Sunday's Obituary - Gabriel Kennedy

The Standard Speaker, 30JAN1971, pg 1

I'm always trying to firm up my lateral lines. It can help in so many ways. If you're stuck on a direct line ancestor, but you gather information on that person's brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, etc you might find information in documents about them that could also pertain to your ancestor. Even if your ancestor isn't specifically mentioned knowing more about that lateral line can help you confirm or reject a document you find on your ancestor later. After all if you know the members of your ancestor's family and then find a document that has completely different names you'll know that it's not right and to keep looking.

This obituary doesn't yield an immediate results for my direct line, but it's still a good obituary and you never know what the future brings. Maybe it will help someone else and they'll know something about our joint line I don't. I wonder why Gabe died so suddenly. The Pennsylvania Death Certificates aren't online for 1971 so I won't know for awhile. He was 65 when he died. Sure, so people will say that's a good age. As I get older though it starts to feel like 65 is too young to pass. Of course I'm looking at it from today where our average life expectancy is a bit higher than that.

“Gabriel J. Kennedy, Former Cafe Owner, Dies Unexpectedly

Gabriel J. ‘Gabe’ Kennedy, one of the area’s best known bar and restaurant owners, died unexpectedly at 10:30 o’clock last night in his home at 356 Thirlwell Ave.

The prominent businessman, who retired in 1970 after operating Gabe’s Cafe on the Heights for more than 35 years, was born in Tresckow, a son of the late Anthony and Fannie Cortez Kennedy, and spent his entire life in Hazleton.

‘Gabe’ established an outstanding reputation as a businessman and humorist and was noted for his generosity to the needy.

He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Hazleton Council No. 442, and the Heights Fire Co.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary, in 1930; a brother, Dr. V. James Kennedy, in 1968, and another brother, Joseph, in 1969.

Surviving are his wife, the former Mary Turnbach; one daughter, Mrs. Joseph (Joan) Undeck, Wheaton, Md.; a grandson, Joseph, and the following brothers: Dr. Frank Kennedy, D.D.S.; Charles T., Anthong and John, all of this city.

The Standard Speaker,
30JAN1971, pg 2

The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday from the Turnbach Funeral Home.

A high mass of requiem will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Rosary Church. Interment will be in St. Gabriel’s Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.

A para liturgical service will be held at 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.”

Gabriel was married to Mary Turnbach who was my first cousin twice removed. Rest in peace, Gabe.

Tombstone Tuesday - Robert and Ethel Turnbach

Robert Turnbach was the third of nine known children of Abraham and Mary Turnbach nee Blanchfield. He is also my first cousin twice removed. I had gotten most of my information on my Turnbach cousins from Bill Turnbach Jr., but as I continue to work through my family tree and add citations and fix errors I  also know that I need to add other sources to the family tree he gave me. I'm sure the information he gave me was correct, but good research is more than just taking what you're given. In doing just that I came across the FindAGrave memorials for Robert and Ethel Turnbach nee McQuilken in Greenwood Cemetery in Allentown. There's also a memorial for Robert in Grandview Cemetery in Allentown....and, yes, it's the same Robert Turnbach (no memorial for Ethel in Grandview, but that doesn't mean she's not buried there).

I didn't find this second memorial immediately. I found it quite accidentally. I was continuing my research on Robert and Ethel on Ancestry and checked out the Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards since I knew from Robert's obituary and his tombstone that he served in World War II. That record states that he's buried in Grandview.

So what do I do now? Where is he really buried? Obviously he was supposed to be buried in Grandview, but did that change? Could the memorial have been created accidentally in the wrong cemetery and the pictures placed in there? The cemetery names are similar enough that a mistake could have easily been made, but where? The best thing for me to do is to try to contact Grandview and see if Robert is buried there and if Ethel is with him. Since Ethel doesn't have a memorial in Grandview I'll wait until I get confirmation for where they are before creating one for her.

Either way I'm taking today to remember Robert and Ethel. Separated from each other too soon, but reunited again. Rest in peace.

*A very special thank you to Chuck Schubert for kind permission to post his photos of the Turnbach tombstones on my blog.

Sunday's Obituary - Marie G. Turnbach nee Guckavan

Hazleton Standard Speaker,
12NOV2001, pg2

Marie Turnbach nee Guckavan was the mother of my cousin, William Turnbach Jr.  When I first started out researching my genealogy, my electronic path crossed Bill's quite quickly.  We corresponded by email and regular mail a few times.  He always was eager to share information with me and others researching our shared family history.  Bill was a wealth of knowledge and brought many of us in this line together to continue on even after he passed in 2006.

