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| Agnes' parents Patrick and Clara (Moynahan) Broderick |
Agnes is a unique "double cousin" as we were related through both the Brodericks and the Moynahans.
I decided to make this blog post about her because, like her grandfather Martin Broderick (1839-1915), I recently located new documents about Agnes in the Detroit Free Press archives.
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| Agnes Broderick (circa 1909-1910) |
Agnes' mother Clara (Moynahan) died in 1919 at the young age of 37 years (after a lingering illness) leaving her husband Patrick with five children aged 18 months to 15 years. Agnes was the eldest.
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| Birth certificate: Mary Agnes Broderick Source: Archives of Ontario; Series: MS929; Reel: 168 Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada Births, 1869-1913 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. |
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| Agnes and her sister Genevieve (circa 1909-1910) |
1925
At 21 years of age, Agnes (who was working as a nurse) married Michael Joseph Casey who was born in Armascaul, County Kerry, Ireland
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| Source: Archives of Ontario; Series: MS932; Reel: 712 Ancestry.com and Genealogical Research Library (Brampton, Ontario, Canada). Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. |
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| Windsorite: Holy Name of Mary Church on Windsor’s West Side celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2012 |
The church that they were married in was called, "Our Lady of Prompt Succor" which is unfamiliar to me. I found it interesting that it was later renamed by Fr. Rooney in 1943 to "Holy Name of Mary Church" due to problems pronouncing the name (and the youth of the Parish disliked being referred to as Prompt Suckers).
Holy Name of Mary Church on McEwan Street celebrated its last Sunday mass in June 2012. The Church was founded on May 17th, 1917 and was originally called Our Lady of Prompt Succour. Michael and Agnes would have been married at the first church which was located at the corner of Curry and Martin Avenues. The second church (on McEwan) was built in 1927.
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| Source: Essex Free Press Nov 6, 1925 |
1930 Census
The census records tell us a lot. In 1930, Michael and Agnes had two children: John and Mary and they owned the house they lived in which was valued at $8000.00.
Also, Michael's brother John (single, 24 years old, also from Ireland) was living with them at the time.
We also learn that Michael immigrated to the U.s. in 1921, Agnes immigrated in 1922 and the brother John immigrated in 1924. Both Michael and John are working in an auto factory at the time. Michael as a serviceman and his brother John as an electrician.
Agnes is shown as not having an occupation though we know that at the time of her marriage she was a nurse. She is home taking care of the two children (John 3 6/12 and Mary 2 2/12) and a third child, James Patrick, would be born in 1936.
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| 1930 Census |
1943-1966
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| Nurse Agnes (Broderick) Casey |
We know (from the obituary below) that Agnes retired from nursing at Mt Carmel Mercy Hospital in 1966 after 23 years in a supervisory post.
Agnes studied nursing at the old St. Mary's Hospital (later Detroit Memorial)
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| Source: The Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) · 6 Jun 1925, Sat · Page 10 |
There are no other nurses in our Essex county relatives so Agnes is unique. I can't help but wonder what drew her to become a nurse? Was it her mother's lingering illness and death that she witnessed at the young age of fifteen? Did she have an experience in her younger years? It would be wonderful to know.
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| Mt Carmel Mercy Hospital where Agnes worked for 23 years |
1975
Michael and Agnes lost their last born child, James Parick Casey, in 1975 at the age of 37 for reasons not known to me.
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| Source: Detroit Free Press Feb 1, 1975 |
1980
In September 1980, Agnes lost her beloved husband of fifty-nine years. Michael Joseph Casey was 81 years old.
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| Source: Detroit Free Press September 23, 1980 |
1984
This is the Detroit Free Press news clipping that inspired this post. I only knew that Agnes was a nurse but knew nothing about where she nursed or when. This was a delightful find!
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| Source: Detroit Free Press Tue Apr 24 1984 |
I could not find a headstone online for the Caseys because the Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery is only half photographed to date (at 53% of the 16,479 interments).
Links
- Detroit's Hospitals, Healers, and Helpers
- Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery 25800 W. 10 Mile Road Southfield, Michigan
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