Letter from Marge Ciccone Dorne to Helen and Ray after 60th Anniversary Party
We celebrated Helen and Ray’s 60th Anniversary at Art’s house in April 1998 (invitation below). Uncle George, Aunt Pat, and many of our Saunders cousins were in attendance. Also there was George and Marge Ciccone Dorne, who is Jada’s younger sister. My parents loved her and she wrote a beautiful note after the event. Also below is a picture of Aunt Marge and some of the Mahony brothers and sister Barb taken at Kathleen’s house. 
Pictured below from left: Steve, Art, Sean, Ray, Todd (or is that Waldo?), Todd’s son Matt.
In front Aunt Marge and Barb
Letters from Betty Ciccone to Art Mahony
Letters from Betty Ciccone to Art Mahony from the late 1980s. Betty was suffering the effects of cancer and would pass away in 1988. She was living in Hunterdon County in Jersey to be close her daughters and their families. I had the opportunity to visit with her several times during that time. They were some of the most meaningful and fulfilling discussions ever, for me. I learned a great deal about my grandparents, cousins, Uncle Jada, and my dad. I also learned how to face life’s ultimate challenge with grace, humor, and dignity. (Lessons I learned once again when my dad, her brother, passed away 20 years later.) After a visit in which Betty had a hard time communicating and was clearly in pain, I got the call that the end was near and she was no longer taking visits. Ironically, during that last visit she continued to address me as Raymund and seemed to believe she was speaking to her brother. My dad was appreciative that I took the time to see her in the last few years of her life: but I benefited and enjoyed every second of my time with her. I just hope that I have the same strength and character displayed by my Aunt Betty.
One afternoon Betty and I started a conversation that went on for a couple hours. I noticed the time and mentioned I had to head home as Jan had dinner planned I might be late. Betty gave me this “kitchen pass” to give to Jan to keep me out of trouble.
Awesome letter from RLM, Sr. to his daughter Betty on St Patrick’s Day 1944.
This is a family classic as my grandfather knew how to write a letter. The note opens with all the trouble grandson Denny was in for throwing rocks and breaking some windows. Denny also decided to head down to a store on Franklin Avenue with his buddy which resulted in some punishment from my father. What strikes me is that my grandfather found the whole episode pretty funny as opposed to the reaction more prevalent today. The point of the letter is to offer of support and encouragement to his daughter who had some medical issues recently. “All we care about is your health and happiness above anything else, and the older we grow the feeling grows on us that nothing but our children’s happiness seems important” he says. That about says it all.
Letter to Jada (Albert Ciccone) from Bompa (RLM,Sr.) during WW2.
There is an obvious respect and affection expressed by Bompa in this note which was a response to a Father’s Day card sent from Jada. Jada was in the Army and had just been accepted to officers school. Bompa writes about Aunt Betty’s challenges with what may be her first job at the phone company. Like parents from every generation, he is hopeful and confident that she will do a great job. AM
