Kathleen "Cāit" Francisco and Kathleen J. Francisco

[00:01] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: My name is Kathleen Claire Cāit Gallagher Francisco. I'm 86 and three quarters of age. Today is Friday, June 10, 2022, and we are in Missoula, Montana, and my interview partner is Kathleen J. Francisco, and she is my daughter, my second daughter.

[00:25] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: My name is Kathleen J. Francisco. I'm 63 years of age. It's Friday, June 10, 2022. We're in the beautiful new library in Missoula, Montana. My interview partner is mom Kathleen Claire Gallagher Francisco, lovingly known as Cāit And I mentioned I. She's my mom. Okay, well, mom, I learned about StoryCorps being in Missoula, and whenever I'd be driving to Livingston during my commute, it was the highlight of the week, when you would hear the story, core story, on Friday. And so when I saw the possibility of having some stories from you recorded, I thought it would be just the perfect opportunity. So, because everyone has a story to tell, and you always have really interesting, sometimes a little quirky stories about family members, but you don't often tell stories about yourself. So let's start with where were you born?

[01:43] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I was born in Anaconda, Montana, at St. Anne's hospital. And we first lived at 1007 east fifth Street. And because I was the third child, I had an older sister and an older brother, and then we moved up to the 700th block on east Fifth.

[02:03] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, you mentioned you had your siblings. You were the third of four children.

[02:10] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[02:10] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Who was the oldest in your family?

[02:12] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: My sister Maureen, and then I had a brother, red. His real name is Farrell. And then myself and then Thomas Dan.

[02:21] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, tell me, what was it like growing up in anaconda?

[02:26] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Wonderful. It was. We had a lot of relatives around. We could go to one another's houses, play it a lot on the street. There was always games going. And after we left Fifth street, we went over to Birch street, and there were marble games. There was kick the can, football, baseball, tag sledding, anything you wanted to do. We were not intimidated by the technology that they have today. We made our own fun. We didn't have to have it dictated to us.

[03:02] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, you mentioned you had a lot of fun. Do you have any memories of friends at that time? You mentioned you have a lot of cousins. So perhaps some memories of interactions or games with cousins or friends that you had when you were growing up.

[03:21] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, the idea of going to movies, ice skating. We had an ice skating rink in anaconda. It was the commons. And we'd walk. We walked everywhere. There were the vehicles and the other types of transportation. So we walked, and it was always like the cousins going together or the neighborhood kids. And also during the summer, we had a swimming pool out in our washoe park. And we leave the house, and we walk up the railroad tracks to the park, bring our little peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. There was maybe myself and my cousin Alison and Thomas, Daniel, the neighbors, Claudia, Charlotte. A lot of us would. And off we'd go. And I think it was a way of our parents sending us off for the whole day. And we'd come home maybe about 04:00 in the afternoon.

[04:09] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Uh huh. I remember you showing me, just in this last month, a really adorable picture of you and Tom. Perhaps it was your first communion.

[04:20] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: My first childhood communion, yes.

[04:21] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: And you mentioned Rosie might have made the suit or, excuse me, the jacket that Tom had on.

[04:28] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, Rosie took care of my little brother Tom, and she was a great seamstress. And I kept looking at that coat, and I thought, I'll bet Raj made that coat for Tom.

[04:39] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: And you lived really close to your aunt Rosie, didn't you?

[04:43] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: We lived around the corner so that way my mother could take the baby up and drop her off to Rosie. And then she walked on into her up at the state liquor store.

[04:52] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Ah, now, so Rosie, an aunt, was nearby, but so was another aunt Kay, right?

[05:00] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes, but she lived quite a ways away. She lived down on East Fifth street, but she had a grocery store, and nowadays they have, like, food banks and stuff like that. She was our food bank. She had the grocery store, so that's where we always went for our groceries.

[05:14] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Now you're mentioning Nanak, Mary Margaret, but would you tell us what happened with your dad?

[05:23] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Oh, there may be tears.

[05:27] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: And that's okay. What we know is that your dad died when he was really. When you were really young.

