News on the retirement front, I just passed my Medicare SHINE counselor certification test on June 11, 2013!!! Next week: Graduation-June 19, 2013!

Countdown to 2011!

Here we are at the end of another year! This is one of the most remarkable years as I prepare to leave the workforce and make my way on my adventures. I'm really excited to be "graduating" this December, but will miss all of my wonderful colleagues. Although I've made lots of plans to get here, I don't think anyone fully understands the enormous changes that occur during this transition of life. As I reach the next chapter, I know I will be reaching back to friends I've made along the way. There will always be room for my friends and family!

August 2009

Time does not heal all wounds. Time softens the blows, but the wounds remain for eternity.

In Memory of William I. Clark 1936-2009

William Irving Clark
Bill Clark passed away on January 22, 2009 at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis in the presence of his loving family and friends. In his early years, Bill attended Milton Academy and later attended and graduated from Avon Old Farms in CT where he developed a strong appreciation for art and nature was able to learn lifelong lessons from the natural landscape of the campus. As he journeyed into manhood, he developed the strong core values of honesty, integrity, and respect for all humankind that would sustain him throughout his life. He lived the life of a constant gentleman.

After graduation from Avon Old Farms, he attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. His education was interrupted during the Korean War period. After serving in the armed forces in Japan, he was stationed at Walter Reed Hospital, where he worked in media and film. After his military service, he attended Parsons School of Design in New York City. He lived in historic Greenwich Village when the nation was in its most creative era. Immersed in an environment rich in cultural resources, Bill found his own natural creative talent of artistic design that would be evident throughout his life.

During his summers at his parent’s home in Martha’s Vineyard, Bill met and later married his wife Nancy. They lived in Marshfield, MA, and had three children: Billy, Greg, and Laura. Throughout his life, Bill loved his family above all things, and was very proud of his children and delighted in his grandchildren.

In the early 1980s, Bill worked as Vice President and Creative Director of Marketing at Kenyon & Eckhardt, a subsidiary of Lorimar Productions, in Boston. He won numerous awards for his work throughout his career and authored several highly successful advertising campaigns, including John Deere and Eldred Wheeler. After the company merged with Bozell Jacobs to become Bozell Jacobs Kenyon Eckhardt, Bill retired from the company in the early 1990s.

During his retirement, Bill was a lover of nature and enjoyed working in his wonderful gardens, feeding the birds, visiting art museums and antique shops, and the sea. He enjoyed spend much of his leisure time with his long-time friend, Anna, who shared his love. His daily routine included picking up his mail at the post office and heading to Fancy’s Market in Osterville for a sandwich, bringing it the beach, usually the Sandwich boardwalk, where he was a peace with the world. On weekends, he spent time visiting the antique shops, where he was longtime friends with the owners and staff and enjoying lunch with Anna at the Dunbar Tea Room or the Daniel Webster Inn. Over the course of his life, he enjoyed all things nature and art, including antique furniture and homes. He lived in a quiet grace that elevated all those whose lives he touched. His memory is a lesson to us all of accepting what life gives with grace and gratitude and perseverance.

Here is a quote that reminds me of Bill’s love of his garden.

“I have often thought that if heaven had given me a choice of my position and calling, it would have been on a rich spot of earth. No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden."

Thomas Jefferson, 1811

A New Angel in Heaven: Nicole Casey

Nicole Mary Casey of Dorchester died suddenly on February 5, 2008, at the age of 26. Nicole is the loving mother of two wonderful sons, Guy and Hayden, who will live with her mother, Patricia Marlowe. Her death touched a lot of people, especially her mom, Patty and her dad, William Casey. She is the devoted sister of Christopher Casey of Dorchester, a dear granddaughter of Robert E. Marlowe of Dorchester and Maureen (Kelley) Marlowe of Roslindale, and a devoted great granddaughter of Mary Marlowe of Dorchester. She is also survived by her loving aunts, Diane and Mary Marlowe (Patty's sisters), and many grand aunts and uncles from the Kelley and Marlowe families.

