Francis J. ‘Mike’ Keating, 80

Athol: Francis J. ‘Mike’ Keating, 80, of 739 Daniel Shay Highway, Athol, Ma., and former longtime Fitchburg resident, died Thursday(Jan.31) in the Quabbin Valley Healthcare Center, Athol, Ma., after an illness.

He leaves his wife of 54 years, Lila A. (Hendrickson) Keating;four daughters, Lorrie J. Ricci of Fitchburg, Kathy M. Keating of Fitchburg, Patricia L. Brettschneider, and her husband, Roy, of Fitchburg and Dianne M. Douai, and her husband, Carl, of Keene, N.H.;one sister, Margaret M. Donahue of Fitchburg;10 Grandchildren, 11 Greatgrandchildren and one nephew, Daniel R. Donahue, and his wife, Carol, of Fitchburg. He was predeceased by a son, Daniel Michael Keating of Fitchburg in 2006.

Mr. Keating was an assembler at the former Independent Lock Company in Fitchburg for 10 years and later was the Manager of the former Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant on Water St. in Fitchburg for 15 years and then was employed at the Sampson Rope Company in Shirley, before retiring after six years from the K-Mart Flower Department in 2002 at the age of 74.

He was a member of St. Bernard’s Parish in Fitchburg, and was an avid traveler, enjoying family camping in the summer and cruises. He was a member of the North American Family Campers and the Squaw-no-cook Chapter #30.

He was a veteran of World War II, U.S., Navy, serving as a Seaman First Class in the Pacific Theatre.
He was born in Fitchburg, Ma., on August 7, 1927, a son of the late Daniel and Margaret (McDermott) Keating and lived in Fitchburg for most of his life, before moving to Athol, Ma. six years ago.

A Military Funeral will be held on Monday(Feb.4) from the Smith-Mallahy-Masciarelli Funeral Home, 243 Water St., Fitchburg, Mass., at 10:00 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Bernard’s Church, 240 Water St., Fitchburg.

Burial will be in the spring in New Cemetery, Ashburnham, Ma.

Calling hours at the Funeral Home are Sunday(Feb.3) from 1 to 5 p.m.

Flowers may be sent or memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, Ma. 01701 or may be left at the Funeral Home.

See www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net for further information.

Source: “Francis J. ‘Mike’ Keating, 80″, http://obit.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net/obitdisplay.html?id=501543, Viewed online 7 April 2009.

I’m curious about the Fitchburg Keatings. One lost branch of my family moved up to Fitchburg in the early 20th century. I’ve often wondered why.

Mrs. Keating Funeral Tomorrow

The funeral of Mrs. Annie K. (Cronin) Keating, wife of Thomas P. Keating, who died at Miami, Florida, March 16, will be held from the home of her sister, Mrs. Michael O’Neill, 33 Cottage street, tomorrow morning, with a solemn high mass of requiem at Sacred Heart church at 9 o’clock. Burial will be in St. Bernard’s cemetery.

Mrs. Keating is survived by her husband, two sons, Thomas L. Keating of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Walter A. Keating of this city, three sisters, Mrs. O’Neill, Miss Margaret Conlin of Boston, and Mrs. John Reilly, Gardner.

The body will arrive here tonight at 9 o’clock and will be taken by William P. Mallahy, undertaker, in the home of Mrs. O’Neill.

Source: Mrs. Keating Funeral Tomorrow, Fitchburg Sentinal, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, 25 March 1936, p 5.

Notes:

1. I was told that Annie’s last name was Snow, the same name as Thomas L. Keating’s wife. This may have been a mistake.
2. Her name is Cronin, the same name as the husband of Thomas P. Keating’s sister, Mary Cronin — Patrick Cronin.
3. Why, if her name was Cronin, was her sister “Miss Conlin”?
4. What drew this particular line of Keatings to Fitchburg, Mass?
5. Saint Bernard’s Cemetery is located in Fitchburg, Worchester County, Massachusetts.

Sister Mary Esprit

FROSTBURG — Sister Mary Saint Esprit of the Order of the Good Shepherd, 92, died Tuesday in St. Mary’s Hospital, Troy, N. Y., following a fall in which she suffered a broken hip.