[05:35] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: But I think he was young. He turned 35 on November 9, and he died November 25.

[05:42] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, yes, but I think what was really interesting, though, he was part of the. The civilian conservation corps, and they were busy building that green grass in anaconda.

[05:54] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes, yes. He was very active. He was a very active person. I was only four.

[06:00] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Right. And so when you were talking about it was really nice to have Rosie and Kay nearby for your mom, wasn't that for help?

[06:09] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes. I think that's why we were so family oriented and cousins were so close. Because of that, everybody took care of everyone. There was no such thing as daycare. We just went to one another's house for meals.

[06:26] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Yes.

[06:29] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: We played with one another, we fought with one another, and it was just a very close combination. Rosie took care of Tom Daniel. I used to go to k earlies, and Brad used to go down to the Gallagher family, which was just down the couple houses from my aunt Kay. Early Maureen was 13, so she basically went to the house and basically, I guess, took care of herself.

[06:59] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, I like what you said with close knit, because it seems like you were a close knit family for a long.

[07:06] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, forever. Forever. Yes, forever.

[07:10] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: So now I'm curious. We talked a little bit about the fun you had with friends and cousins, but did you like school?

[07:20] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I loved school. Yes. After kindergarten, I loved school.

[07:25] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Okay, would you please include the reasoning why? It was a bit of a challenge for you to. There's a story about you taking off from your kindergarten class. Why don't you share that?

[07:38] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, I've been unknown to do a person, to do my own thing at my own pace. And so after my dad died, my mother was given my father's job. So the following September, she put me in kindergarten at the Bryant school. Well, I didn't like milk, and I didn't think I needed to take a nap.

[08:02] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: When they offered milk for you, that was the treat or the drink.

[08:06] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes. And, of course, when I refused a couple scoldings and we had to take a nap, and we'd walk up these stairs, and it was a big, long room, and the lady would go to the end and sit. And being that I didn't like it, I thought, this one day, okay, I'm going to go right by the door. And as soon as I got in there, I grabbed the cot by the door, and I waited until she walked on down the aisle and plunked herself down. And I was out the door, down the fire escape, and away I went. Now, the house that we lived had a big tree, and around that tree was a bench where everybody could sit. I went up the tree, and I watched everybody searching for me. And I think they must have had to call my mother home from work because I ran away from the school. And I knew eventually I had to come down, and I knew I was going to face the wrath of Mary Margaret.

[09:02] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Mm hmm. Now, I'm going to go on a little bit of a bird walk here, because when I was listening to you tell me this story a couple of weeks ago, I was reminded of a story that brother John at one time disappeared when you were in Sears in Butte, and when you, of course, were just really concerned about where he had gone, but you found him in the window, and he was watching you as.

[09:27] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, and he enjoyed me going panicky.

[09:29] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: So it seems like Carmen came back a bit for you?

[09:32] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes, it did. And, you know, the result of my. Of my running away from kindergarten. My dad was a coach at the St. Peter's school, and my mom. And he chaperoned the kids, the schools, the dances and stuff. And the sisters said to my mom, because I couldn't go back to the brine school, I wouldn't go back. Let's put it like that. Maybe if my mother took me by the nape of the neck, I would have went back. But the nun said she can come and sit. In the first grade, they didn't have a kindergarten, and it was wonderful because they would take me over to their convent while they would have their meal, and I got to sit in the kitchen and have this meal. And that's at a time when there were many nuns and they did their own baking of the bread and stuff. So I was there. So the next year, when the first grade really started, I was like the greeter. I was greeting everybody, all my friends that I grew up with for the rest of my life.

[10:31] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, that really worked out well for you, didn't it?

[10:34] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: It did. It did.

[10:35] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Okay, now, so I'm going, thinking about your education. You ended up going to get certified to become a teacher. Yes. At the College of Great Falls.

[10:49] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[10:49] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: How did you end up choosing the profession of teaching?

