Marriage date and place
I was told she married Thomas Vincent Yarnall on June 14, 1931 before a justice of the peace in East Lansdowne, PA.
That was just four weeks past her 17th birthday and 3 days after her high school graduation! What courage! In 2015 I was looking at various websites - one site was Delaware County Records. This is what I found. A marriage record #65080 for Thomas Yarnall and Mary L Palen was dated 11/12/31. I never saw them celebrate their anniversary so it must have been their secret.
A continuing struggle
I never remember any celebrations or special dinners for June 14th or November 12th. I do
not even remember those dates being cited as a day of bliss or a day to remember.
The 1940 census reveals my parents were separated. The census sheet of 4/16/40 shows my brother Bob and I living with my dad's family in Clifton Heights. My mother was able
to stay with a young married couple (the Syphard family) in Darby but she was not listed as being there on the day of the census. They later divorced sometime in 1960 when
she was 46. They had about 29 years of love and turmoil. She was dedicated to her
children. She endured much and sacrificed a lot because of her dedication.
She really enjoyed it when we could be together.
Family in 1972 at her daughter's house in Morton, PA.
Family in 1968 at her daughter's wedding.
High expectations
Her expectations were just too much for her husband. Their interests were
not the same. She followed sports just as avidly as dad did. That was his
only interest. Money was always scarce. It is amazing what they were
able to do with what little they had. Most of the details about her married years
I put in the sections about her husband and her children. She was strict
with a good dose of love and care. She provided a lot of good guidance through
our many discussions. I could talk to her about anything - always. She expected
a lot from her children too. |
