52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 10 Strong Woman

This week’s theme is Strong Woman.  I am sure there are many strong women in my family, those leaving their countries to immigrate to America and those crossing the country before trains and airplanes.

I want to acknowledge my Aunt Kay, Catherine Mathews Hurley.  She was my godmother and my father’s only sister.  In fact Sister was her nickname.

She was the only girl with 3 brothers in a small apartment in the New York City.  She did have many women cousins living nearby who were very close in age and she stayed close to them all her life.

Aunt Kay was a very shy person, very nice, very sweet and a happy person.  She married Bartholomew Hurley when she was 29 years old.  She had her first child in 1941 just as America became involved with World War Two.  She had to learn to live without many things because they were rationed.  I am sure she had trouble getting milk for her son. She did have two more sons during the war which was both a  blessing and a hardship.
By the time her husband died in 1957, she had had 2 more children a boy and girl.  During this time she also had her mother and brother living with her.  Aunt Kay worked a full time job and took care of the house.  The oldest son had mental problems since he was born and it was a worry to Aunt Kay.  She always worried who would take care of him when she died.

Aunt Kay had a great support system of cousins and brothers.  She also loved to play cards and had her friends over all the time to play. She had a nice social life.  Aunt Kay’s happiest times were when she was home with family and friends.  Her daughter lived all over the world and asked her to travel to her but Aunt Kay never left her neighborhood.

She raised wonderful children.  Two of her sons took over the care of their brother and his problems after Aunt Kay died and did so until he died at the age of 66.  I am sure she would be so proud of them.

I think Aunt Kay was a very strong person but I am sure she didn’t think so, she just thought this is her life and she would do her best.