We have another installation of the Nancy Allan Family Story.  Nancy just returned from her long anticipated trip to Canada to visit her family.  So, I hope we'll soon have another chapter to add!

 

Now, we have lots of room and time to share other stories from other community members.  So, my dear sisters and brothers, brush off those photo albums and family journals and consider submitting a few stories to share with the entire community.  All are welcome to share...

 

  John Allan's Ancestors

 

My children's most fascinating ancestor was Captain John Allan, my husband's grandfather, an English merchant captain who died of pneumonia at 37 in New York City after bringing his ship, the Rhiwindda, through the icy waters around Newfoundland in 1881. He is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York. Until a few years ago, no family members of any branch has seen his grave, as all of them lived either in England or different parts of Canada. In the fall of 2007 two of his oldest son Jacks' grandchildren and one great-grandchild visited New York from Saskatchewan: Rick, his sister Jean, and his daughter Beverly. John and I had met Rick's family when his half-sister Donna Legacy hosted the first Allan reunion in Duybuc, Saskatchewan, in 1993. Their father, another Dick, son of Jack Allan, was then very frail and died a few months after the reunion.

 

Captain Allan's widow, Mary Blomfield Allan, supported herself and her four sons, Jack, Dick, Charlie and Hugh by taking in Anglican clergy as boarders. Her third son, Charles Louis Allan, became my father-in-law. He was named Louis, who died in 1879, helping the British fight the Zulus. Romanticism flourished in the nineteenth century.

 

Charles Allan and his youngest brother, Hugh, settled in Winnipeg with their mother early in the twentieth century, while their two older brothers, Jack and Dick, settled in Saskatchewan. When their mother began to need more care, Hugh and Charles persuaded a young Englishwoman, Mary Bott, then visiting her sister to help care for a new baby, to give them a hand.   They were both attracted to her, but Charlie walked her home. Charlie got her, and she eventually became my mother-in-law. Despite having spent seven years in pre-World War I Germany as governess to two children of a wealthy German-Jewish family successfully, caring for her own children gave her migraines, which she passed along to my husband John, who otherwise was a happy optimist in most of his adult years.

 

After Mary Blomfield Allan died in 1923, having enjoyed seeing two more grandchildren born (John and his sister Muriel), Charles Allan moved with his family to Montreal and eventually became chief mechanical draughtsman for the Canadian National Railroad. One good feature of this was that his family enjoyed free travel on vacation trips as long at they rode the CNR.

 

When the Charles Allans visited Illinois in the summer of 1955 to get acquainted with the girl their son planned to marry, John's mother had a reunion with several members of the Strauss family, the family which had employed her in Berlin. Mrs. Strauss and Mary Allan had corresponded all through the years between. The Strauss's younger daughter lived in Oak Park with her husband and one child, and her mother and older sister were visiting from New York. Mrs. Strauss had written Mary Allan about her intended visit.

 

Shortly after New Year's in 2008 my sons Chris and Doug, daughter Salihas, granddaughter Tiva and I had the satisfaction of meeting several members of John's family on his mother's side, the Botts, when Connie arranged a luncheon February 8 in Victoria, B.C. Present were Bott cousins Kathryn, Connie, Kathryn's husband Michael Holyk, John and Ruth Robinson (she was the daughter of another of Mary Bott Allan's sisters, Lily, the one who had accompanied her to Germany) and Auntie Connie, Danish born, the 101 year-old widow of John's mother's younger brother Bert. She had been a favorite aunt of John's and I had corresponded with her as well. In the family we called the younger Connie, "Connie Junior."

 

The only branch I have never met of the Canadian Allans still lives in Winnipeg: the family of Bishop Hugh James Allan, or Bishop Jim, as I call him. The son of the Captain's youngest child, Hugh, he is now in a nursing home. Now, his son Douglas J., and my son Chris are arranging a visit for the two of us this September. I have written Bishop Jim and talked to him over the phone in years past, and as with John's other relatives; we have exchanged Christmas cards regularly for some time.   But, I am looking forward with much eagerness to this visit.

 

-Manny

manny@stnicholasepiscopal.org 

 

Wednesday, September 19, 6:00 pm  

Sunday, September 23

During 10 am Worship Service

Wednesday, September 26

6:00 pm

September 26

6:45 pm

Saturday, September 29,

10:00 am

Sunday, September 30

During 10 am Worship Service

An Evening with Gene Robinson
Thursday, October 4
Elmhurst College
7:30 pm -NOTE NEW TIME

Saturday, Oct. 13, 4:30 pm

• Reading of Children's Gospel will take place in the Noah's Ark Area this Sunday, September 23 during 10 am Worship Service
   
• Wednesday Evening Liturgy Resumes next week on September 26 at 6:00 pm
   
• Choir Rehearsal Resumes next Wednesday, September 26 at 6:45 pm
   
• The time of the lecture by Bishop Gene Robinson has been changed to 7:30 pm on October 4.  We look forward to a group outing for what promises to be a great evening!
   
• On Saturday, October 13, Bob Kalicki will begin the Stewardship Drive in a conversation with the congregation after the 4:30 Liturgy. Please plan to stay after the service and take part in this most important conversation.
   
• We hope you are planning what dish you might bring to share at our Semi-Annual Meeting and Potluck Luncheon on Sunday, October 14 after the 10am Liturgy. Even if you don't bring a dish, please bring yourself!  Your voice matters! 

As reviewed by The New York Times -- A jury chooses a memorial for the victims of a devastating terrorist attack on Manhattan, only to learn that the anonymous designer is an American Muslim -- an enigmatic architect named Mohammad Khan. His selection reverberates across a divided, traumatized country and, more intimately, through individual lives. Claire Burwell, the sole widow on the jury, becomes Khan's fiercest defender. But when the news of his selection becomes public, she comes under pressure from outraged family members and into collision with hungry journalists, opportunistic politicians, and even Khan himself. A story of clashing convictions and emotions, and a cunning satire of political ideals, The Submission is a resonant novel for our times.  

On October 7 and 21, we begin our new young people's formation program.  This new activity will now take place in the Noah's Ark Space and AFTER the 10am Sunday Liturgy.  This new approach allows parents and grandparents the opportunity to stay for coffee hour a bit longer and/or drop in and share in the youth program with their children.  Also, we hope there are other adults who are willing to assist in the teaching and guiding of our young people.  Having the program after the Liturgy affords everyone the opportunity to not miss any of the service themselves.  If you are interested in sharing as a teacher in this program, please see Val Gruenwald or Manny.  All are welcome.

Richard Nordberg, Penny Mandziara's father who is in hospice: for his health, well being and God's mercy be with Richard.

Thelma Malecek: for swift and complete recovery from her most recent hospital visit

Bernie, the youngest son of our Eunice Dohra.  Bernie underwent pancreatic surgery: for support, healing and full recovery for Bernie and strength and guidance for Eunice.

Peter Barlow, son of Bill and Kathy Barlow: for his safety and the safety of all our military men and women overseas.

Ethel (Corkey) Stratton, the mother of Hal Stratton

Our thanks:

Fran and Tony Begonja for sharing their gift of anointing and blessings with us during the Healing Liturgies this past weekend. 

Bill Barlow for preaching the Word and sharing his insight and faith.

...and my personal thanks to each and every one for the loving and touching birthday wishes.  You have all made turning 40 + 14 so much easier!  God bless and love you all...so do I.  -Manny