About Thomas McIntyre and Ellen Walsh

About Thomas McIntyre and Ellen Walsh

Thomas Joseph McIntyre was born on April 14, 1878 in the townland of Lislea, County Sligo, Ireland. He was the oldest of six children born to Lawrence McIntyre (1854-1931) and Mary Ginty (1850-1930). Ellen Walsh was born in Knockahoney, a townland very close to Lislea, on October 12, 1881. She was the youngest of nine children born to Jack Walsh (c1830-b1901) and Bridget Cawley (c1840-a1911). It is not clear if Thomas and Ellen knew each other in Ireland, though it is very possible since they lived only a few miles from each other. Thomas immigrated to the US on April 14, 1904 arriving at Ellis Island on the Steamship Majestic on April 21, 1904. Ellen immigrated around 1905. They were married on September 4, 1910 at Nativity of Our Lord Church in Chicago, Illinois. Thomas and Ellen were naturalized on October 7, 1910. They raised five children, Mary Cecelia (1911-1994), Lawrence Francis (1913-1995) see also McIntyre/Sullivan Genealogy, Blanche Catherine (1914-1978), Helen Patricia (1916-1982) and Thomas Joseph (1919-2009) on the west side of Chicago. Thomas Sr. was a streetcar motorman on the Chicago Surface Line, now the Chicago Transit Authority, for most of his life. Ellen was a homemaker. Thomas died on Christmas Eve 1939 at the age of 61. Ellen died less than two years later on November 28, 1941. Her family said she died of a broken heart but her death certificate said it was kidney failure aggravated by influenza.

What this Blog Includes

You will find pictures, comments, documents, and stories about Thomas J. McIntyre and Ellen A. Walsh of Ireland and their children born in Chicago, Illinois. Where we have information about Thomas and Ellen's parents, that information is also included. Additional information about the McIntyre/Walsh family is available on my website at http://McIntyreGenealogy.com Please add your comments and stories of the McIntyre/Walsh Family here too!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Ellen Walsh, Birth Certificate, 1881


Ellen Walsh was born on October 12, 1881, or so her birth certificate states. I have not been able to locate a baptismal record for her and wonder, if like her husband Thomas J. McIntyre, was her birth reported several months after the actual birth. But, for now, October 12 is the "official" date.

She was born in Knockahoney, a small townland in County Sligo, only a few miles from Lislea, where Thomas J. McIntyre was born. Her father was Jack Walsh and her mother Bridget Cawley Walsh. Jack was a farmer. From her birth certificate, it shows that her mother was the informant on the birth certificate and since she signed her name with an "X" she was mostly likely illiterate.

When I was in Dublin in 1998, I went to the General Register Office and requested a copy of her birth certificate which you see above. In Ireland, in the1880s, births were recorded in "Register Books" so this image is a contemporary copy, hand written in 1998 from the original Register Books.
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Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Thomas J. McIntyre, C.M., 1919-2009

Father Thomas J. McIntyre, C.M.
August 17, 1919 - November 29, 2009.

Father Thomas J. McIntyre, C.M., 90, died of natural causes on Sunday, November 29th in Silverado Care Center, San Juan Capistrano.  The son of Thomas J. McIntyre and Ellen Walsh, he was born in Chicago on August 17, 1919.

Fr. McIntyre entered the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers and Brothers) on October 17, 1942 and professed perpetual vows in the Congregation on October 18, 1944.  He was ordained a priest in the Congregation of the Mission at St. Mary's Seminary, Perryville, MO on June 4, 1950.

"Father Mac" had been resident assisting priest at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic church in Laguna Beach from 1990, when he retired from active ministry, until August of 2008 at which time he moved into assisted living at Belmont Village in Corona del Mar, CA.

Prior to his retirement, Father McIntyre served as associate pastor (1982-1990) at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Huntington Beach, CA, in the Diocese of Orange.

Most of "Father Mac's" priestly ministry was within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, beginning in 1951 when he was assigned as teacher and Dean of Students at Our Lady Queen of Angels Preparatory Seminary in San Fernando. He served there until 1957.  He also served as Superior and Rector of St. Vincent's Preparatory Seminary in Montebello, CA from 1959 to 1965.  From 1975 to 1979 Father McIntyre was Pastor and Superior of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Montebello, CA. Over the years he also served in several administrative capacities for the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers, Province of the West.

His warmth and humor attributed to his popularity wherever he served.  He was recognized as one who tried to be faithful to the charism of St. Vincent de Paul by organizing and leading programs of outreach to the poor in the various parishes at which he served.

A vigil Mass was celebrated for Father McIntyre at St. Catherine's in Laguna Beach on the evening of December 3rd. A memorial Mass was also celebrated at St. Catherine's on Friday, December 4th.

The Vincentian Fathers and Brothers, and his family and friends celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. on December 4th in the Doheny chapel at DePaul Evangelization Center in Montebello, CA.  Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Obituary provided by Father William Piletic, C.M.

Above photo is from ordination day, 1950.

 Thomas' Ordination Day Invitation, June 4, 1950.