[10:54] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: When I was in the fourth grade, I had this wonderful, wonderful nun, and her name was Sister Colin Bernas. And I thought she walked on water, and I was after school just to walk. She had a big raised bench that she had her desk on, her base for her desk. And I thought it was a great treat to stay after school and wash that and clean her boards and visit with her. And I think she was the inspiration for me.

[11:21] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: And so, if I remember correctly, your teaching assignment after you finished at the College of Great Falls, you ended up in Augusta, is that right?

[11:32] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes. Augusta, Montana, where they had steel wooden sidewalks. The sheriff were his six shooters.

[11:38] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Oh, dear.

[11:39] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I had his twin daughters in the fourth grade. He was a mister Walsh. They had one phone in town. It was down at the post office. And every time your father and my future husband would call me, everybody in town knew that Jack had called because I'd get called to the post office.

[11:57] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, at that time, was Maureen your older sister? Was she in Fairfield at that time?

[12:04] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes, and it was very good because I'd spend many times with Maureen when we were young. After Maureen got married, every summer, Tom and I went to Fairfield and stayed with Maureen. She basically took care of us during the summer. She was married in June and in July of 47, Tom and I were in Fairfield, and we were there every summer until I was in the 8th grade. And then I started to get a job in Anaconda.

[12:32] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: I'll bet that I'm just thinking about myself, what joy nieces and nephews have brought to my life. And if you were close to Maureen, were you in Augusta? Did Pete and Maureen have kids at that time?

[12:47] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes. Yes. They had Peggy and Sheila. Ah, yes.

[12:53] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: That's nice. And I remember Peggy and Sheila are in your wedding photo.

[12:59] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: They were my junior bridesmaids. I was very close to them. And still are.

[13:03] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Yes. So I'm wondering, though, you mentioned dad calling you and everyone knowing. Well, how did you meet daddy?

[13:13] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, I was going with another person and they all rode their motorcycles and he was just with them. And I just knew. Knew I met that way. And one day a bunch of us went to opportunity to a dance, and he gave us a ride home because our other ride left. And then when his brother Bob married Lynn, who I graduated from school with, and that must have been in 1990, maybe 54, when they got married. That's when we really started to go together.

[13:46] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: You went together? Now I have. I'm reminded of a photo of dad with a nice motorcycle, and it's two of his pals, maybe Gene Colucci and Charlie Caldwell. But wasn't there some story where you were, weren't interested in the motorcycle or.

[14:07] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I was afraid of him, but that doesn't mean I didn't go down it. I want you to know I was the famous fourth grade teacher of Beaver Dam school, because one day he came to pick me up and he had his motorcycle. And of course, in those days, we were never allowed to wear pants or anything like that. So just folded the skirt between my legs, threw my leg across the back, and off we went. And I got called to the superintendent's office.

[14:32] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Good for you. Well worth it.

[14:34] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: It was fun. I still have some of those kids talk about it.

[14:39] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: I didn't realize that. That's a nice story. I've not heard that one.

[14:43] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Oh, yeah, it was famous. I got called to the office. In what school were you at the Beaver Dam school? An opportunity.

[14:49] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Really.

[14:52] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Then I received my ring at Christmas time. And then at that time, once you became engaged, you were not given your contract to teach again because as a married woman, you could not teach.

[15:05] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: And that was in 19, what, 57. So I'm trying to figure this out. So your first teaching job was in Augusta. Then you taught an opportunity at Beaver Dam.

[15:19] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[15:19] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Ah. So was it because you were dating dad that you went, that you moved back to Anaconda?

[15:26] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[15:28] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Okay. Okay. Well, when, after you and dad got married, you ended up living an opportunity? How did you both, how did you decide or end up living an opportunity?

[15:42] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I really don't think I had a choice. That's where he wanted to live. And of course, if that's where he wanted to live, naturally, that's where I wanted to live.

[15:48] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Sure.

[15:49] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: And we first had a, when we first got married, we couldn't find a place to live down there. And we had an apartment at the Brentwood apartments in Anaconda. And then when Michelle was born, we lived with my mom a while until we found a house and opportunity, and then we were down there. She was born in 58, and then in 59, he started building the house, which we now all lived in and just stayed there. It was on the property close to Nana, his mother's house.