The former Miss Agnes Keating, she was born near Frostburg, a daughter of the late John C. and Catherine Keating, who came hear from Ireland in 1847. She was the last surviving member of her family.

Sister Mary served as Mother Superior at convents in Springfield, Mass., and Albany and Troy, N. Y.

Surviving are a number of nieces and nephews, six of whom are members of religious orders.

A requiem mass was celebrated yesterday in Troy and interment took place there.

Source: Sister Mary Esprit, Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, 12 December 1958, p. 14.

Sister Mary St. Esprit was my great-grandaunt. She can be found in my database here. This article indicates that she was 92 at the time of her death, but records indicate that she was born in 1867, which would have made her 91.

Mother M. De Chantal Keating.

Mother M. DeChantal Keating, for thirty-four years head of St. John’s Home for Boys, Albany and St. Mark’s Avenues, Brooklyn, died in that institution on Monday. Mother Keating was in her eighty-fourth year, and was the oldest Mother Superior in the Order of St. Joseph, having entered the religious profession sixty years ago. She was born Jane Keating in Kedra, County Tipperary, Ireland, and came to this country in 1852. When the civil war began, she went to Wheeling, W. Va., as head of the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph in that city and there took care of the wounded soldiers in the Wheeling Hospital. Asa token of her devotion to the wounded soldiers she received a bronze medal from the Grand Army of the Republic. Mother Keating is survived by a sister, Mother Magdalen of the Convent of the Presentation at Fitchburg, Mass.

Source: Mother M. De Chantal Keating, The New York Times, New York, New York, 6 June 1917. Available via the New York Times archives.

Obituary Notes

ROBERT M. KEATING, inventor of the Keating bicycle, died yesterday in Springfield, Mass., aged 55.

Source: Obituary Notes, The New York Times, New York, New York, 21 January 1922. Available via the New York Times archives.

Died

Keating.—On Feb. 21, Katherine A., widow of James Keating, in her 64th year. Funeral private. Boston papers please copy.

Source: Died, The New York Times, New York, New York, 22 February 1909. Available via the New York Times archives.

On Friday afternoon, Mr. Philip C. Keating, cooper, was passing rapidly through fourth-street, South Boston, when he stepped on a brick, which was lying on the side-walk, and was thrown down, On attempting to rise, he found that he could not move, and was conveyed to his residence on Third, near E street, when Dr. Thaxter was called, and, on examination, the fibula bone of the left leg was found to be broken short off. The bone was properly set, and Mr. Keating was on Saturday morning, as comfortable as could be expected.

Source: News By The Mails, The New York Times, New York, New York, 16 June 1852.

Keating, Chobody Wedding

Mary Ellen Chobody and Charles Patrick Keating were married Aug. 8 in the Blessed Sacrament Church, Lawton, Okla.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Chobody, 469 Carlisle Ave. Parents of the bridegroom are Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Keating, 52 Dean Rd., Wayland, Mass.

The bride is a 1961 graduate of Midview High School. She was a member of the Cleveland Playhouse for two seasons and toured with the Pittsburgh Miniature Theatre.

Mr. Keating attended schools in England and Canada and for the past three seasons has been a member of the Cleveland Playhouse and the Cleveland Playhouse Repertory Co., touring throughout the U.S. He is serving with the Special Services, entertainment division, Fort Sill, Okla. After his discharge, both will continue with theater work

They reside at 308 South 10th St., Lawton, Okla.

Source: Keating, Chobody Wedding, The Chronicle Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, 22 September 1964, p. 8.

He’s The Winner

Lowell, Mass. (UPI) — Bill Keating can lay claim today to being the winner of the fourth annual banana eating contest at Lowell Tech, but the event was hardly an overwhelming success.

Bill managed to eat 24 bananas in an hour Friday, but that was seven under the all–time school record. Only 12 students participated.

Source: He’s The Winner, The Chronicle Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, 7 May 1972, p. 1.

Miss Ruth Keating Future Bride of Moorefield Man

Moorefield—Mr. and Mrs. Philip Keating, of Shirley, Mass., announce the engagement of their daughter, Ruth Penrose Keating to Earle McSherry Hyde Jr., son of E. M. Hyde, of Moorefield, and the late Mrs. Alice C. Hyde.

