O'BRIEN, Mary Irene (Melaven) 1921-?

CAVANAUGH, FOSSELMAN, GUTHNECK, OBRIEN, MELAVEN

Posted By: Richard O'Brien (email)
Date: 5/15/2018 at 12:48:38

Mary Irene (Melaven) O'Brien was born in Iowa City 12 Jun 1921. The Father of Mary Irene was Thomas Cavanaugh her Mother was Alberta Melaven.
Mary Irene was born in Iowa City to hide the fact the fact her father was still married to Elizabeth Guthneck the aunt of Alberta Melaven. After nearly 100 Years this still causes confusion.

The day my mother was born her grandmother Josephine took her to Waterloo to live with the sister of Josephine- Marie Fosselman. Josephine was the one who helped hide Alberta's first child and promoted the idea that Mary Irene was from a different family.

Mary Irene married Raymond Cyril O'Brien who died 2011 and both are buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery Key West, Iowa.

This is posted to correct the numerous other obituaries that incorrectly list her as a daughter of Elizabeth (Guthneck) Cavanaugh.