Barbara Mary Keefe

  General Notes:

When Maynard left the army and returned to the college the support money ended and Barbara had to take her mother out of the facility [nursing home for 18 years] and keep her home with her. Barbara was the post Mistress in Oconto. She never married. She went with a man for 15 years, he was taking care of his mother too, then suddenly he married someone else. Eventually Barbara had to put her mother in a nursing home again and she paid for her care there. ^{[Kathryn Scherer Schuck] 4}

  Noted events in her life were:

• Occupation: clerk and ultimately served as Postmistress at the US Post Office, 1916-1959, Oconto, Oconto, Wisconsin, USA. ⁵

• Letter: From Anselm Keefe to his sister Barbara, 02 Jul 1944, , , , New Guinea. ⁶
Headquarters
135th Med. Regt.
APO 322, Unit 1, C/o P.M.
San Francisco, Calif

2 July 1944

My dear Barbara, —

This a. m. I sent you a letter, - this noon a box of Pitoff arrives, all neatly tied in Air Corps colors, blue and gold cord. Thanks alles samee.

Sky clouding up badly, looks like a soaker this afternoon.

Forgot to say that I found a new kind of flowering plant in the sago swamp back of our area the other day. Looks like thise wax plants that Ma and Aunt Ett used to grow indoors, with almost transparent stems and rich green leaves. The flowers are 2 to 2½ inches across, shell pink, frilled and with a long spur, like a honeysuckle, beneath the flower. They grow in damp, acid, i.e. sour or woodsy soil. The seed pods are transparent waxy pale green, shaped like a tiny milkweed pod or banana. Reminded me a lot of those orange-flowered touch-me-nots that used grow over the back fence down by cloddywasset. These act the same when ripe, touch them and they explode, with a soft "FLAP" and the seeds go in all directions. I only had a package of cigarettes with me to put the seeds in, so I collected a lot of pods very carefully and put them in the paper sack made by taking the cigarettes out. It was funny, all the way back in those pods kept going "FLAP" but I had the seeds caged in and they didn't get away on me. Shall try to bring some home with me. Also discovered that our dwarf Cannas are going to seed. They look like those black vitamine pills.

As I wrote that I took a look out at our flwer beds in front of the Chapel, to see if any more cannas had ripe seed pods. Still green, but I got the surprise of my life, - the bush hibiscus we transplanted into the center of each bed, and cut back severely, has thrown its first blossoms, a flame red semi-double one. They are nice even if they don't have any scent. The unjust criticism of Australia is certainly just of New Guinea, at least this part, a place where

"The flowers have no scent,
And birds have no song!"

I am enclosing a letter to Father Patrick Butler. Please put it in an envelope with no return address and mail it to him at Camp Tivoli, Cecil, Wisconsin.

Love and all that, —

ANSELM M. KEEFE

• Letter: V-Mail from Barbara Keefe to Fr. Anslem M. Keefe, 10 Dec 1944, Oconto, Oconto, Wisconsin, USA. ⁷  
V - MAIL
 
To:
    Chaplain Anselm M. Keefe O-190892
    Hq. Det. 145th Medical Group
    APO 72 c/o Postmaster
    San Francisco, Calif.
 
From:
    B. M. Keefe
    Oconto, Wisc.
    USA
    December 10, 1944
 
Dear Anselm,
 
The Red Cross cable telling of our Dad's death must have reached you before this. Even tho we know it is liable to come when it does the shock is there just the same.

Pahl was in Milwaukee on business so Alice invited Rud and me to supper Tuesday night. We sat and visited while we darned socks until about 10:00 then went home. I had the furnace set and my morning fire laid when the telephone rang. It was a telegram from Lil giving me her telephone number to call for details. I called Alice and Rud to help me think straight and they came right over. Then put in a call for either Fr. Butler or Fr. Burke. They decided I should have the body returned here and it was how I thought it best too. Put in a call for Lil and she was waiting.

The landlady took Dad some broth about 4 PM on Monday (Dec 4th) as he was feeling poorly. When she looked in on him at 6-7 PM she found she had passed away. The police removed the body to the morgue. The next day they looked for Uncle Bud as his address was in Dad's pocket. It was late afternoon & they found Lil as she was out shopping and Bud came home for his last furlough before embarking. She and Bud rounded up Ralph and they (the two men) identified the body and had it removed to a funeral home. After talking to Lil I called Bill Gallagher who immediately talked to the Hoboken undertaker. He promised to expedite the necessary paperwork for shipment of a body but next day called again for birth and burial particulars.