The bride–elect is a graduate of Northfield School for Girls and Vassar College. She received her Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Hyde graduated from Moorefield High School and has attended the University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins University and studied in Switzerland. He is a brother of Mrs. Machair Williams, of Mooresfield

Source: Miss Ruth Keating Future Bride of Moorefield Man, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, 23 January 1953, p. 6.

American Casualties in Fighting on the French Front

[…]

Wounded Severely.

[…]

Sergeants:

[…]

Keating, Alden T., Natick, Mass.

Source: American Casualties in Fighting on the French Front, The Washington Post, Washington, District of Columbia, 4 December 1918, p. 4.

WOMAN JUMPS INTO BAY.

Negro Saves Mrs. Mary Keating, of Boston, From Drowning at Norfolk.

Norfolk, Va., Mar. 14.—Mrs. Mary Keating, a well–dressed woman, giving Boston as her home, jumped into the bay here today.

A negro delivery wagon driver rescued her, half-conscious. She will recover.

Source: Woman Jumps Into Bay, The Washington Post, Washington, District of Columbia, 15 March 1913, p. 2.

TELLS WIDOWS TO WAIT.

“Don’t Set Your Caps Until the Girls Are Wedded,” Says Priest.

Special to the Washington Post.

Brockton, Mass., March  21.—”Widows have no right to set their caps for any men until all the young girls have been supplied with husbands,” declared Rev. William E. Keating, curate at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, in a Lenten sermon here tonight. Father Keating advised girls not to marry a stingy man, or a spendthrift, or to put too much confidence in a man who says, “I’ll die for you.”

“You don’t want him to die,” said Father Keating. “You want him to live and work for you.”

“Then there is the lazy man. If you marry such a man you have married a gold brick.”

“Beware of the nine-dollar-a-week man. Pass up the nine-dollar-a-week man for better fish. They say love is a great comfort, but it falls before an empty pantry.”

Source: Tells Widows To Wait, The Washington Post, Washington, District of Columbia, 22 March 1912, p. 1.

SHAPLEIGH — Captain Benjamin D. Keating, 27, of Shapleigh, died Nov. 26, 2006, while serving as executive officer of A Troop, 3-71 Cavalry, Task Force Spartan, 10th Mountain Division in Kamdesh, Afghanistan.

He was born in Sanford on May 31, 1979, the son of Kenneth D. and Elizabeth A. (Grant) Keating. He attended Shapleigh schools and was a 1997 graduate of Massabesic High School.

Ben attended the University of New Hampshire, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. degree in 2004. While at UNH he served as the chair of the Young Republicans. He joined the Army ROTC, was a distinguished military graduate, recipient of the Marshall Award, and upon graduation was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army.

He was trained in armor at Ft. Knox, Ky. He then went to Ft. Drum, N.Y. where he served as platoon leader for the 3-71 Cavalry, B Troop, became the executive officer of A Troop last November, was promoted to 1st lieutenant in January and was deployed to Afghanistan in February. He was recently promoted to captain. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge and the Army Commendation Medal with V Device.

He was a member of the Springvale First Baptist Church where he was a youth leader and taught Sunday School.

Ben served on the Shapleigh Planning Board from 2000-2002.

Survivors include his parents, Kenneth D. Keating and Elizabeth A. Keating of Shapleigh; his sister, Jessica A. Keating and her fiance, Christian J. Lewis of Falmouth; his paternal grandmother, Janice Keating of Winthrop, Mass.; his special friend, Heather McDougal of Springvale; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. A funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. at the Springvale First Baptist Church, 429 Main Street, Springvale. Seating in the church is very limited and by invitation only please. Additional seating will be available at the Nasson Community Center, 457 Main Street, Springvale. Also, Metrocast Cablevision will telecast the service live over community channel 12. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Springvale. Following the burial the family will receive relatives and friends again at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 47 High Street, Sanford.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions in Ben’s name be made to:

The Springvale First Baptist Church Memorial Fund
P. O. Box 277
Springvale, Maine 04083

To send the family a note of condolence, please visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com.

Found via MaineToday.com on 19 February 2008.

Published in the Boston Globe on 9/9/2007. Found via Boston.com on 19 February 2008.

Of Woburn, May 27th. Beloved wife of the late Bernard J. Keating. Devoted mother of Diane Sullivan of Palm Bay, FL and Maryann Carcione of Woburn. Loving grandmother of Dawn, Timothy, Stephen, Sean, Brian and Meagan Sullivan, Kathy Canada, Doug and Greg Carcione and the late Michael Sullivan. Also survived by twenty loving great grandchildren. Sister of the late Stanley Smith, Josephine Casino, Anna Machinski and Helen Stankiewicz. Funeral from the McLaughlin – Dello Russo Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., WOBURN, Saturday, at 9 a.m. Followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Charles Church, 280 Main St. Woburn, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Friday 4 thru 8. Services will conclude with burial at Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. It has been requested than in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Ethel’s memory to Hospice Care, Inc., 100 Sylvan Rd., Woburn, MA 01801 or the American Heart Assoc., 20 Speen St., Framingham MA 01701. For directions, obituary and guest book mclaughlindellorusso.com McLaughlin-Dello Russo Funeral Home 781-933-0083 Woburn – Medford

Published in the Boston Globe on 5/31/2007. Available as of 30 January 2008 via the Boston Globe website.

Thomas Keating married (first), 1858, at Sacred Immaculate Conception Church, Malden, Massachusetts, Rose Powder, and their children were: 1. Thomas H., born May 10, 1860, at Melrose; piano maker; Emerson Piano Company of Boston; married, October 25, 1881, Rosalie M. Beh, of Boston; reared a large family; resides at Roslindale, Massachusetts. 2. James P., born March 14, 1864, at Melrose, afterwards resided in New York City. Thomas Keating married (second), 1868 at “Tommy’s Rock” St. Joseph’s Church, Boston, Ann Fleming, born in Borradagh, parish of Ballinoe, Cork county, Ireland. Children: 3. William E., born September 24, 1869, at Melrose, married, June 29, 1898, Jennie D. Prior, of Randolph, Massachusetts; four children: Joseph, Mary, Marguerite and Josephine; William E. is an electrical superintendent of Boston & Northern Railroad. 4. John J., born April 2, 1871, in Melrose, mentioned below. 5. Philip S., born November 26, 1874, at Melrose, married, July 21, 1903, Agnes McSweeney, of Revere, Massachusetts; has one son, Paul Sylvester, born December 31, 1907; Philip S. is engaged in the livery business.

(II) John Joseph Keating, son of Thomas and Ann (Fleming) Keating, was born in Melrose, Massachusetts, April 2, 1871. He was educated in the public schools of Melrose, graduating from the high school. He started upon a mercantile career as clerk in the store Hawley, Folsom & Martin, of Boston, wholesale dealers in men’s furnishing goods, and continued with the concern for four years. The following seven years he served as clerk for the firm of Farrar & Selee in the same line of business at Melrose. In 1898 he embarked in business in clothing and furnishing goods for men in a store in the Post Office bock. He was successful from the first and his store prospered. In 1900 he had outgrown the original store and concluded to take larger quarters; accordingly he removed to his present location at Nos. 510-512 Main street. He carries a large stock of men’s furnishing goods and clothing. He is independent in politics. He is a member of the Young Men’s Catholic Lyceum and was its first president, serving three years, and was formerly a director of the Melrose Cycle Club in its palmy days. He is a charter fourth degree member of Melrose Council, Knights of Columbus, and has held in succession all the offices in that body including that of grand knight. He is a member of Melrose Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a life member of the Melrose Athletic Club. He is a charter member and vice-president of the Melrose Board of Trade, was formerly its secretary for five years and active in the work of the board. Mr. Keating has devoted much time and energy to the matter of encouraging home industries as much as possible. He is fond of outdoor sports and a leader in athletics in Melrose, having served as chairman of Old Home Week and July 4th athletic committees many times. He is one of the most popular and best known of the younger business men of the city.

He married, at Melrose, February 24, 1908, Adah Marie, daughter of Mrs. Helen A. Nelson, of New Haven, Connecticut.

14171

Born in Michigan

Descendant of Joshua Bodwell, of Massachusetts.

Daughter of Loftus N. Keating and Martha Keating, his wife.

See No. 14171

[Obviously a typo, should be her sister, Miss Mabel Nano Keating, 14170, of which the following is also written:

Granddaughter of John Keating and Elizabeth J. Bodwell, his wife.

Gr.-granddaughter of William Bodwell and Betsey Kimball, his wife.

Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of William Bodwell and Rachel French, his wife.

Gr.-gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Joshua Bodwell and Priscella Barker, his wife.

Joshua Bodwell turned out at Lexington Alarm in Capt. John Davis' company, Col. James Fry's regiment. In 1780 he enlisted for the war from Essex county and when honorably discharged, 1782, was a member of Capt. Mason Wottles' company, Col. Alvin Smith's regiment. He was born in Essex county, Mass., 1736, and died at Antrim, N. H]

Source: Daughters of the American Revolution, Lineage Book, published 1902 by Daughters of the American Revolution, p. 63. Available via books.google.com.

14170

Born in Michigan

Descendant of Joshua Bodwell, of Massachusetts.

Daughter of Loftus N. Keating and Martha Keating, his wife.

Granddaughter of John Keating and Elizabeth J. Bodwell, his wife.

Gr.-granddaughter of William Bodwell and Betsey Kimball, his wife.

Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of William Bodwell and Rachel French, his wife.

Gr.-gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Joshua Bodwell and Priscella Barker, his wife.

Joshua Bodwell turned out at Lexington Alarm in Capt. John Davis’ company, Col. James Fry’s regiment. In 1780 he enlisted for the war from Essex county and when honorably discharged, 1782, was a member of Capt. Mason Wottles’ company, Col. Alvin Smith’s regiment. He was born in Essex county, Mass., 1736, and died at Antrim, N. H.

Source: Daughters of the American Revolution, Lineage Book, published 1902 by Daughters of the American Revolution, p. 63. Available via books.google.com.

Born on July 13, 1937, he was a son of the late John Paul and Catherine Farrell Keating. He graduated from Larksville High School in 1955, and studied business at Wilkes-Barre Business College, and focused on writing at Rider College.

Mr. Keating was the founder and motivating force of the Anthracite Living Historical Group and the Avondale Disaster Site Preservation Committee. Working with Plymouth Township officials and volunteers and Robert Hushes of EPCAMR, he made the Avondale Disaster Site accessible. His 15 years of researching the facts, stories and mysteries of our anthracite heritage was particularly important in the re-evaluation of the cause of the Avondale Disaster of 1869. He made public presentations and co-authored several papers about the Avondale Disaster and was working on a book, which is scheduled to be published next spring on his findings.

His first book, “A Report With Honor,” a story about volunteers and soldiers who served in the Civil War from Luzerne and surrounding counties, was published in May 2006. “Anthracite Tears,” youth fatalities from 1870 to 1920, is due to be published this year. It is a compelling documentation of those dangerous times. Several other books, “Smashed Dinner Pails,” two volumes dealing with mine accidents, fatalities and tragedies; “Someday,” the dilemma following the dynamiting of a Glen Alden pay car, were near completion.

He provided interpretive displays at various area functions that were designed to encourage knowledge and appreciation of anthracite heritage. A passionate love of his family and lifelong interest in local history brought him to a position of eminence in this field. His vast collection of paper and material culture is a testament to his tenacity and love of his area’s history.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Jack.

Surviving are his wife, Lucille Keating; daughters Laura Keating, Leona Suchar and Lucille Keating; grandchildren Lacy Keating, Robert Judzikowski, Shane Suchar and Rylee Wilpiszewski. Also surviving are brothers Frank and James, and sisters Kay Keating and Marie Partington.

The funeral will be held Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. from the S.J. Grontkowski Funeral Home, 530 W. Main St., Plymouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Vincent De Paul Church. Friends may call today from 5 to 9 p.m.

Published in the Times Leader on 10/23/2006.