Memories ... July 22

 Anniversary  of  a  Birthday:

(For my 'Family Anniversaries' page)

Today is the anniversary of a birthday.  My paternal Grandaunt Marcella May Brown was born on this day in 1892.

I have previously written a post about Marcella (which can be read by following this link:The Story Of ... The Only Marcellas), so today I will just give a brief overview of Marcella's story on her special day.

• Marcella was born in the small township of Bexhill, near Lismore, in New South Wales.

• She was the youngest of four daughters born to Richard Joseph Brown and Ellen Cusack.

• Marcella (known as Macy to her family and friends) and her sisters grew up in Lismore, daughters of a pioneering family whose name was well-known in the Lismore district.

• When Marcella was 14 years old, in 1906, her sister Grace Olive Brown (my grandmother) married George Thomas Connors; and her sister Lillian Ruth Brown married James Alfred Connors.  Yes, the sisters had married a set of brothers.

• Sadly, Marcella's brother-in-law James passed away in very tragic circumstances the following year, in 1907, leaving Marcella's sister Lillian a widow with a six-month old baby.  Marcella, aged 15, would no doubt have been deeply effected by this tragedy and the sorrow that fell over the family.

• Marcella's widowed sister Lillian re-married late in 1908.  Then her sister Elsie Myrtle Brown married early in 1909.  Marcella would have been aged 16 for both of those weddings.

• When Marcella was aged 19, tragedy struck once again.  Marcella's sister Lillian died just two weeks after giving birth to a daughter.  This would have been a heartbreaking event in young Marcella's life.  One can only imagine the emotional weight these early losses carried for her.

• I have very little knowledge of Marcella's life between that terrible family tragedy and the day that Marcella herself got married.  After more than a decade of quiet years, for which I have no records, Marcella found love of her own.

Wedding Day - December 1923
St. Patrick's Church, Wardell, New South Wales

• Marcella, aged 31, married Alfred Loring Tyler in December of 1923. They went on to have three children, Joan Aileen Ellen Tyler, John Francis (Jack) Tyler, and Norma Maureen Tyler.

• Marcella and Alfred were married for a short four and a half years, as Alfred unfortunately passed away in mid 1928 at the age of 44.  Marcella at that time was just a few days shy of her 35th birthday and was left a widow with a 4-year old, a two-year old and a new baby, just a month and a half old.

Marcella's house and adjacent shop at Broadwater, New South Wales

• Marcella's response to this hardship was one of courage and perseverance.  She supported her young family working as a shop keeper, operating a small shop in Broadwater, a village south-east of Lismore.  She lived next door to the shop, creating a stable life for her children and remaining in the community for decades.

Marcella's Children - Joan Aileen Ellen, John Francis (known as Jack), and Norma Maureen Tyler

• Marcella never re-married.  Her quiet strength defined her later years, as she remained devoted to her family and her independence.

• In 1973, Marcella passed away just a few days short of her 81st birthday.  She had moved to south-eastern Queensland at least ten years before that, to be close to her children.

• Marcella was buried alongside her husband Alfred at the Wardell Catholic Cemetery in Wardell, north of Broadwater and south-east of Lismore, in New South Wales.

Marcella’s story is one of quiet endurance. She experienced devastating loss at a young age - of a brother-in-law, two sisters, and later a husband - yet she carried on with grace and determination. She worked hard, raised her children with love, and carved out a place for herself in her community.

Though time has dimmed the details of some chapters in her life, the outline of her journey speaks volumes: a life of service, sacrifice, and silent strength, woven through with love and loyalty to family.