McManamon Family Tree

Notes taken by Joan and Jean Srpan (twins), June, 1991.

Rosemarie remembers Flo making and teaching her to make pies. She alsohelped Rosemarie with school work and flet she helped Rosemarie be smart.She also took Rosemarie downtown at lot to shop; sometimes they walked ortook the bus.

4/4/96 per phone conversation with April, Florence's daughter. Florencedid not remain Catholic because when she attempted suicide at 14-15 yearsold, the Catholic Church ex-communicated her. This was a burden to herall her life. April states her mother was physically and emotionallyabused by her father Roy. There was some deeper trauma, and every timeApril brought up, "Was it incest?", Florence would look away and cry.Florence would never go to a therapist or to any 12 step programs, eventhough she drank heavily most of her life. April and Jean feels thatFlorence took the brunt of the family abuse. Theresa and Florence wouldstep in between their father, Roy, and protect Rosemarie so that she gotfar less abuse. Florence would go the Helen, daughter of Helen Gillespie,who was her savior, until she died young. She only felt safe with herAunt Helen. April and Jean theorize that Florence and Theresa's breastcancer may partly be due to the emotional abuse they suffered andretained in their bodies all their lives.

Florence only completed 8th grade, then quit school at age 13. She becamepregnant, married Dale at age 16 years. She lost that baby and blamed thefather. Dale is Methodist, so Florence became Methodist. She had anotherchild, April, who recently married. When April was 9 years old, herparents, and some friends went to Arizona on vacation in 1975. They fellin love with the state, reviewed realy ads, saw a motorcycle shop forsale. Before leaving Arizona, Dale talked to the realtor and signedpapers. They cleared up details in Youngstown, Ohio, took April out ofschool, and moved to Arizona.

While Dale and Florence were married, eating out in a resteraunt,Flornece went to the bathroom and met a women. Florece said she waslooking for work. The woman said she and her husband owned a business andneeded someone. Florence was hired. Florence was married to Dale for 12years, then divorced. Mark, owner of the business, later divorced afterhis wife ran around on him. Florence and Mark eventually married.

Florence came back to Youngstown, Ohio, for her father's funeral. BeforeRoy died, whenever Florence was around him she would cringe, per April.There were no tears at his funeral, only a look of relief when she gazedinto his casket, per April.

Florence had stopped drinking on her own for a while. After diagnosiswith breast cancer, she returned to heavy drinking. The last 2 months ofher life, she returned to Catholicism, praying the rosary and having aCatholic priest come to her bedside. In September 1994, Florence died ofbreast cancer in Arizona. Her sister, Theresa, also had breast cancer anddied June 24, 1995. Within one week of each other, they saw respectiveMD's for diagnosis of breast cancer. Theresa's was far advanced,involving lymph nodes, while Florence had no lymph nodes. With radiationand chemo-therapy, Florence just continued downhill, until her death.

Per note from Theresa, November 14, 1994. "I have some very sad news. Mysister Flo lost her battle on Oct. 29th. She was slippig into a coma onFriday so Rose and I flew out on Saturday but she was gone before we gotthere. We were on the road to the airport when she passed. Rose and I hadbeen to Arizona from Aug. 26-Sept. 12, we had one final time with herthem. It was so hard. She was going downhill quickly then. One day she'dbe up saying she was going to beat this and the next day she'd be makingfinal arrangements. I have never seen such courage. I miss her deeply,she was so encouraging to me, she was my confidante about our fears aboutthis illness together. I lost my true support. but I'm sure where she isnow in Heaven, she'll even help me more."

Obituary: FLORENCE T. CHRISTOFFERSON, 45. Youngstown native; servicesWednesday. Memorial services will be Wednesday at Green Acres Mortuary,Scottsdale, LAriz., for Mrs. Florence T. Christofferson, 45, of WestRosal Place, Chandler, Ariz., formerly of Youngstown, who died of cancerSatruday at her home.

Mrs. Christofferson was born July 29, 1949, in Youngstown, a daughter ofRoy B. and Florence Canavan Gillespie. She moved in 1977 to Arizona,where she worked for Vistar Technologies Inc.

She leaves her husband, Mark R., whom she married Feb,. 25, 1984; adaughter, Mrs. April A. Hines in Arizona; and two sisters, Mrs. TheresaWasylychyn and Mrs. Rosemarie King, both of Youngstown.

The family requests that material tributes take the form of contributionsto American Cancer Society. 11/1/94

On memorial card: Officiant; Rev. Douglas Maire, Velda Rose, UnitedMethodist Church.

Per note from Theresa, November 14, 1994. "I have some very sad news. Mysister Flo lost her battle on Oct. 29th. She was slippig into a coma onFriday so Rose and I flew out on Saturday but she was gone before we gotthere. We wer on the road to the airoort when she passed. Rose and I hadbeen to Arizona from Aug. 26-Sept. 12, we had one final time with herthem. It was so hard. She was going downhill quickly then. One day she'dbe up saying she was going to beat this and the next day she'd be makingfinal arrangements. I have never seen such courage. I miss her deeply,she was so encouraging to me, she was my confidante about our fears aboutthis illness together. I lost my true support. but I'm sure where she isnow in Heaven, she'll even help me more. I just pray they will find ananswer to this dreaded disease or we could just all go together. Thefunerals of Dad, Mom and Flo are the hardest thing I've ever wentthrough. Please pray for Rose, she is so down and fearful. She has beenmy angel to me, going to every doctor's appointment I've had. I'm stillin chemo and last time I couldn't keep a thing on my stomach for 3 days.Now this Monday, my doctor told me I have to have a heart test becauseafter you've been on this red medicine for so long they have to see ifthere's damage to the heart. Another fear. Please pray. I know it's solate to thank you for my birthday card and money (Joan and Jean each gaveher a $50 bill for her 50th birthday). You are so kind and generous. Iwish I could do something wonderful for you. You and Joan have been likesisters to me and I'll never forget it. You've always gone out of yourway for us. We do have some wonderful news through all this. Our daughterDebbie is going to have a baby in June. Her and Steve and us are soexcited. They've been married 10 years! They are such a darling coupleand I'm sure they'll have a beautiful bably like Chris and Russ's Kammi.She adds such joy to our life. Please take care of yourself and you lovedones. Love Always, Theresa."