Genealogical Gems

Today is Soul Saturday. It is a day when Orthodox Christians pray for the peaceful repose of those who have Fallen Asleep in the Lord. It is a day that calls us to pray that God forgives your loved ones any sins they may have committed and that He grant them rest among His saints. As I sat here this morning and considered how to apologize and explain my recent absence from pretty much the entire social world for the past month, I noticed a Church friend had posted about Soul Saturday on her Facebook page and I remembered that today was in fact a Soul Saturday. So, how does this tie in with my disappearance? To be honest, my energy has been drained. February is always a difficult month for me. It’s my birthday month and I hate that. Three years ago, it was also the month my mother passed away. She died on the 5 th at just 69 years. Her cousin – “Aunt” Nonie (Naomi O’Flaherty Catanese) died a few days later. This year, on the 11 th , we were just sitting down to dinner when I ...

February has not been kind to my family and this year has not been any exception. On Thursday, the 11 th I received a call from the police that a close cousin had passed. I am still dealing with everything that has to be done when someone passes and – to be honest – I have a new respect as a genealogist for all those record keepers! Last Thursday, the 18 th , as I was down his place cleaning and sorting, I got a phone call saying another cousin – Maria Toth – had passed that morning. Maria is one of my Uncle Nick’s daughters. Uncle Nick was my grandfather’s brother. Maria’s obituary reads: Maria Toth of East Fallowfield Maria Toth, 60, passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at home surrounded by her loving family. Maria was the loving wife of Michael P. Toth and they shared 37 years of marriage. Born on February 2, 1956 in Coatesville , Pa. , she was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Ann Petro Ruczhak. In addition to her husband she is survived by three sons Micha...