As I was looking through my family tree and updating sources I came across this obituary for his mom that had been clipped and mailed to me (now if only I could remember who sent it...).  It's an impressive obituary.  I like to think that Bill had a hand in writing it, especially considering all the wonderful information detailed in there.  I never actually met Bill or his mother, but I'm sure my mom, aunt and uncle may have considering her ties to education in the Hazleton area.  In fact many of my ancestors were educators as well and I'm sure they knew her.  So today I'm sharing this well done obituary for this busy force of a woman.

"Marie G. Turnbach

Marie G. Turnbach, 101, died Saturday evening at Mercy Center, Dallas, where she had been a resident for the past seven years.

Mrs. Turnbach would have celebrated her 102nd birthday in two weeks.

Born in McKee's Rocks, Allegheny County, she was the daughter of the late James D. and Catherine (Corrigan) Guckavan.

She attended St. Gabriel's High School, and was a graduate of Bloomsburg State Teachers College, Class of 1919.  Prior to marrying, she taught in the Hazleton public schools, and, in later years, had substituted in the Hazleton Area School District and at St. Gabriel's School, in the elementary grades.

Mrs. Turnbach, along with her husband, the late William M. Turnbach, founded the Turnbach Funeral Home (Inc.), Hazleton.

She was an active member of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church, Hazleton, taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes until the age of 90, and was one of the founders of the parish's Golden Agers, of which she served as president for two terms.

When Penn State University throated to close down the local campus, during the 1940s, Mrs. Turnbach was instrumental in maintaining a branch in the Hazleton area.  She served on the college's educational council for 30 years and served as treasurer for 25 years.

Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents and husband, were her son, James A. Turnbach, local funeral director and former mayor of Hazleton; and daughters, Sister Marie Turnbach and Kathleen Finn.

Surviving are a son, William M. Turnbach, Trappe: daughters, Sister Ann Turnbach, Dalla, and Beth Turnbach, Hazleton; 15 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Sister Elizabeth Guckavan, Dallas.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Blessed Sacrement Chapel of Mercy Center, Dallas.

Burial will take place in St. Gabriel's Cemetery, Hazleton.

Friends may call at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 to 10:15 a.m.

Donations to the Sisters of Mercy Retirement Fund, Mercy Center, Lake Street, Dallas, Pa., 18612 or to the memorial fund of St. Gabriel's R.C. Church, 122 S. Wyoming St., Hazleton, Pa. 18201 would be appreciated by the family.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Turnbach Funeral Home Inc., 423 W. Broad St., Hazleton."

Military Monday - William Turnbach Jr

Bill Turnbach was one of the first people I came in contact with when I began my genealogy research over a decade ago.  He was also one of the first people I lost since doing genealogy.

I never got to meet Bill.  I spoke to him through email and snail-mail only.  He was so kind and helpful.  He touched so many of us researching the Blanchfield line.  He was always ready to send photos, disks with information, and pretty much anything else you could want.  I was in Hawaii when we began to correspond and when I found out that he had passed the loss was tangible.

Bill helped me so much when I was first starting out and I realized I knew so little about him personally. We get in contact with distant cousins and we're so excited about comparing genealogical information that sometimes we neglect to get to know the person we're collaborating with.

I was trying to remember when Bill passed and since I was on Ancestry.com already it was easier to do a quick search than open my genealogy program.  When doing so I came across the following:

I never knew the Bill had been in the military.  Being a veteran myself this is very special to me.  I wish I had a picture of him in uniform (or a picture of him period) so I could include him in my Veterans Day tribute.  Maybe a genealogical angel will deliver one to me before November.

So this Military Monday I want to remember a veteran and cousin (2nd cousin once removed) that I wish I had gotten to know better.  Rest in peace, Bill, and thank you for your service.

Tombstone Tuesday - Milton Turnbach

Time to get some more information that I've got lying around and attach it to someone in my tree. I look forward to having more time to do this when we get settled into our new home, but we're genealogists.  We do what we can, when we can, and I've got a little time right now as babysit my great niece and she naps peacefully in the next room.

Milton Turnbach was born in 1899.  He was the oldest of 8 known children born to Abraham and Mary Turnbach nee Blanchfield:  Milton, William, Robert, Mary, 2 unknown (either died young or were stillborn), Elizabeth, and Anna.

I don't know if Milton married or had children, but with a death date from the Social Security Death Index I can grab his obituary when I get back to Pennsylvania.  Oh how essential that database is to genealogists!

