122 It Happened in Iona

Church, Iona, with the much-beloved pastor M.J. Smith wit- nessing the marriage. Eight children were born to this union. In 1917 came Molly who died at the age of three years. Maurice arrived in 1918 and in the 20s were born Mary, Henry, Frank, Anne and Leo. Finally, late on summer’s eve of 1930 I arrived to usher in with a bang the Hungry Thirties. There in that house, homestead and community we all grew to some measure of wisdom and age, eventually going our own way in life here on the Island and in places farther afield. Maurice married Edna McGarry of Iona and pursued a career as airplane mechanic, mostly 1n Montreal. He was also the fiddler of the family. Mary became a social worker following studies at St. Dunstan’ s, McGill and Loyola 1n Chicago. She married Joe Swanston of Chicago, with Seattle becoming their home. Henry, the athlete of the family, married Kaye McNeely of Charlottetown. Soon after graduation from St. F.X. in Antigonish he pursued a career in the oil industry first in Calgary and later 1n London, Ontario. Frank married Verona Smaniotti of Calgary. Settling 1n Calgary soon after graduation from St. F. X., be also followed a career in the oil industry. Anne married Art Connolly of Iona and settled on his old homestead there where together they built up an excellent woodworking business. Leo married Florence McCabe of Iona and found a career with the provincial Department of Highways. He also became owner of the old homestead and with his wife operated until recently the former McCabe store at Iona Corner. The author of this book married the Church and for his thumbnail sketch the reader is directed to the back cover.

Ours was an ordinary family and an average homestead in what could be called a typical Island rural community. Whatever be the highs or lows of this, all we want to say is that “it happened in Iona".