[16:20] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, it was a nice place to grow up. I had a really nice childhood there. Yes. And I can remember Nana's house.

[16:32] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Especially.

[16:32] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: When she was married to Walter Lachance. Those are fond memories. Yes. So what I remember and know that is you and dad really enjoyed having family dinners and gatherings of both family and neighbors. And so it seems like I want to talk about that, but I also want to talk about how some of the foods that came out of those celebrations are really still quite popular with all of us. And so what do you think you, let's see, what do you think you make the best? What are you known for?

[17:16] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, I can't say I'm known for, but the whole group of us, we make povidza because your dad is croatian and it is a croatian bread. We call it povetica. Few people call it povitica. And I think the translation is walnut bread.

[17:32] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: And, you know, Rosie Brown calls it Petitza. So there are so many iterations of it. Yes.

[17:38] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes, there is. And he always, we decided, we, at the bar, at the clergy, they always had a Christmas party, and skinny would have to buy these loaves of breads from different people. And being a smart person, as I am, I said I could make those. And so my sister in law, Judy, who was lithuanian, she got a recipe from a friend and her and I decided, and that was in the Christmas of 1962, and that was our first adventure of making it. And the bread turned out wonderful in the filling and we rolled it. But at that time, they rolled it just like a snake in a big coil. And they put it in a roaster, and this person told her to cook it at 400 degrees for so long, it was burnt on the outside and raw on the inside. It wasn't a very good first time. So then I talked to your dad's aunt, Katie Laslovich, and she says, oh, no, no, no, you have to. She still talked about the coil, but you cooked it at a lower heat, which it turned out much better, but as you cut it, it became stale. So as the years went on, we learned to make it into loaves. And that worked out much better because they froze real well and we could give them as gifts and use them.

[18:55] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Sure, sure. I just remember, my goodness, whether it was the bars party or whether they're family weddings, it just seems pulverata has been part of our celebrations, well, forever.

[19:10] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes, yes.

[19:11] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: And the making of it is always such a wonderful. Well, it's an experience, isn't it? Whether the dough is proper.

[19:20] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: It has to be very warm in the house. You always keep your house about 75 to 80 degrees. And of course, your father would live out in the garage because he couldn't stand the heat. But one day, as we were pulling, because we have a table, but you would pull, and the table was about very long, so you're pulling it, and some people roll it, but we were taught to use our hands to pull it.

[19:43] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: And it's just so paper thin. You can see your hands.

[19:46] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: You're supposed to be able to use a flowered tablecloth underneath it. You're supposed to be able to see the pattern, okay. But then as it went over to the side, because it being so thin, it would. So we'd have different ones holding it up. One day, a certain person was late getting there to help us, but your dad got stuck in the corner, and I kept looking at him, and he was sweating profusely. And I said, do not sweat on my dough because it would ruin it. You know, I thought, oh, my God. The next year, I had a board that was six by eight, and we use it in the front room so that when it went the width, it didn't fall over the corners. So it. That certain person being late, and I still have the board. And at that time, Michelle was married. And of course, her daughter, at the age of three, started to pull. And she's now in her thirties, and she's in charge. And now I have a great granddaughter that's doing it.

[20:45] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: I think that's really lovely how it's been. Well, three more, four generations of making the povertica there have been a number of us involved in it over the years, but it's just really lovely that Michelle, Aaron and Hazel are so involved. And part of it. Yes, it's a wonderful. It's a wonderful treat to pass on. Not even a treat.

[21:13] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, I tell Erin that's what her inheritance is, is the pivot of support. That's what she gets.

[21:18] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: And both her and I do love to have a small bowl of the.

[21:22] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Filling and the name. See, at one time, too, our neighbors then got in on the act and we would get the dough going and, like, Shirley would have her dough going at a certain time. I'd have my dough going at a certain time, and Helen and then Alice and Sharon, and we'd all pull at this house and then run to the next house and pull. And many times when the dough wasn't turned out, Sharon Wickes pigs got the dough.