Milton was my first cousin twice removed and he died on November 23, 1988.  He is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania.  Rest in peace, Milton.

Tombstone Tuesday - Abraham and Mary Turnbach nee Blanchfield

Abraham and Mary Turnbach nee Blanchfield are my great great uncle and aunt.  Mary is my great grandmother's sister.

Abraham was the son of Milton and Bridget Turnbach nee Dugan.  He was born on February 25, 1877 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.  He died on December 9, 1918.

Mary was the oldest daughter of Martin and Anna Blanchfield nee Boyle.  She was born on November 11, 1879 in New York, NY and died in 1919.

Abraham and Mary had at least 8 children (Milton, William, Robert, Mary,  Elizabeth, Ann and 2 unknown children).  Both Abraham and Mary died so close to each other that the first thought that had jumped into my mind was "Flu".  This would have been during the height of the 1918 pandemic (at least for Abraham).  Sometimes guesses are wrong.

Abraham died in a mining accident.  He did repair work in the coal mines and was electrocuted.  It stated on his death certificate that his cause of death was "Electric shock - came in contact with hot wires."

I don't have Mary's death certificate.  The last time I requested it I received notice of a failed search.  I'll have to try again soon or see if one of my genealogy cousins was lucky enough to get a copy.  I suppose it's possible that she could have succumb to the epidemic, but not knowing when in 1919 she passed does put a bit of a damper on that.

What is sad aside from them dying so close to each other?  Their youngest was only about 4 years old.  Luckily (if there can be luck) their oldest was nearly 20 and the family stayed together.

Abraham and Mary are buried in St. Mary's cemetery, Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania.

Wedding Wednesday - Edward and Mary Ann Brown nee Quirk

The Plain Speaker, 18JUN1940, pg 28

"Brown-Quirk.

Miss Mary Ann Quirk, daughter of Edward J. Quirk of Jeanesville, and Edward J. Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Brown, of West Broad street, this city, were married this morning at 8 o'clock at St. Gabriel's church by Very Rev. Monsignor Dennis J. Kane, who also celebrated the nuptial mass which followed the ceremony.

The bride wore a gown of white marquisheer made with a high neckline, short sleeves and a full ruffled skirt.  Her finger-tip veil of illusion was held in place by a cap of orange blossoms, and she carried an old fashioned bouquet of white roses, larkspur and sweet peas.

Miss Anna Turnbach, cousin of the bride, was bridesmaid and carrying out the all-white theme, wore a gown of white marquisheer similar to the bride's.  She wore a doll hat of white maline trimmed with small white flowers, and her old fashioned bouquet of mixed flowers.

Walter H. Brown, brother of the bridegroom, was best man.  The ushers were Eugene McElwee, cousin of the bridegroom, and Edward J. Corcoran.

Miss Margaret Flynn presided at the organ, and Patrick McHugh sang during the mass.

Immediately following the mass, a wedding breakfast was served at the Catholic Women's Club, after which the couple left on a motor trip through the New England States.

The bride is a graduate of West Chester State Teachers' College and is assistant music supervisor in the Hazle township schools.  The bridegroom is a graduate of Villanova and is a member of the Green-Vine Junior High School faculty."

This is the wedding announcement for my grandmother and grandfather.  I'm hoping that someday I'll be able to see a picture of the bride and groom.  The descriptions of the dresses were fantastic!  I'm told by my mom that it should be familiar...that she wore the same dress at her wedding, which  I remember trying that on when I was in high school!  It fit in my skinnier days, but it zipped on the side from the waist to the underarm.  Very awkward to try to get off.  I almost got stuck!

Some things that were not mentioned in the article:

1) The groom's parents, Thomas and Mary Brown Sr nee Barrett, were also married on June 18th in 1901 so it was their 39th anniversary that day!

2) It was the bride's 27th birthday on her wedding day!

3) Mary Ann's mother is not mentioned in the article.  Her name was Alice Quirk nee Blanchfield and she died on September 23, 1915 in (or shortly after) childbirth when Mary Ann was only 2 years old.  The child (gender unknown) died as well (or was stillborn).

4) The bride (as previously mentioned) was 27 and the groom was 31 when they married.  A bit older than we would normally see for this period.  I'm sure the fact that they were both college graduates had something to do with that!

Wordless Wednesday - Turnbach Family Photo

This photo was originally passed on to me by William Turnbach, Jr.  He sent me the key on a floppy disk back in 2001, but the file wouldn't open.  Since then Bill's passed away, but other cousins that I've found in that line have helped name some of the people in the picture.  I have high hopes that someday all of them will have names!