My Great Gram and I were very close. I was her first great grandchild. She was extremely funny and we had many adventures. She always took the blame when we got in trouble together.
Great Gram was also a knowledgeable herbalist and I enjoyed learning from her. Her grandmother had been a "wise-woman" in Ireland. When she was younger, Great Gram was accused of being a "witch" there in New Castle, PA, because she would heal the people too poor to go a doctor wi
th herbs and teas, and natural remedies. Because of her sense of humor, she said she liked to dress up as a witch for Halloween, just to send the message that she knew what they were saying and thought it was silly, but "here is something to talk about." That is the kind of trouble-maker she was.
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| Great Grandma Molly at Halloween |
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Great Grandma Molly and Great Grandpap Joe, celebrating a lifetime of love
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Years later, my Great Grandpa always did a joke-routine with her when they would go to our camp in Tionesta with us. We would drive through Polk, which was known for being the home of the enormous "Polk State Institution for the Feeble Minded." Every time, Great Grandpa would say, "Quick, Molly, get down on the floor and I will cover you with a blanket! If they see you in the car, they will think you are trying to escape." She would laugh and say, "You married me- who looks crazy now?" For us kids, it was the funniest thing ever, no matter how many times we heard it.
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| Visiting Tionesta, jokingly making a fist at her husband |
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| Moments later, hugging him close, for real |
