Johanna (Anna) Joseph O\'Brien

Johanna Joseph Brien was usually called Anna O\'Brien. The second name "Joseph" for a girl was common in those days. Blanche McCarthy in an e-mail on October 9, 2000, wrote to me:

"Joseph was a very popular 2nd name for girls. Almost as popular as Mary was for a 1st name!! That priest had a one-track mind. Kids didn\\\'t get the names the parents wanted!! They got the names the priest decided to give them!!"

During WWII she worked at the Revere Rubber Company and after the war at the Peerless Box Company. Her niece, Mary Gorman, got her and her daughter, Mary Gorman-Dorgan, a job at the Peerless Box Co in 1947-1948.

Anna was an active member of many church and civic organizations. She belonged to the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Waters-Langton Post #228 in Providence, Rhode Island. She was also the Chaplain and "Sunshine Chairman" of the Thomas L. Ryan Post #47, Auxiliary in Providence, Rhode Island

By her grandchildren she was affectionately known as Nana.

Obituary:


Anna Gorman
Providence- Mrs. Anna Gorman, 77, formally of 52 Bergen St. died yesterday at Roger Williams General Hospital. She was the widow of Stephen J. Gorman.
Born November 17, 1900, in Newfoundland, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Emma Emily (Conway) O\\\'Brien and lived in the Mt. Pleasant section most of her life.
Mrs. Gorman was a communicant of the Blessed Sacrament Church for 75 years and a member of its senior citizens group and it\\\'s Rosary and Altar Society. She was also a member of the Thomas Ryan Post American Legion, and the Waters-Langton American Legion Post at Bradford House.
She leaves a son Stephen Gorman of Warwick; a daughter Mary A. Dorgan of N. Scituate; a sister Mrs. Mary Ryan of Providence and seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
The funeral will be held tomorrow at 9 A.M. from the J.F. Skeffington Chapel, 925 Chalkstone Ave., with Mass of Christian burial at 10 at Blessed Sacrament Church Academy Ave. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery.
 
Burial:
Saint Francis Cemetery
Pawtucket
Providence County
Rhode Island, USA
Plot: Section 44, Lot#66, Garve #1