[21:46] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Oh, dear.

[21:48] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: But the filling was the big thing. And there was always the fight to make sure there was at least a bowl of the filling left so they could have a treat.

[21:55] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Poverty is one of your many baked wonders. There's also Tippewary squares, which is on the irish side, which are delicious, and you make them. Erin's part of that process, too, isn't she? Yes.

[22:12] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: And at St. Patrick's Day, we make over 200 of them. And we do, because I bring it up to the katie, which is Acadia is the irish word for a party, an irish party. And they're singing and dancing and storytelling. And then she's. As we mature, your tastes change. So she's always my frosting taster now to make sure that it isn't sugary tasting.

[22:38] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: So you also make really good savory, like with the sarma, which is really delicious. But I remember you giving it a go to make pasties. But Nana Francisco was really good. She made delicious pasties.

[22:58] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: So Nana was born in Cornwall, England, and all I ever heard was about the pasties. And there again, you know, I know everything and I know how to do everything. So I thought. So I thought, I'll make some pasties. And your father was very diplomatic about it. He says, you know, I'm going to have my mom help you with this. Well, Myrtle came down and I have to say she was the most wonderful mother in law in the world. She rolled out that dough that was so fine and it was so perfect and so flaky and so wonderful. I never made another pasty. I always had Nana make the pasties.

[23:34] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Now, mom, when you were talking about making a the povidica. I want to go back because you mentioned some friends and it made me smile underneath this mask. Because you would go to Shirley's or Sharon's house and then Alice Richards and then Helen's and Helen's as well. Yes. And just made me think about that memory of people coming and visiting with you at your kitchen table and they. Coffee. I see Helen coming in and chatting, or Sharon Wick sometimes cutting or doing people's hair as well, and giving your.

[24:13] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Kids permanence for school the first day.

[24:15] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Yes, yes. But when I'm thinking about Sharon Wicks, I'm also reminded, or want to talk about. You're really quite good at growing plants as well, I think. My goodness. Sweet peas or roses. You and Sharon used to enter your gladiolas, didn't you, in the gladiolas and our sweet peas.

[24:38] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: And we always would take a purple, but sometimes we did little. You always had to have so many flowers on your sweet pea stem, and you'd pick one color and we'd go to one another's garden. If we only. I think you used to have three stems of the very same. And if I only had two, I'd go down to Sharon's and get it. If she only had two or one, she come to my house and get them.

[25:00] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Yes, well, that's just sharing. And that was for the county fair down deer lodge. Yes, I remember those glads. How pretty. Yes, and your sweet peas still grow beautifully. My goodness, the whole length of your.

[25:15] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: House is covered and smells so good.

[25:20] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Yes, well, when we were talking about the different food stuff in celebrations, I'm reminded that just this past week you were sending out some texts to family members about the upcoming 4 July party. So you and dad, that 4 July gathering really started as a neighborhood gathering, didn't you?

[25:45] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes. The neighbors, like, would come and we'd have a 4 July picnic and stuff, and the family would come and. And then as they started to move and do different things, it started to become more family oriented. And last year we had, I think, 52 of us that were there. And it's a case of just being together, you know, nothing very fancy, but just together. And your dad liked that because it was always at our house, because he liked to be home.

[26:16] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: He was a homebody, wasn't Hedenhe?

[26:19] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Even more Christmas dinners, he'd say, well, they're very busy. I had four kids, but I wasn't busy. They had. They're very busy. Let's have it here. One year we had over 30 people for Christmas, the table went out the dining room and across the front room. That was right before Teresa was born. Cause I was pregnant with Teresa.

[26:42] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: So that must have been like 62.

[26:44] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: It was the Christmas of 62 because Savino and Judy, all the aunts, Tom and carol and red and Judy and his family. Katie las Levit. Yes, a lot of us. Nice, lovely, lovely Maureen and all her crew.

[27:05] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: So when it comes to the 4 July, I have all these wonderful memories, but I think I connect the food with people as well. So, like with dear old aunt Maureen's, her spaghetti salad. Salad or Alice Richards peanut butter bars.

