Francine Brevetti, noted journalist, author and biographer will show you how to make the writing of your autobiography easy.

This month, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, we pay tribute to Mary "Mollie" Donlon Flynn, Irish grandmother of Mary Caroline Chunn.

My maternal grandmother, Mary Pauline "Mollie" Donlon (1899-1989), was born and raised on a farm in El Rio, formerly known as New Jerusalem, Ventura County, California. She was the ninth of twelve children of John Donlon and Mary Caroline Forrer who were the first couple to be married in the New Jerusalem Church in 1886. They came from entirely different backgrounds: he sailed to America from Ireland and she came to California from Utah in a covered wagon.

Mollie attended Rio Grammar School, where her father was a trustee, and graduated from Oxnard High School. In 1920 she married George Henry Flynn of nearby Camarillo. They had four children, including my mother, Patsy Flynn. They were wonderful grandparents, always showing genuine delight in their grandchildren. We called them Nana and Gramper.

In addition to superb domestic skills, her many talents included hat-making and oil painting. She was in the same bridge club for over fifty years. A lot of her time was spent visiting and calling her sisters and brothers and, of course, her children and grandchildren. She lived in the same county her whole life and had many long-lasting friendships. I once heard someone tell her, "George got a peach when he married you."  

The Ventura County Donlons have roots in Derryshanogue, County Longford, Ireland. In fact, there are Derryshanogue Donlons all over the globe. There will be an exhibit in their honor this year at the

Dublin Heritage Center in Dublin, California, from April 20 to June 24, 2011.

- Mary Caroline Chunn

Call For Submissions  - Are you member with a great family photo to share? If you would like to pay tribute to your ancestor in a future edition of the eNews, please email Lorna Wallace and send your image with a brief narrative.