Marie Christina Moore

Marie was born in Trenton of Irish immigrant parents, who had  lost three children to childhood illnesses.  Her mother was very strict and doted on her sons, especially Bill - who had a congenital heart condition.  She had dark hair and brown eyes and was very smart with a sense of humor.

Marie graduated from business college in Trenton and about 1919 the family moved back to Brooklyn because of her mother's ill health. Marie got a job with the American Surety Co. in NY as a keypunch operator.
Marie was an accomplished pianist who often played at parties with John accompaning her on cornet or French horn.
She suffered from a variety of illnesses for many years, mainly related to Meniere's Disease, which made her very fearful of falling. Always anxious, this was worsened as she grew older. She had agoraphobia - fear of leaving the house - and would always have someone with her when shopping.
She did not receive very good medical care! She had serious hearing problems and wore a hearing aid in her later years.

 INFO FROM MARIE MOORE'S LETTERS:

She was taught to read and write by her father, Michael, at home at about age 5, and thus skipped first grade after three months there. Her mother was very overprotective, especially after any illness, as she had lost three children to diseases.
Marie and John bought two bungalows in Staten Island from the Sullivans and vacationed there with the family in the summer. They disposed of their Jamaica home hurredly in 1931 to be near her dying mother in Brooklyn. They rented across the street , but were unable to help, as the entire little family got the Flu, as well as herself. Pop and Jim were out of work at the time and had to take care of Mom! Legal problems developed about the Jamaica house and they had to repossess it, with a loan from Michael Sulivan. This loan was diligently repaid over the ensuing years.
She loved music and often played for friends and family. The Moore cousins remember her playing the piano and everyone singing on those visits. She also would read tea leaves and Tarot cards in order to amuse everyone. Friends remember her as a jolly, happy woman in her childrearing years. Devoted to her mother, the family would make several trips a year to the Sullivan grave in Trenton by car. It was quite a trip from LI, but she insisted.
She wrote to her son John while he was in the Navy during WWII. They had a secret code and she knew where he was in the South Pacific! Her later years were very lonely. She was shocked when John died suddenly in 1968 but refused to live with either of her daughters, as she was reluctant to give up her home.
She had many disappointments during her lifetime and was a semi-invalid since age 36 (about 1940) when she had a serious "breakdown" in health. She had wonderful taste, was a craftsperson, sewed beautifully and was very outgoing when she was able.
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 She had 13 grandchildren and was always glad to see them, although not able to participate in activities with them.  She came to daughter Margaret's home in NJ once for a few days.  It was while her husband, John,  was in the hospital for prostate surgery and she could not be alone.  She was anxious to get home again and was taken back to NY after a few days.

She had a sad life, due to her chronic disability. She was a smart woman who taught her children to be very independant of others. Her daughters learned early to help around the house with the cooking and housecleaning since she was unable to do so. She always worried about any childhood illnesses, since in those days there were few medicines to cure/alleviate diseases!