We offered our sad condolences and prayer for Nicole and her family and friends during the wake at the John J. O’Connor & Son Funeral Home 740 Adams St., Dorchester, on Sunday, February 10th. Her funeral Mass was held in St. Brendan’s Church on Monday morning at 10 o’clock, followed by the funeral procession to Cedar Grove Cemetery, where we said our last good-byes in great sorrow for this tragic loss. During her Mass, several of Nicole's friends gave somber and uplifting readings. We heard beautiful songs, such as the Ave Maria, Remember Me As Loving You, and Morning Has Broken. Finally, Patty's Uncle John said a touching eulogy on the life and death of Nicole. He advised us all to remember her children, and contribute to a fund set up for Nicole and her children. Donations should be sent to:

The Nicole Casey Memorial Fund,

c/o Mt. Washington Bank,

489 Gallivan Blvd. Dorchester, MA 02124.

Our prayers go out to all who are left behind as Nicole takes on eternal life in Heaven.

http://www.oconnorandson.com/Obituaries.html

Carl & Heather Anderson - May 2007

Wedding bells chime as Carl and Heather were married

May 5, 2007 in Wells, Maine.

Best wishes for a lifetime of happlily ever after!

Celia's Special Birthday! Winter Solstice 2006

Guess who had a special birthday?

You guessed it! Our own Cecelia had a very special birthday. Here she is celebrating with her family. She was surprised when she got to the door of Anna's house with Tricia, only to find a crowd waiting for her arrival. Lots of fun, food, and festivities followed. Happy Birthday Celia!!

Cousins

The decendents of the Kelley family gathered at Jeanne Healey's house to share fun and games.

Greece - May 2006

Anna took a trip to Greece, where she ate a lot of mousakka and bakklava, and she saw a lot of ancient sites. The Acropolis in Athens (Athina), the Olympic Stadium in Olympia, the Oracle at Delphi, and much more. Here are a few snapshots, which could never capture the beauty of this Mediterranean paradise.

Bill and Sandy at the Beach in Sandwich

The weather has been so mild these days!

Sandy took Bill for a walk on the beach.

Anna's Christmas 2006

Oh, the weather outside was frightful, but the times - they were delightful! Lots of good family fun on Christmas, with Celia and sons having Christmas in their new Massachusetts home!

Shawn's turning 40 - Time to PARTY!!

Everyone came to help us celebrate... There were the Ross' - Tom & Beth; and the BAD BOYS from High School: Kaya and Mark; the godmother Cecelia and the auntie Tricia; and all the younger generation - Mattie, Lindsey, Trevor, Brendan, and Jake. The world was happy for one night, in our little corner of the earth. Happy Birthday, Shawn!!

December - the time of Birthdays!

Yes, there were a lot of birthdays in December for the Kelley-Davis Family! Not only did my eldest son, Shawn Davis, turn 40 on Dec. 12th (right after his cousin Chris Anderson turned Nov.22) but his brother, Rick, turned 38. And Carol, Shawn's mother-in-law has a milestone birthday the day before (or is it after) Christmas, Shawn's cousin Paul Morris had a birthday on Christmas day! Shawn's godmother, Cecelia Kelley turned 21 on the Winter Solstice (Dec. 21). And finally, Shawn's neice, Mattie, had a birthday on the same day as Shawn - Dec. 12th. But she'll have a long way to go to catch up to Uncle Shawn. If you add up all those years....let's see 40+40+....that's about 220 years (Whew! The math is challenging.)

December Fun in the Snow for Cousins

Here's the next generation - enjoying the winter wonderland at Cameron's Inn on the Green, E. Bridgewater. Oh, What a night it was!

December...the birthday blast!

November

Where did November go? We had such fun with Birthdays and Thanksgiving. So busy having fun, that we forgot to upload the story to share. Here's a few pictures of family fun. Anna had a big birthday this month!

California Girls

The Cake Cutting Ceremony

Rick and Alyssa

cut the cake with humor and light-hearted fun. One of marriage's first duties - sharing the food! Shall we cut the cake, my dear?

The groom's men: Dennis, Andy, Steve, Tom. 

The Vows of Love Everlasting

Alyssa and Rick

exchanged vows with one another and promised to cherish each other all the days of their lives. The bride's maid of honor - Kara - looks on with tears of joy in her eyes. The groom's best man and brother - Shawn - held his breath as the solemn vows of fidelity were said. The ceremony was perfect in every way....with so much happiness that even the crankiest person in the world would have felt joy.