This is my family. My mother (Dorothy), her siblings and my grandparents William Mahon and Laura Kehoe. William was the son of James William Mahon and Julia O'Meara; James William the son of John Mahon and Catherine Walsh and John being the son of James Mahon and Ellen Troy who ventured from Ireland. William was born in 1898 on the farm and there he remained for his 65 years. He married Laura in 1919 and they raised a family of nine children on the homestead off of what is now named Mahon Road.
Sunday past my cousin Les, Diane and I found the gate and followed the lane to our mothers home. Edged by a split rail fence on one side, it was long and hilly yet still used. When we reached the site I stood in silence staring at the area, vacant but for grass chest high and a huge swath of orange day-lilies with blooms smiling upwards into the brilliant sunshine.
I listened to Les describe the once thriving farm. Over here was the house, over there the hen house, and over there the cow pen. His recollection was vivid; as if it were yesterday when he last drove the lane. Now it's a field but just not a field, for it is filled with memories of family, our heritage and that is why as long as we remember a person, they will always remain alive in our hearts.
You might ponder why have I written this homage to my family, it is because it outlines the essence of family. Their trials and tribulations making a living in the wilderness. They survived and even though mum said they walked 5 miles uphill to school in bare-feet, she was close. Maybbbbbbbbeee 4 miles but at least they knew the importance of an education and carried on.
The Mahon life revolved around working gardens and fields, logging, mining, masonry, tending to farm creatures and simply, to just surviving. But there was also time for enjoyment. Never doubt they didn't know how to have fun. We have seen many photos of our families that include at least one member with a fiddle in his hand. That's celebrating life. And that is what we mean to do with our reunion. To celebrate the life of Mahon.
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