In Memoriam

O'SHEA (née Swift), Catherine

1931-2016

Catherine (Nellie) O’Shea (nee Swift). It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Nellie, wife of the late Brendan O’Shea Sr., on March 6, 2016 at the age of 84. She will be deeply missed by her children, Brendan Jr (Carole), Gregory (Sylvia), Denis (Dominique), Colleen (Paul) and by her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, Brendan III (Fatima), Shayne (Mélina), Chanelle (Nick), Anthony, Shannon, Sean, Andrew (Stéphanie), Cailin, Amy, Jake & Nox. She will also be missed by her brother Nicholas, nieces, nephews, cousins & friends. Her strength, determination & sense of humour was admired by all. We were so blessed. We love you so much & miss you so deeply already.

The family will receive condolences on Friday, March 11, 2016 from 14 h 30 to 17 h and from 19 h to 22 h at the:

Coopérative Funéraire du Grand Montréal

Résidence funéraire Laval

2000, rue Cunard

Laval (Québec) H7S 2G5

Tél. : 450 934-9808

The funeral will be held the next day, Saturday, March 12 at 14 h at the Church Holy Name of Jesus, 899 Chomedey Blvd, Laval, H7V 2X1

Catherine's (Kathleen to family and friends) funeral is today. We can't be there but I know she would be fine with that.

This was my Aunty Nell, my mother's sister and my Godmother. She grew up in Dublin Ireland as the daughter of Thomas and Veronica Swift. My mother, Angela was the eldest and Nellie was followed by Ursula and then Nicholas.

My sister Ursula (named for my aunt above) and I were the first grandchildren.

Angela and Nellie 1934

Angela and Nellie 1937

Mom, Catherine Halpin Brennan (their maternal grandmother) Aunty Nell (back row)

Aunty Ursula, Joyce Brennan, Uncle Nick

 Nellie and Ursula

Nellie in the door of Mourne Rd Dublin

Me, Aunty Nell, Uncle Brendan with Father Christmas Dublin 1955 or 1956

Aunty Nell and Uncle Brendan's wedding in 1957.

My grandmother, Vonnie on the left and Mr. Mrs. O'Shea on the right.

Me, Uncle Nick, Uncle Brendan, Aunty Nell and Uncle Brendan's sister

Our first Christmas 1957 in Canada was spent at Aunty Nell's in Montreal.

Nellie and Brendan out the back of their place on Durocher.

Angela nad Nellie

Aunty Ursula, Ursula, Brendan, me and Aunty Nell spring 1958 Baie Comeau, they came up for my First Communion. 

Aunty Ursula, Aunty Nell and Mom Montreal 1960

Denis, me, Gregory, Aunty Nell and Brendan

Aunty Nell and her Dad, my grandfather.

Denis, Brian, Uncle Nick, Paul, Brendan Gregory

Aunty Nell and Caitlin August 1990 Montreal

Who will I have now to ask questions about family? And talk about everybody???

I will miss you Aunty Nell!!! And John will miss his "Frenchie"!!

Sepia Saturday

Sepia Saturday

Based on the non-prompt - Without a shadow of a doubt you are on your own with this one, after all, we Sepians are adults and not children. The powers that be (Marilyn and me) have decided that you should be left looking at the picture until you come up with your own interpretation.


Summer 1990 - Montreal Quebec


My cousin's baby shower. That is my maternal grandfather, click here to see him in 1930, some sixty years later, surrounded by some of his great grandchildren. My cousins' children, O'Shea and Swift.

Grandfather was Tom Swift, born in 1904 in Dublin Ireland. he appears on the 1911 census.

I found them in 1912 living in the same house. This is an image of the original 1908-1915 electoral rolls from the Dublin City Archives.

Interesting that his father's name is spelt (UK) or spelled (US) as Swifte. It shows that they lived in a house and shop.

Today it is a funeral house but it is easy to imagine how it would have looked in 1912. It is the small white building in the middle.

inSPIREd Sunday

Sally and Beth host inSPIREd Sunday!

Dublin Ireland

September 24 would have been my parents' 64th wedding anniversary. This is the church they were married in.


Our Lady of Good Counsel Mourne Road Drimnagh Dublin. I think I took this in 2007 on a visit to my aunt who lived across the street.

My parents and my mother's two sisters were married from this church. Also my father's sister and some of my cousins.

Here is a picture of the altar taken at my parents' wedding. I need to repair the folds in this photo!!!

Here they are leaving the church.

Sepia Saturday

I'm posting at Sepia Saturday today.

Today's theme is:

This week’s prompt picture comes from the Powerhouse Collection via Fickr Commons, titled ‘A Man And His Shoe Repair Stall’ and dated 1930. It’s a hand-painted lantern slide but there is no other information given. You can let your imagination run free with your responses to this one. Street traders, roadside artisans, menders, cobblers, tools-of-the-trade, hand-colouring and lantern slides - or you could celebrate Sepia Saturday’s 250th Edition with a party!

I'm going with a party!! And what's better than cake!


Karen, Brian and David Swift, maternal cousins in their summer attire. This is taken at our house in Montreal for either my sister's or my birthday as we are both summer babies. The year? Probably around 1965.


Brian is my only cousin that no one has any idea where he is today. He disappeared in the 1990s leaving a wife and daughter for parts unknown. There is much speculation as to where he went and why but nothing definitive. Family members suggested Vancouver BC, I googled thename and did find several Brian Swifts in BC but no photos.

Sepia Saturday

I'm posting at Sepia Saturday today.

Today's theme is:

234 : Reflections on paddling in the lake or sea

1950/51?? - Dublin Ireland

Mom standing on a beach near Ireland. Doesn't look very warm.

Sepia Saturday

I'm posting at Sepia Saturday today.

Today's theme is weddings.

September 1951 - Dublin Ireland

My parents, Angela and Jack.

My parents 25 years later at thier surprise silver anniversary party!

Sepia Saturday - Feb 22

I'm posting at Sepia Saturday today. This week's challenge:

Sepia Saturday 216 - 22 February 2014 : Three men in suits, three men in hats, three men .

I'm going to focus on my maternal grandfather. He always wore a hat. This is him in 1930 holding my mother in Dublin. The only instance of what he looked like with hair. 

Fast forward to 1952 Dublin and he is holding me.

This is Montreal in December 1961.

I was hoping to post a photo of him holding his great-granddaughter, my niece, but it on my hard drive back in Toronto!