Went to see Fr. Alt that same night as they are nighthawks and he was surprised as he thought our father died long ago. Said whenever the body arrived he would conduct the funeral mass.

Spent the rest of the night with Alice and she called Pahl in Milwaukee to go out and tell Mom. When he worked there they used to re-hash old times etc. so it was better she heard from someone than read it from my letter which I sent over the next morning. He said she took it and I've had two letters from her since. We both feel God has answered our prayers as Dad didn't have to linger a long time and the bitter winter weather wont mean a thing to him this year as it did last.

Planned the funeral to be held at Gotlock Saturday morning as we expected the body on the 5 AM Friday. That allowed for visitors and Rosary Friday evening. Transportation is like everything else over here and in the Army. Hurry up and wait. - Actually the 5 o'clock running late and arriving at 7 AM Saturday morning brought the body. Bill Gallagher hurried and when he brought Aunt Edith and me to the Funeral home about 7:45 we could see Dad. I wish you and Mom could have been here as he was the old Denny Keefe of long ago. Bald with a fringe of white hair and a little smile on his face. I'm glad I can carry that memory of quiet peacefulness in my mind.

His coffin was gray with white lining, a good sturdy box and enclosed in a well-sealed vault. Alice helped select things and took me up to arrange for opening the grave etc. She has been such a godsend. With me off duty Rud worked all hours and I preferred Alice for help anyway.

Pauline, Fred, Kitty and her husband called Friday morning and we had a nice visit. The men couldn't come back next morning but Polly, Kitty and Mae (Scherer) Lindsay did. These people were among the mourners. Earl Jacobs, wife and son - Irene Lannoye & Don Jacob's wife - the Chet Beaudins & Gloria, Mort, Edith and Nubs, Aunt Edith, Genevieve Polly & Gene, Dorothy & husband. Old friends and neighbors called and remembered Dad with Mass offerings. Think there are about sixty now. Shall send part to St. Norbert's.

Nubs Morrison walked with me, then Mort & Edith followed by the Keefe and Scherer side cousins. Ruth Morrison called me from Minneapolis and I had a letter from Frances Osborne. Father Paiement wrote as soon as he saw the Press Gazette item.

Some of the ladies wanted to cook dinner here at home but with rationing points and food shortages as well as the congestion it would cause here at home I went to Mrs. Harder at the Parker Hotel and she said as long as I didn't know how many to prepare for just to come and they pushed tables together. Had an extra supply of food and everyone ordered from the menu whatever suited their fancy. The food was especially good and satisfying.

The Marinette girls and Morrison men had to go to work but the rest came on down to the house and we enjoyed a good visit all around.

I missed you most this last week than any time since you are away so it was pretty nice to see Fathers Kileen & Moike acting as deacon and sub-deacon with Father Alt. There was a chair and kneeler in the Sanctuary and Rev. Abbot Penning occupied them. He had the (ablution) awfully spelling and led us out of church. I'm going to write them a short note to say 'Thank You.'

Think I've told you everything now. When Ralph wrote me last June after his visit he said Dad had high blood pressure and Fr. Barbetta told Mom that he likely went so quickly he never knew.

I'm writing Ralph & Lil and will give her authority to dispose of clothing to charities but if there is any little personal things to send them home to us. He had no rosary so Bill called for me to bring one. Hurried as I was the only one I could lay my hands on was the one you sent me which was made in Eire. Would have hated to lose it but it's safe in Dad's folded hands. If I've skipped anything you ask questions, hey?

Yesterday a letter came from Paul Keefe. He had a ruptured appendix while working and is still layed up. Will have to spend Xmas abed but hopes to get moving soon after. Had received his Christmas box and the small stick of salami was to him about the last word. He asked no medical advice but carved into it with his hunting knife. Swears it was the best piece of meat he had ever eaten and no kidding. Sent one of those little Cervalot sticks in Joe's box too so hope it pleases him as much as it did Paul. Wrote to Bernice last night.

I've had two sticks of salami drying out and hope to get them started to you tomorrow. Packed together and tell me how they are when they come. Did you notice if one of those received was bigger around than the other? It was a different kind and I wonder what condition it will arrive in.

You can bet your bottom dollar that letter from APO 52 was welcome. We hadn't heard for better than a month and with the war news it made us a bit worried. Your letter to the Abbot was printed in the DePere paper & I mailed it right to Mom so she would have it today. I'm hoping Mary or Aunt Jen or Mrs. Murphy will mail her today as Sunday is a long day.

You certainly closed up like a clam on your leave. You put a letter with Marjorie Lawrence clippings and that was all. The next letter came after you left the six salami behind as 322 and then the 52 Whopper.

