Today's Golden age story if for Patricia Ann (Molly) who was born on April 25th, 1945 (turning 80 next month) at Paddington Hospital Bondi, on the day that marked the end of World War II.
Her father, who had been serving in the war was injured, & after returning was sent to Darwin to work on trucks. Which is where he met Molly's Mother.
(He went on to live to be 100 years old.. sadly, her Mother died at age 50 of a heart attack.)
Molly had an older sister named Shirley, & later she had younger siblings Johnny & Julie. The family lived in a modest two-bedroom housing commission house in Granville, where they made the best of their space and circumstances.
Molly told me quite a fascinating story about her older sister Shirley.. many years after she passed away. Shirley's daughter was contacted by a match from a DNA profile wanting to reconnect. It turned out that Molly's Mum was already pregnant when she met their Father, & Shirley wasn't biologically her Fathers child.
She died never knowing that secret or meeting her real father.
Molly attended Catholic school at Trongate and later moved with her family to Regents Park, where they had a three-bedroom home. At 14, Patricia worked in a milk bar after school as her first job. While working at the milk bar, her future husband saw her and declared that he would marry her one day. She knew her future husband from school, but she wasn’t fond of him. Yet fate had other plans, & they started dating when she was 15. They went on their first date to the Easter Show, on the condition Patricia was returned in time for midnight mass. Molly was engaged at 17 years. At 18, they married at St. Peter’s Church, with a shared future ahead of them.
Patricia after leaving school pursued shorthand and typing lessons, hoping to create a better future for herself.
The couple went on to have three children. Michelle, born when Molly was 21, followed by Danny at 28, and Shann at 29.
As the children grew older, Molly returned to work when Shann was 3, taking on factory work while her husband worked as a Gyprocker after initially being a wharf laborer. Molly worked for Rothmans cigarettes and later for 3M. They rented a house at Letheridge Park before purchasing a home in St. Claire. Throughout her life, Patricia found joy in creating, whether it was sewing or making costumes for Michelle, who danced, or supporting Shann in her sports and Danny in his love for soccer. Life continued to evolve, and they moved to Berkeley Vale. A home in San Remo was jointly purchased with Shann so they had a home base to return to during their travels. They bought a caravan in readiness for the adventures ahead. A week after retiring her Husband discovered he had cancer which put a halt to their plans. He sadly passed away 5 years ago.
Patricia now has nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild, a testament to the legacy of love and family she has built. Life has had its challenges for Patricia, including kidney issues that led to dialysis 10 years ago, but she has remained strong and resilient, facing each obstacle with determination.
In recent years, Patricia has become an active member of two social clubs: the Probus Club and the Over 55’s club. She enjoys bus trips, coffee dates, and concerts with her friends. She also has Tilly, a beloved Cavoodle dog who brings joy and companionship into her life.
Though her husband passed away five years ago, Patricia continues to live a life full of love, family, and cherished memories. Through the ups and downs, she remains a symbol of perseverance, strength, and the importance of family
