Mary Graddy Viti is my grandmother. She was born and raised in Clash Athea, Co. Limerick, Ireland. She was actually born on Aug. 25, 1893 according to her birth records. Why she lied about her age can only be known since my grandfather, Patrick Stephen Viti was born in 1897 and she was older than he, so the family makes the assumption that in those days a woman did not marry a younger man, so she reinvented her age.

She emigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia, Pa. arriving on Apr. 10, 1911. The ship records show her traveling with a Mary Kennedy, although the family in Ireland claim it was Mary Kennelly, her maternal aunt.

She told her grandchildren that she worked as a maid until her marriage on Sept. 16, 1922. She lived at 330 Durfor St. after marrying my grandfather. They spent spring and summer seasons in Franklinville N.J. on the Viti family farm. My father was born on Oct. 2, 1924 in Phila.

In 1932 when her father in law was losing the 300 acre farm for unpaid taxes which he could no longer afford, he begged all his children to take a portion and pay the taxes on what they took and have some land. My grandfather, Patrick was the only one who took him up on it and surveyed off about 50 acres. He built a home on the property for himself, my grandmother and my father. They worked together to farm the land and lived off the land all during the depression.

When my father married he and my mother built a house on the property next door to his parents and that is where I was raised along with my brothers and sister.

Mary was a hard worker, loving and kind and giving individual who loved people.

She left a legacy to her descendants of a strong, never give up personality. She overcame many obstacles during her life but never let anything keep her down.

Mary Viti