When I read and checked off the list of packages you received I had to laugh cause I knew they were on the road but feared Tojo had made off with them. Hope they provoked a lot of smiles and no tummy aches. How would you and Joe like to run a country store? Glad Joe opened stuff etc., as you were away quite a stretch. Tell him Hello for me.

Ed Whittaker wanted to come but could find no one to work for him. Sent ten dollars for Masses. Mom received a little Christmas tree about a foot high with a colored ball tipping each branch (artificial decoration) from Kathryn. Was in Chicago at the time. Had been with Betty when her second son was born and Ed said in his letter that K had just arrived after a three months prowl. Ken's wife wants to go back to Duluth instead of being with her own folks. Knowing Ed's wide pocketbook I can understand why. Both Betty and Ken will chisel on the old folks but Mary Gene lay her share on the line every month. Sylvia has been suffering with arthritis and wants to get Ken out of the Army but the folks feel he is getting wonderful training as well as an education. Has some job to do with pharmacy and likes it so Ed is tickled. They were so young to be married.

There are a few films in the Xmas boxes but it is darned scarce. I'm going to give Billie the medal I found in your woolens from Brisbane.

When the cats eyes come in I'm going to take them to Brice's as they are were so nice about the ash tray doings. I'd like to have the alexandrite set but prices are so crazy.

There are bullion cubes in the Xmas packages but I'll stop sending and go easy on the horse radish as I bought all there was in town. Maybe I'll find some in Green Bay if I ever get there.

Don't be vexed with Luelyn, she was under the alco ~ ~ ~ but believe me Doc better bring a diary of each day. As to where he is - two weeks ago he was flat on his pratt on Oahu because Eddie is quartered about five miles from him and the brothers get together often for meetings. Army and Navy.

The Aussie shoe business is OK and unmarried men must be hard put to gift their ladies. No black lace nighties - maybe black market hey? How will they say Merry Christmas with a T-bone steak? The coral I blabbed about is that small stick stuff. Crooked pieces strung together. Don't fuss about it as I've more jewelry than fingers, arms & necks to bedeck. I'll order the new books. Mom was ticked with 'Suds' - Hansie Young said it was among the books he read at Percy Jones Hospital.

The Bauers folk haven't heard lately from Bob so Mrs. was glad to know you had seen him. How does Joe Marcy act? He told his mother he has constant headaches and of course she is concerned.

By now you must have the letters telling of the boxes of curios and clothing you sent home. The crowd here yesterday had quite a time looking over the collection of containers.. The clothes are dry cleaned and waiting for you to come and jump into them.

Have a tremendous job ahead of me sending out "Thank You' cards. Only two more practices for choir and Midnight will find us lined up to give our all!! Poor people. It doesn't seem possible it is so near at hand. May bring down the little electric Christmas tree but that will be enough. Having turkey dinner at Zetas as she and Helen go halves and invite each year. Rud was invited too but he is going to his brothers.

Shoveled some snow already and while it isn't very deep it is the staying kind. Had flurries this morning and the clouds are black and heavy. It was poisonously cold last weekend in Milwaukee and I couldn't find a pair of snuggies to buy. You never saw such crowds of rushing, struggling people. Regular massage session to be caught between east or west bound pedestrians.

Found Mom doing pretty good. Arms are paining at night but what Doc Dean called neuritis seems to be quieted down. She will be upset about Dad of course but I think we should be very grateful to know he is safely home. Christmas so much so I may be late writing but my best wishes for the holidays go to you and the men.
 
With love,
Barbara

• Cemetery: St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, 23 Jul 1994, Oconto, Oconto, Wisconsin, USA. ^{8 9}  
    KEEFE
 BARBARA
1897 † 1994

• Obituary: Oconto Reporter, 21 Jul 1994, Oconto, Oconto, Wisconsin, USA. ¹⁰
Barbara M, Keefe, 96, 513 Washington St., Oconto, died Tuesday at Riverside Nursing Home in Oconto. Visitation Friday, 4­9 p.m.; wake service, 7:30 p.m., Gallagher Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, 10 am., St. Joseph Catholic Church.

• Publication: Marinette EagleHerald, Jul 1999, Marinette, Marinette, Wisconsin, USA. ¹¹
EAGLE HERALD FILES
5 YEARS AGO:

An extraordinary collection of items will be up for grabs tomorrow at St. Joseph Parish Hall, Jefferson Street, Oconto. On display will be a lifetime of items collected by the late Barbara Keefe, some dating back to the late 1800s. Keefe, who began working at the local post office while a senior at Oconto High School, threw very little away during her nearly 100 years of life.