Eugene S. Reilly

Loretta Reese wrote about her father, whom she adored. He LOVED playing his Irish fiddle, and had music sessions every Sunday after church in the basement of their home on Mt. Vernon Avenue. Loretta accompanied him on piano. He was also the church violinist for weddings, baptisms, etc. Then in 1925 came the radio. At that point he put down the fiddle and turned the dial. His son Frank's interest in cars was Eugene's next passion, until his death in 1931. Eugene loved animals. In their home were dogs, cats, and canaries; he took care of them all. He taught his children the magic of planting flower seeds and nurturing them. Loretta and Frank both helped out at the greenhouse.

Eugene was the youngest in his family. His dad died when he was only 5 mos. old. He came over to Orange in 1891 with his widowed mother Catherine, sister Katie, and an unnamed 30-yr-old O'Reilly farmer. They joined his siblings Mary,Michael, and Patrick who had emigrated in 1882 and lived in the 3-story Victorian on High Street, at the entrance to St. John's Cemetery. Theresa lived with them in 1895 before joining the Sisters of Charity. Winifred [Sister Frances deSalles] arrived in 1899, as a Sister working at the House of Good Shepherd in Newark.

Eugene grew up on the family farm in Tonroe, Co. Roscommon. So, at age 17,  St. John's hired him as the cemetery gardener/superintendent of the grounds.  He and his children had to shovel coal all night to keep the greenhouse plants warm.  Eventually Eugene and Mary started their own business, while maintaining the cemetery.  He loved his work, Loretta said.  He also played his violin at many of the church functions, weddings, etc.

[Reilly's Florist Shop opened long after his death. Eugene's wife Mary started a flower arranging business in their home on Mt. Vernon Avenue. Then after WWII son Edmund secured a GI loan and started Reilly's Florist across from Orange Memorial Hospital.]

I suspect the photo is at Gene's wedding. He's with his cousin Michael Byrne. Then Michael was killed by lightning [see profile]. What a loss! Then Eugene and Mary started their own family, with a child nearly every year. The second, Mae [Mary], died at age 13 just a few months apart from her young sister Elizabeth. Paul was born with serious problems requiring surgeries. Then Vinnie almost died at birth -- on the same day Elizabeth's little white casket was brought in. Eugene himself died in 1931, at age 58.