In memoriam: The last member of a Mara family (1915-2019)

This week we mourn the loss of the matriarch of our Mara family, Florentine Inez Mara (Wood, Lavelle), who died Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at age 88. She was the 9th child of Francis (Frank) D. Mara (1887-1949) and Margaret C. Reilly (1889-1966). Florri, as we knew her, was born on June 5, 1931 in Jersey City, NJ, and named after her mother’s sister Florence Reilly.

Her father Francis was the son of Morris J. Mara (1855-1922, son of Morgan Meara), and Katherine Morris (1858-1906), of 23/824 Ocean Ave., Jersey City. Her mother Margaret was the daughter of Daniel E. Reilly (1844-1924) and Mary A. Murphy (1853-1931) of 119 Coles St./177 Fairview Ave., Jersey City.

Here is Francis Mara with his mother Katherine at 824 Ocean Ave. in 1889 or 90, when the home was purchased at auction by Morris Mara (photo notated by Francis’ daughter Paula at some later date). Francis would remain in this house and raise his own family there, remaining until his death in 1949:

824 Ocean Ave. over the years:

Francis as an 11-year-old child in 1898:

Photos of Francis as a young man and later as an adult:

This is Margaret as a young child at the Reilly house at 119 Coles St. about 1895:

Later, at 177 Fairview Ave.:

The 1910 census for Francis and the rest of the Mara’s at 824 Ocean Ave. was actually enumerated by Francis (age 22)!

Here’s the 1910 census for Margaret (a schoolteacher) and the rest of the Reilly’s at 177 Fairview Ave.:

Francis and Margaret during their dating days, shown here at West Side Park/Lincoln Park:

Francis and Margaret were married on January 3, 1915, at St. Peter’s Church in Jersey City. In September that same year, the couple (at left) visited Lake Tennanah, NY:

Francis and Margaret Mara’s children were as follows:

Frank J. Mara (1916-2002):

Joseph Mara (1917-1917, died at 2 days old)

Maurice Daniel Mara (1918-1984), my grandfather:

Edward Aloysius Mara (1921-2007):

Catherine (Cappy) F. Mara (1922-1994):

Mary Margaret Mara (1924-1989):

Paula M. Louise Mara (1929-2008):

And finally Florentine Inez Mara (1931-2019):

Here are some vintage photos of the gang from the 1920s’s through the 40’s:

January 1942: Maurice married Mildred McAdam:

Their son, my father Daniel Mara’s christening, 1943. Florri outlived him by just over 3 years:

With Al Napier:

Spring and summer 1944:

Everybody’s growing up, spring and summer 1945:

May 1946: Mary visits Daniel on his third birthday, and in September Ed Mara gets married to Virginia Quinn:

In February 1949, Frank Mara dies:

In July 1950, Frank Jr. marries Noreen Bolger:

In September 1951, Bernadette (Bunny) marries Andrew Davis. Margaret’s brother Father Frank Reilly (S.J.) officiates at the family weddings:

An undated picture of Andrew Davis and Frank Mara:

In September 1954, Florri married Harold T. Wood:

In November 1954, Margaret sits with her daughters for a photo in her dining room during a gathering at 42 Fairview Ave.:

Summer 1955 family gatherings Bunny’s house, and Maurice’s:

Harold and Florri with the kids, 1959:

Christmas 1960: Catherine and the Napier family:

September 1961, Mary married John Calton:

January 1966: The family gathers at Maurice’s house in Ridgewood NJ:

1970: The Mara brothers:

July 1971, Captain Frank Mara, Jersey City Police Department:

December 1972: Frank and Noreen:

December 1979: Maurice and Mildred:

1987: “Woody”:

1990: Cappy Napier’s family:

Summer 1996: Mara family reunion at Judy Mara (Newman’s) house, Lake Mohawk:

2007: Party at Drew’s house:

Fast forward to 2019: Florri and family:

No discussion of the Mara family would be complete without reference to the Bungalow in Atlantic Highlands! The bungalow was purchased in 1933 by Francis Mara as a weekend getaway and remains in the family to this day (Florri lived there year-round). Florri described how her father would try to get 3-day weekends and take the ferry down from Jersey City for some relaxation in the woods. Here’s the original classified ad, notated by Paula:

Here’s a look at Mara family gatherings at the bungalow through the years since:

June 1946: Francis and Margaret Mara, the girls, Maurice and his in-laws (the McAdams) and son Daniel:

1953: Maurice and family:

1956: The various family members schedule their weekends at the bungalow:

August 1958: Margaret and friends:

1960 view:

A November 1965 fire damages the bungalow:

August 1966 – back in business. In the 1930’s, the Mara kids gathered for group photos on the stone steps by the mailbox (see above):

August 1967:

1968 – The annual family group shot (thanks Chris!):

1970 – the family divides up some heirlooms:

1973 (or possibly September 1974) group photo, notated by Paula:

October 1977 – closing the bungalow for the winter:

July 1981 party:

Undated photos:

1983 – marking 50 years at the bungalow:

The 2008 Mara family reunion, my first and only time at the bungalow:

The story of Francis and Margaret Mara’s family ends at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City, where generations of the family and their relatives have been laid to rest. The Mara/Denehy plot was purchased back in 1906 by Sarah (Morris) Denehy for her husband James, who died in May of that year. A month later, Morris Mara’s wife Katherine (Sarah’s sister) died and was buried there as well.

This letter and accompanying handwritten chart from 1980, prepared by Frank Mara Jr., show the locations of the various family burials and related information:

I believe Florri will be joining her family in this spot in the days ahead.

The descendants of Francis and Margaret Mara, at left (reduced for privacy):