To All the McCorry Relatives,
The year 2020 has been historic in so many ways -- the pandemic; a recession; turmoil in our government -- but it was also notable for something specific to the McCorry Family. Our Aunt Teresa (McCorry) Jonas died in Milwaukee on June 4 at age 91, making her the last of the six children of Charles and Bridget McCorry to pass away. All six were born in the U.S. after their parents immigrated to America from Ireland.
Of course, the grandchildren of Charles and Bridget numbered 30 and other generations have followed, so the McCorry family name lives on. Merry Christmas to all of you and Happy New Year in 2021!
The Jonases
Aunt Teresa did not die of Covid-19, but the pandemic prevented close relatives from visiting her in the nursing home in her final days. Attendance was restricted to immediate family at the funeral service and burial on June 27th. One of her daughters, Sarah Jonas, said of her mom, “She was such a huge person in our lives. She was a wonderful human. I miss her immensely.”
Sadly, other family members also passed on in 2020. Aunt Teresa’s grandson, James Michael Jonas, died Aug. 1st at the age of 40. His father, Jim Jonas, says his son died of heart failure. He had suffered from opioid addiction after treatment for a workplace injury several years ago, Jim said. “He fought his dragon valiantly and did defeat the addiction. Unfortunately, the years of abuse caused physical damage that eventually took its toll.”
The Mullinses
A recent death hit the Mullins family, too, when our brother-in-law Bill Van Pelt -- the husband of our sister Mary, and father of our niece, Lizzy Van Pelt -- died at home in his sleep November 30 at the age of 73. His death was also not Covid-related. He taught English at UW-Milwaukee and married Mary, a student in one of his classes, in 1989. Plans for a service for Bill are tentatively set for Dec. 15. However, the Mullins family also had reasons to celebrate this year with two births.
Our nephew, Casey George Mullins, and his girlfriend, Jessica Headson, had a baby boy Feb. 25th, whom they named Killian John Mullins. Casey is the son of our late brother John “Moon” Mullins and his wife Linda Dwyer. Linda remarried and she and her second husband, Pete Hirthe, have four children and still live here in Bay View.
Later, my niece Erin Freer Ewing and her husband, Mike Ewing, gave birth to Kenneth Christopher Ewing (see photo below) on Aug. 17. The little boy is named for his grandfather, the late Ken Freer, who was married to my sister Tricia. In the coming year, Tricia tells me that she will retire and that she, Erin, Mike and little Kenny, will be moving to Port Angeles, Washington.
The Schields
The Schield family was hit by the coronavirus when David Schield’s son Jeffrey contracted Covid-19 where he lives in Florida. “He had a pretty severe case with fever and breathing issues,” David told me by email. “But while he was never admitted for any treatment, he was in regular contact with his doctor.”
Also, David’s son-in-law Josh Reeves contracted Covid-19 and it spread to his wife, and David’s daughter, Jessica. Thankfully coronavirus did not spread to their two daughters, Rian & Abigal, and both parents have fully recovered.
Meanwhile, David and Rebecca are looking forward to welcoming another grandchild next year. Their daughter Grace and her husband Luke Virnig are expecting their first child March 18, 2021. David tells me Grace promised she’d try to deliver a day early, knowing the importance of March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, to the extended McCorry Family!
Pat (Schield) Werth and her husband, Jay, survived not only Covid, but another fierce wildfire season in their home near Santa Rosa, Calif. They lost their previous home to wildfires in 2017 and, in April, moved into the new home they’d built on the same site. Pat’s sister, Mary Alice, who also lives nearby, visits occasionally to help tend to Pat’s bountiful garden.
But wait! there's more! I neglected to mention cousin Dan Schield's daughter, Emily, and her husband Cole Congrad, welcomed son Carson Cooke Congrad --19 1/2 inches long and weighing 7 lb s.,1 oz -- on Dec. 7. It's day that will live in infamy etc. etc. Here's a pic of little Carson. Enjoy!
Finally, the people who carry on the McCorry family name are hanging in there.
Brian McCorry tells us that his son, Patrick, was laid off from his job at TripAdvisor due to Covid. Business dropped off at the travel web site because so many people dropped their travel plans. Patrick’s wife, Erin, though, continues to work as an endocrinologist at a Kaiser hospital. Patrick is now sheltering in place at home in Davis, Calif., with his three sons, ages 1 through 8.
Brian’s son David and his wife, Lisa, live in Durango, Colo., with their three children ages 14 through 18. Next, Lizzie McCorry and Phil Koesterer enjoy the urban adventure called Chicago where their son PJ, age 9, studies dinosaurs and daughter Maura, 6, entertains the family with hilarious stories.
Andrew McCorry and his wife, Kristina, moved from Chicago to Byron, Ill., with their 1-year-old son, James (see photo above), who’s expected to have a little brother or sister soon. Andrew was also a victim of COVID layoffs, although his father says Andrew has used the time off to hone his golf game. Lastly, son Matthew and Stef McCorry got married in October but will celebrate grandly with family next July, hoping the pandemic eases by then.
As for Brian and his wife, Betsy Bernard McCorry, they remain at home but have held small, socially distanced patio fetes to stay in touch with friends. Brian started a new job in March, but has yet to visit his new office or meet his colleagues in person because of Covid. Betsy continues her educational research work from home and takes classes via Zoom.
Meanwhile, Brian’s older brother Dan McCorry considers himself lucky that he and his wife, Robin, took a cruise to South America in early 2020 before the pandemic really took hold. Like Brian, Dan says he responded to the virus by renovating their garage “to accommodate socially-distanced gatherings with ample airflow and supplemental heating.”
Son Gavin, his wife Laura, and daughter Melanie -- all living nearby in Northern Virginia -- traveled to mom and dad’s home for Thanksgiving dinner. Daughter Chelsea, in graduate school at UMASS-Amherst, joined the family via Zoom. “You do what you gotta do!” Dan told me via email.
Dealing with the stress, hardship and tragedy of this past year makes it all the more important to emphasize and appreciate the love and support of family as this difficult year comes to a close. I hope the pandemic winds down enough that we can all get back together again at wedding receptions, picnics and Toilet Bowl games very soon.
Sincerely,
Robert Mullins
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
