the blue shoulder on the right.
You
will see my grandfather is looking down. Amazing that he lived so long. His WW1 war injuries were severe; his eyes were damaged by mustard gas and
he had difficulty with light. I have his purple heart in my jewelry box. Mustard gas is a chemical weapon used in WW1; now internationally outlawed but used in Syria in recent years. Here is some info about it.
Mickey died in 1975 at age 76.
My parents retired to Fl in 1986. In all the years my parents lived in Florida and all the visits I made
there nothing was mentioned about where they were buried. And I don't
think there were visits. My parents were not cemetery visitors. You are
gone. That's it. Done.
Port St. Lucie
In the last week of March 2017 we visited friends in Port St, Lucie.Fl Ancestry talk and sharing went on. We are all interested in genealogy and have been fascinated with the DNA results. Not sure when the thought popped in my head about looking Grandpa up. I have spent a great deal of time on the west coast of Florida visiting and exploring its coast with my parents. The east coast is less traveled. I did some looking on my mobile devices and was surprised to see the cemetery Mickey was in, Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Fort Pierce. Not too far away.
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| FIND A GRAVE RESULTS FROM ANCESTRY |
I also remembered his birthday was March 29th. We were talking about it on 3/28! Yes! serendipitous, maybe. At the least. Okay...maybe more. A sign? Would a pyshic feel it?
It would be a reach to say I felt something. However, I did think of him enough to check his Find a Grave. And we were in FL just after the 7th anniversary of Ruth's death 3/24/10.
First time back for us...must be a sign. All of this dovetailed to merit an in-person trip.
Hillcrest Gardens
Our friends graciously put a cemetery visit on the itinerary. The visit was in fact happening on his 118th birthday. We set out for Hillcrest Gardens, and with group navigational participation, we found it. Certainly RIP has been achieved for these souls; not a living person to be seen. We found the office, received a comprehensive overview from one of its representatives, a Long Island transplant. What a ideal spot Olive chose. And she knew it. I found a note from her to my parents.
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| OLIVE'S THANK YOU NOTE |
High ground, no water level fears, enough room for a few more in the grave, and enough room in the cemetery for another 200 years.
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| THE GRAVE MARKER; MICHAEL A 1899-1975 OLIVE S 1897-1979 |
The rep left us and I knelt for a photo; I guess this should read knelt to pray. But I did what I do. Record the event. My grandfather would be okay with it. He was okay with most things.
I uploaded the photos to Ancestry. And am happy the Coughlins received some attention.
Liam at Best In Show Pet Resort
And what was Liam doing?
On vacay as well
at his place Best in Show
He understands about DNA.
His was done as well. No cousins have reached out but he has a play group family that works for him.
Here is a collage of him and his play buddies.
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Woof, Woof
