ViewsWatchersBrowse |
Patrick J. McNally
b.19 Jan 1876 Louisburgh, Westport, County Mayo, Republic of Ireland
d.28 Nov 1980 St. Patrick's Manor Framingham, MA.
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 1873
(edit)
m. 1898
Facts and Events
Norton Funeral Home, St John's Cemetery Y1 CAUS Bronchopneumonia, 14 Da ys between on set and death 1 NOTE He helped build the Clinton Dam. 16 J an 1876 Death Date: Nov 1980 Social Security Number: 017-40-7827 Sta te or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Massachusetts Death Residence Lo calities ZIP Code: 01701 The South Middlesex News Middlesex, Massachusetts Monday January 12, 1976 You'd never believe he's 100 year old FRAMINGHAM - Three years ago a doctor sat on the edge of Patrick J. McNally's bed, put the "earphones" on him and declared him dead. McNally had had a shock. He couldn't speak but he heard clearly when the doctor asked a priest to give McNally the last rites of the church. The handsome, white-haired gentleman with pink and white checks laughs about it now as he prepares to celebrate his 100th birthday at St. Patrick's Manor on Thursday. "When he saw me six months later, he looked at me and said 'Are yhou the gink I left for dead? You've come a long way.' " McNally doesn't attribute his lonevity to heredity even though his mother died in his mative Country Mayo, Ireland at 108. He is the only survivor in a family of 12 children. Two of his sisters lived to be between 90 and 95 years of age. With that positive track record, McNally still insists it's not a case of heredity, reminding, "My father died when I was 15." Six operations behind him as well as the shock which has left his right hand less mobile than the left and his speech affected just enough that the brogue and the softness of his voice make you listen more attentively to what he has to say, McNally doesn't look a day over 70 and has the independent spirit and wit of one much younger. He is a man who likes to tell stories and riddles, and his favorite is the one about being pronounced dead. "Father Flynn did give me the last rites. He also suggested that I not go to mass anymore. That's when I asked him 'Are you afraid I'll fall at your feet?' " Though he spends most of his day in a wheelchair, with the use of a walker, McNally goes into the hallway every day to do his exercise. "I do everything for myself and that includes feeding and shaving myself with my left hand" he exclaims proudly. He is twice a widower. McNally's wife Bridget, with whom he had six children, died in 1924 and Beatrice, died in 1935. Three of his daughters, Rita Dallas, a registered nurse recommended to the Kennedy family following Ambassador Joseph Kennedy's shock, who took care of him for eight years, Helen Murprey and Alice Minaham are living. Daughter, Mary died as a baby, Peter was killed in an automobile accident in 1930 and John, died last April at the age of 77. He has 13 grandchildren but his son John had 26. All of McNally's children were born in Clinton, where he setttled after coming to the United States during the year of the Spanish-American War (1898). He latter moved to Framingham where he lived for more than 40 years and when he left his home at 21 Wood Terrace on Oct. 27, 1970, he came to St. Patrick's Manor. McNally retired at the age of 71 having worked for the state highway department for 14-15 years, "doing whatever I was told to do." What stands out the most as he reflects over the changes that have taken place? Wages. "When I came from the old country I went to work at the Lancaster Mills from Monday morning until Saturday noon. That was a 58-hour week and my pay was $6.09. The plumbers are getting $11 an hour today. In my time, $9 a week was damn good pay. If I had to hire him then, it would have been $4 a day." The vast changes in snow-plowing are also vivid in his mind. "We had a real heavy storm that Thanksgiving when I was 22. It was about four feet and there was only one horseplow. We had to go out and kick the snow into a pail just to get out the door of the house. And after the plow came, the track was still narrow for everone to use to go down the street." Because his eyes bother him, McNally limits his television time, but he does play cards frequently. "I can play any game but they tell me I'm a crook" he jokes. Tuesday and Thursday is card day and if he's not playing with Charlie Hammond, a volunteer, then his partner might be one of the other volunteers or some of the other residents of St. Patrick's Manor. How does McNally feel about the world today? "It's gone bugs-for the worse. They have no shame. They're getting lower all the time. One thing is for sure - they shouldn't have allowed them to build that wall in Germany." How does he feel about our various presidents? "They're all about the same. Nixon didn't help his party any. He was too much with Russia. I see Ford on telvision but I don't know him. I'm not for or against him. The fact that he replaced Nixon won't help him as they'll always look upon him as one of his men." What is McNally's prediction on the upcoming presidential election? "Come up to my grave and I'll holler up to you. If I say my mind they'll say who is that S.O.B. that gave you that information. He's crazy." And how long does McNally think he'll keep going strong? "I might die in five minutes. That's why you shouldn't print what I told you. I like tostart stories." When it was mentioned he didn't look like someone ready to die, the chipper McNally disagreed. Ready with the last word, he commented, "As the fellow said, some day I'll wake up dead." References
|