[27:24] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[27:24] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: What are you known for when it comes to baking for the or food prep for 4 July.

[27:30] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Oh, the Tipperary squares and sweetie pies. And I now make Maureen spaghetti salad and then a fruit salad.

[27:37] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Good, good.

[27:39] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: And we have brought sauerkraut.

[27:42] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: But it's nice. It's still a combination of friends and family, although there's more family members coming these days.

[27:48] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: It's all family, basically.

[27:49] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Yes. And that's joyful when you've made some comments about, oh, I could do that. I could do that. It just made me smile when you said, oh, the Christmas celebration before Theresa was born. Because when you were talking about growing up, what I was curious about was Smelterman's day. And you didn't mention that. But before you go back to that, just this past St. Patrick's Day, you were a participant in the St. Patrick's day run walk. And you were the oldest member. And I remember you were concerned, not concerned. You were aware that perhaps you wouldn't be walking as fast as you had previously, and your goal was to walk at least a 15 minutes mile. So can you tell me what happened when you got close to that finish line?

[28:52] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, I can start at the beginning because when I got out of bed that morning, I stood up and I have a beautiful picture of our lord. And I says, okay, I'm going to a race today. Keep me upright, don't let me fall and embarrass myself. So off we go. And we're walking. And I am very competitive. It's been my nature. And as we got to the end, as soon as we get up close to these people, they'd run. And I thought, this is strange. So as we got to the last block, I looked at this gal that alongside me and says, I'm running and I never run. Well, the last block I ran, and guess what? I came in second in the 70 year old, but could hardly catch my breath at the end.

[29:36] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: But with that last burst of energy, and you were going to make it. You did make it under 15 minutes. Miles.

[29:44] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[29:44] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Good, good.

[29:45] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[29:46] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: And that reminded me of. You were remembering Aaron Washington at your house, and I was there, too, but there was. Let's go to the smelterman's day celebrations. There was a. The smelterman's day after Theresa was born. You had another good run. What happened then?

[30:11] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, they used to have races, and I ran a race and won $50 because I came in first. And she's only three months old or four months old.

[30:21] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Teresa was born, what, May 29, and this was August 8.

[30:25] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[30:26] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Good, good.

[30:26] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, I'm very competitive. And also, when we go back to St. Patrick's Day, I love my St. Patrick's Day. And we have a group called the Irish Welsh Women Brigade, which I was help organized. We used to follow the men walking down the street, holding arms, singing. And we said, this is a bunch of bologna. Look like we're sheep following in. So we organized this group and we marched. But also we do a little jig dance and stuff and a little. Few routines. And by the way, if you remember, you helped us with our first couple sessions of that irish washwoman. Be great.

[31:02] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: I fondly remember that I was teaching in Butte. And there were those beginning practices in the back of the club. Modern. Yes, yes. And they're called the Washer women.

[31:18] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Irish wash Women Brigade. Because our whole outfit is a description of what the irish girls had to go through when they came to America. They were nursemaids, they were servants. Our grannies had boarding houses, so we had to board. And because they were domestic people. And we always wear a St. Bridget's cross because she is our patron saint and her sign is fire. So we always feel like we're strong irish women. And we're sort of like the phoenix. We came from the ashes, where they were almost slaves to everyone. To being very strong women.

[31:55] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Sure, sure. I had always thought you enjoyed St. Patrick's Day, but the last few years, when I've been in anaconda and observed you, it brings you such joy to be part of those celebrations. Mom. It's lovely to watch. Really fun to watch. Now, the lady ancient order of Hibernians. That's the organization, really, that you've been involved with really, throughout your. How many decades have you.

[32:29] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I joined in 1985. I didn't belong to it all the time when the kids were raising. And we only had one car at one time, so I couldn't go into town a lot. But I really enjoyed it. It's become like a second family. And when there's been trials and tribulations, they're there strong for you. They're a very giving group. There's so many of them. They're in every occupation in town. Teachers, nurses, bar owners, everything. Accountants, you name it, and that's what they are. And they're very strong women. They're very, very strong women.

