Brigitta's First Game

3-29-2011 ~ Blog #381

(David)

  Brigitta's team had their first game tonight; she was thrilled.  IHM won the first match.  St. Joseph's won the second match which prompted a tie-breaker, which IHM won.  Some of my best shots of Britta are of her celebrating the team's points.

Brigitta got a few serves over the net and even returned some shots.

Look how soft that ball is.

All CYO games begin and end with a prayer.

Volleyball

3-26-2011 ~ Blog #380

(David)

   Svea and Brigitta have begun playing volleyball; this is the first time our children have been in any team sports.  They both have been enjoying it quite a bit.   Brigitta's team, however, has lost 2/3 of their practices to other activities bumping them out of the gym.   Svea has attended a volleyball clinic and had three pre-season practice games.  Her team's first regular season match was tonight.  The first game was a neck and neck nail bitter that went to a tie breaker.  I'm proud of Joan for not throwing up.  They won the second game by a comfortable margin.

Svea & Joan Golden Hour

On the way home from last night's volleyball clinic I took advantage of the golden setting sunlight .

Utensils

Utensils in the kitchen at GFS

Farewell Gerard Kelly

3-19-2011 ~ Blog #379

(David & Joan)

Today we laid to rest my uncle and Godfather.  I will always have wonderful memories of him and Svea, Brigitta and Annika got to know and will remember him as a kind, funny man who sang his own version of "the alphabet song".  I am glad I was able to share him with them for even a little bit.

Obituary from the Akron Beacon Journal: 

John Gerard Kelly died peacefully on Saturday, March 12, 2011, in his Barberton home, surrounded by his children. After almost ninety years and a very full life that saw him married to Helen (Honey) Flaherty, the love of his life, for over fifty- seven years, and with whom he raised ten children.

Born on November 13, 1921 in Elizabeth, New Jersey Dad came to Barberton with his father and two siblings in 1932, where His father found work at the Babcock & Wilcox plant.

A 1940 graduate of Barberton High School, Dad became an electrician at Barberton’s PPG plant until World War II interrupted his tenure there. He returned to PPG following the war and eventually retired with forty-two years of service to the company.

Dad served in World War II as an officer and Naval pilot. It was in the service of his country that he met Helen Marie Flaherty, the one true love of his life. Theirs was a true whirlwind wartime romance. They were married in May, 1946, and shared fifty-seven years of happiness, until her death in December, 2003.

Dad was an active member of St. Augustine’s parish where he gladly gave of his time and talent. He provided hundreds of hours of electrical work, steadfastly refusing payment for his efforts. He felt that service to the Lord was payment in full. He said the rosary daily, served mass regularly, and made two holy hours every week for as long as he was physically able.

Dad was preceded in death by his parents, John Francis and Helen Barry Kelly; his wife of fifty-seven years, Honey; brother, Charles “Chuck” Kelly; steadfast son-in-law, Keith Bell; and his angelic granddaughter, Amanda Suso. Dad is survived by his seven daughters, Kathy of Cleveland, Regina of Seal Harbor, Maine, Sheila (Dave) Roberts of Tallmadge, Mary (Tom) Kelly Glass of Mt. Desert, Maine, Patty (widow of Keith) of Barberton, Ann (Paul) Suso of Doylestown, and Margaret (John) Sarlouis of Akron, and three sons John (Anna Marie) of Medina, Tom of Seattle, and James (Julie) of Bar Harbor, Maine. He also leaves his dear, only sister, Harriette (Bill) Wilsterman, of Tallmadge, Ohio.

There are also fifteen grandchildren left who will dearly miss Dad. The Medina Kellys, Annmarie Harbaugh (Ken), Jenny (fiancé Scott Masloski), John (Rose) and Kevin. Patty’s three daughters, Julia, Elizabeth, and Theresa Bell. Annie’s four children, PJ, Vincent, Marie, and James Suso. Mary’s daughter Caitlyn Glass, James’s daughters Meagan and Leah, Margaret’s daughter Maris Sarlouis, and Katie and Elizabeth Harbaugh, his two great granddaughters, who he said took him from being “grand”, to being “great”.

Father, son, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, Dad’s hands touched many lives. His compassion, generosity, devotion to his Catholic faith, and love of his family were beyond measure. His ten children, fifteen grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters will certainly be his legacy.

Funeral service will be Saturday 10:00 a.m. at the SILVA-HOSTETLER FUNERAL HOME, 1199 Wooster Road West, Barberton, Ohio, 44203. Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 204-6th St. NW, Barberton, Ohio, 44203. Internment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Gerard at the Kelly bashes over the past few years:

(Click on any photo to view larger or for print quality)

Photos from Gerard's funeral luncheon today:

Honey and Gerard's ten Children:

Shy, Gina, Patty, Tom, Kathy, Mary, John, Margaret, James, Annie

Children with spouses (missing Jewels):

Thirteen Kelly grandkids and both great-grandkids:

Kelly Grandkids with Significant Others

The Kelly Men

Michael, Pat and Brian

Candid Photos

Happy Birthday Annika

(6)

3-6-2011 ~ Blog #379

(David & Joan)

   On Friday Annika turned six.  It's hard to believe that our little tiny baby is one third of the way to adulthood.  Svea made her a chocolate cake with strawberries and Brigitta made her a Harry Potter-Ravenclaw T shirt. 

Happy Birthday David

(46)

   I held Annika for the first time on my 40th birthday; that's how I remember my age: Annika's age plus 40. 

Happy Birthday Harriette

(OLD)

   Harriette's birthday was on March first; here's a movie clip of her blowing out the candles on her cake (cobbler really).  I blew it on capturing photos; I blame our crazy schedule since Svea and Brigitta started volleyball on top of German folk dancing, jazz dance class, Annika in ballet and German dancing, Svea in Girl Scouts and Physics Challenge Club and me with my extra curricular school activities.

Six new movies on our Movie Page

Check them out!