Person:John O'Brien (43)

. His funeral Mass was from St. Mark's. He was buried on 22 Dec 1995, in Holy Cross Graveyard, Lackawanna NY (Section 00, Lot 28 (next to parents)). John's occupation was with the Army Corp of Engineers where he retired form in 1972. He married Kathleen M Geary, daughter of Patrick Bernard Geary and Mary Susan Schusler on 25 May 1946, in St. Louis's, Buffalo NY USA. John was the eldest son of John and Mary Margaret O'Brien. When John was school age he ;attended St. Monica's Elementary School. St. Monica's was built a few years after John was born and the family stared attending this new parish. John played sports in the neighborhood fields and was active as the Boy's Club on Babcock Street in the "old neighborhood". As good as John was at sports he always said that when the kids were choosing up sides for a game. His older sister, Kate was always picked before him. He said Kate was a natural and could do anything she tried. John remembers when his favorite Uncle pat Moroney married Nora O'Dea. He said that it was a rainy day and all the kids came home from school for lunch. The kids didn't want to miss the excitement of the wedding so Kate suggested that on the way back to school that they all run through the rain puddles and get wet and report back home all wet unable to go to school. John & Kathleen O'Brien wedding picture This they did and they were able to witness all the preparations and excitement of the wedding. John told me as a young man that many times there would be a knock at the door and when he would answer the door some new Irish immigrant would hand him a letter introducing himself. Some one from back home in the parish in Ireland would recommend that they stop at the O'Briens' in Buffalo and get help from them. Of course the guest was welcomed and he was given a place to stay and made comfortable until further arrangements could be made. John was a good student and he graduated from South park High School about 1930. When John was in 9th. Grade, his mother, sister, Mary and himself went for a ride in the country with a cousin of their mothers. The car was owned by Thomas Gorman. There were few cars in the mid 1920's and it was a real treat to be asked to go for a ride in a car. The drive was out in West Seneca which was the "country" back then. As they enjoyed their ride the car was hit by a train as it crossed the railroad tracks. The accident happened on Langner Road. This road now doesn't cross the tracks. John sustained the worst injuries and had a compound fracture of his femur. An infection started in his bone and took many years to heal. John was in Mercy hospital for many months. After school John joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, CCC. He was assigned to work on the Tennessee Valley Project. This was during the Great Depression and he was grateful to have this opportunity. There he worked as a medic. There were a number of other young men from the neighborhood in Buffalo that enlisted with John at the same time so he wasn't lonely and had a good time. John never learned to drive a car but was great at directions and reading a road map. He and Kathleen went on many trips together. The Peeks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Skyway was a favorite. They also went to Ireland twice, Hawaii, Spain and Morocco. John was an avid reader and there wasn't much he did not have an interest in. After he retired he volunteered at the Buffalo Zoo and worker as a docent giving tours to school groups. Many times he was there to intersect one of the O'Brien nieces and nephews on a school outing. John had a large interest in the family. He valued family relationships and was always ready to support the many nieces and nephews. Kathleen and John were very generous with their savings and many times helped out one of John's brother or sisters during financial difficulty. John's claim to fame was that he attended every christening, first Holy Communion, school graduation, or wedding he was invited to - no matter what the weather was Kathleen would drive him there! This book is dedicated to John S. O'Brien because it was his influence upon me and the stories he told me that I share with you in the History of the of Killernan.

OBrien John Kevin John S http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=bcb7f87f-5bac-443b-83fd-427cf95aab5a&tid=7775997&pid=-1039232482

O'Brien Killernan James O'Connor http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=c0affc14-dc53-46bc-bb98-44f13b0a46cc&tid=7775997&pid=-1039232482

O'Brien, John Stephen 1912 http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=887e0529-fd7e-4e6c-b26b-c59cde42d28f&tid=7775997&pid=-1039232482

O'Brien John & Kathleen Geary Grave http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=efe019fd-a5ec-417c-816f-d3971e2a13fd&tid=7775997&pid=-1039232482

O'Brien John & Kathleen Geary wedding http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=a2135472-a21d-43fc-8580-f79a87e6540d&tid=7775997&pid=-1039232482

O'Brien John & Kathleen Geary http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=0851866a-00f9-4387-a75f-fa68d5c9c1ad&tid=7775997&pid=-1039232482

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census. (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 on roll 323 (Chicago City.Original data - United States)
   Year: 1920; Census Place: Buffalo Ward 4, Erie, New York; Roll: T625_1100; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 37; Image: 268.

   Birth date: abt 1913Birth place: New YorkResidence date: 1920Residence place: Buffalo Ward 4, Erie, New York _APID: 6061::75641237

   http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=1920usfedcen&h=75641237&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census. (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626)
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Roll: 1422; Page: 20A; Enumeration District: 7; Image: 230.0.

   Birth date: abt 1913Birth place: Residence date: 1930Residence place: Buffalo, Erie, New York _APID: 6224::27991142

   http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=1930usfedcen&h=27991142&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index. (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008.Original data - Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security)
   Number: 106-09-9031; Issue State: New York; Issue Date: Before 1951.

   Birth date: 3 Sep 1912Birth place: Death date: 19 Dec 1995Death place: Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States of America _APID: 3693::45984918

   http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=ssdi&h=45984918&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt