24 August 2008
Monica May Hoggett
Born on May 29th
1888, one of twin girls, at Carmel House, Nunnery, Darlington where her
father, Edmund, was employed as a
gardener.
Monica was very
petite and thin.
Monica married Harry
Harker at St Mary's Church, Wycliffe on the 6th of August 1921, 2
months before the birth of their eldest daughter Teresa.
Before Monica's marriage to Harry she lived at Wycliffe , where they are
believed to have lived for a few more years before moving to Darlington.
Victoria
Road, Darlington
They lived for many years in a rented house in Victoria Road,
Darlington. Monica was a very busy, active person. She was always
baking, washing or cleaning, keeping constantly on the go. If anyone
wanted anything doing or wanted to know about anything, it was always to
Monica they turned. She continued to live in the house in Victoria Road
following the death of Harry in 1956 until the owner died and his family
were forced to sell. Monica moved into the house of her daughter, Hilda
and husband David McSkimming in Victoria Embankment but did not find it
very easy as she became less busy than she had been in her own house.
She occassionally took herself of to stay with her sister Teresa at
Newsam and eventually, sometime in the 1960's, moved in with Teresa and
brother Charlie. From being a very busy, active person Monica became the
very opposite. Her sister Teresa said that she hardly even lifted a cup
for herself! It was as though once she had nothing to do ( no longer
being head of a house ) she no longer felt useful and seemed to just let
go. According to her daughter, Teresa, she virtually lived at her local
church, St Augustines.
She died on the 19th of January 1969 at Richardson Hospital, Barnard
Castle, aged 80. The cause of death was " bronchopneumonia, chronic
bronchitis, aureular?fibrillation and myocardial degeneration".
Her death was registered by her son in law David McSkimming. She was
buried at Darlington's West Cemetery on the 23rd of January 1969. Ref -
O 4N 24. Father Callaghan lead the service. According to the burial
register, Monica's address was still given as 54 Victoria Embankment.
Harry and Monica
Monica and Harry
had 2 children:-