[33:05] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, you fit in quite nicely.

[33:07] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes, you do. And we enjoyed our dancing.

[33:13] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: So, sure, there's that social aspect, but there are issues within. Are you involved in Laoh as well? For, like, a president or secretary? Weren't you involved with that as well?

[33:29] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I was a president, and I was also the state president and also the irish historian.

[33:36] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Yes. And also, it seems, well, it is a lot of cousins or family members. It seems you have a lot of information when it comes to our ancestors. How's that? So when it comes to genealogy, people come to you for information for both dad's side of the family sometimes. And your side of the family.

[34:00] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes. It's because I got interested in it, and I wanted to find out. I went to Ireland in 99 and didn't know anything, and it bothered me, so I got involved. I wanted to find out, and I found out a lot about Myrtle's side of the family. Yes. And it meant a lot to me. I'm in contact with my relatives in Ireland all the time. Been there three times, and I felt like I went home.

[34:28] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Uh huh. I bet you'd go back if you had a chance, too, wouldn't you?

[34:32] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: The ladies and acle think I will be back, but I doubt it.

[34:36] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: But you never know.

[34:37] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: One never knows.

[34:38] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Yes. Yes. Well, let's see. As I'm thinking about everything we've chatted about so far, mom, was there anything that I've missed? We've had a few conversations about what you'd like to talk about when we were doing these.

[34:57] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, I think you covered a lot of things. I think I'm very lucky. I've had a good, strong family that sort of comes from both your father and I, because we're both very strong people.

[35:07] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Sure.

[35:10] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Wonderful grandchildren and two beautiful now great grandchildren.

[35:14] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Mm hmm.

[35:17] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Well, I just think it's been. I've been very fortunate.

[35:20] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, when. When we were talking last night and I was filling out that form, you said you feel content.

[35:24] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[35:25] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: That life with you.

[35:26] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[35:27] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: But when, how. How do you want to be remembered? You know, it comes to mind. It's like, for me, it's like, it's like you're just so wonderfully energetic. And the word that comes to mind is resilient. It just seems like you have this resiliency that I hope stays with me.

[35:47] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: How do I want to remember as a very aging woman that is happy with her life and enjoyed all her years? Oh, there's been a lot of ups and downs. There's some years I'd like to forget, but that's with any course. But most of the time was so wonderful. I want the kids to remember that I enjoyed their life. I enjoyed family gatherings, and I enjoy being with people. And I. I am very bossy at times. I like to be the organizer. I like to be in charge, and I find that with you.

[36:22] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Okay, excuse me. I'm going to have you think about, you have leadership skills. If you were male, you wouldn't be described as bossy. You would have leadership skills. So try that with yourself.

[36:33] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I am.

[36:34] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: I have.

[36:35] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I have leadership skills. Whatever you want to call it. I have leadership skills. I'm very fortunate that way.

[36:43] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, when I think about you, it's like this motto that you have. It's like yours is always many hands make light work, and dad's was always make the most of it.

[36:59] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes.

[36:59] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: So it seems like it's this wonderful blend when it comes to your family.

[37:08] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I don't know whether you know about the tree of life. It's very celtic. It's our roots. The roots that are so strong.

[37:17] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Ah. Mm hmm.

[37:19] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yeah.

[37:20] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Well, maybe that's a nice way to end. Your roots are really strong.

[37:24] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Yes. Yeah. We were very lucky. Very lucky.

[37:29] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: Mom, thank you for.

[37:32] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Thank you. I wasn't too much in favor of this, but thank you for letting us do it.

[37:37] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: I was aware of that as I picked you up this morning, that maybe you weren't looking forward to it as much. But from my side, it seems like it went well.

[37:46] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: I hope it did okay. I think it did okay.

[37:49] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: I do as well. Thank you.

[37:51] KATHLEEN CLAIRE CU0101IT GALLAGHER FRANCISCO: Okay. Thank you.

[37:52] KATHLEEN J. FRANCISCO: It's.