| Age 76: Active locally with DAR, Legion Auxiliary, Kings Daughters, Bible class, sewing group, other groups, and friends. Watching more TV, including bowling. Suffered diabetes, hearing difficulties. Participated in nursing care of friend Nellie Carter, 87. Considered rejoining Free Congregational Church, and discussed it with Rev. Bradford, who suggested Mary should leave the Episcopal Church if she felt so negative about Rev. Pike. Mary stayed with the Episcopal Church, however, attending the Free Church on a casual basis. Lent $300 to daughter Ethel Jean Edmands Weeks, 54, and son-in-law Roland C. Weeks, 64, who were having trouble with their son's college expenses. Son Ernest John Edmands, 46, and his family visited from Silver Spring, MD. | 1963 |
| Age 77: Intense remodeling (painting, plumbing) at home on Maple Street. Active locally with DAR, Legion Auxiliary, Bible class, sewing group, other groups, and friends. Became inactive with Kings Daughters: [9 March] "Went to K.D. meet. supper at 6 oc. They can't get officers any more than the DAR can. It's too old an organization like the DAR, and young people won't join and the older ones are dying off. M. Hewes looked kind of vacant it seemed to me, and when she gave her sec. report could hardly hear her and she is always saying she can't hear other people." Joined Young in Heart group with old Andover Press nemesis Louis Paine (see 1937, 1938, 1946, 1947). Suffered diabetes, hemorrhoids, sciatic leg pain, neuritis, hypertension, shingles, and eczema. Hearing difficulties. Participated in nursing care of friend Nellie Carter, 88, until she died in November. Lent $200 to daughter Ethel Jean Edmands Weeks, 55, and son-in-law Roland C. Weeks, 65, who were having trouble with their son's college expenses (he flunked out, however, took a job at a local bank, but was reinstated in school the following year). Occasional tension living with Jean and Roland: [27 February] "Chair I was sitting in arm came loose. R said it was because I moved it around so much. I got mad and after Password went upstairs and stayed there. I sure wish I could go away for a while." [26 September] "JA went off at night and got home at 2 oc. Sunday a.m. Of course I worried and couldn't sleep but when I said that to Jean she said she knew where he was. I'm not important enough to be told." Visited niece Minerva Ramsdell Russell and family in South Dartmouth, MA; and niece Eleanor Ramsdell Tucker and family in Baldwinville, MA. Granddaughter Carla Howard Edmands, 20, daughter of son Ernest John Edmands and daughter-in-law Marguerite Phyllis "Peggy" Bailey Edmands, married Richard Will. Sister-in-law Emma Flora Pierce Edmands, widow of brother-in-law Edward Wesley Edmands, died in New London, New Hampshire, at the age of 96; she was buried in Forest Glade Cemetery, Wakefield, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. | 1964 |
| Age 78: Active locally with DAR, Legion Auxiliary, Bible class, Young in Heart, sewing group, Kings Daughters (rejoining), other groups, and friends. Suffered diabetes, indigestion, sciatic leg pain, neuritis, neuralgia, hypertension, eczema, watering eyes, hearing difficulties, dizzy spells. Everyone continually sick in the Maple Ave. household: [6 March] "Got up and dressed but the coughing hurt. Took some cough medicine [the doctor] prescribed 5 years ago, helped some. R. coughing too. Poor Jean has an awful time with her family. JA also had a cold but said they were all having it at the bank." [7 March] "He [JA] had the runs today Jean said.... R had a bad time too wheezing and coughing. A great household." Visited niece Eleanor Ramsdell Tucker and family in Baldwinville, MA, and niece Minerva Ramsdell Russell and family in South Dartmouth, MA (Minerva and family visited Mary in Andover). Great-granddaughter Susannah Jane Barrett, daughter of granddaughter Mary Christine "Chris" Edmands Barrett and her husband, Edwin Raymond Barrett III, born (as part of Generation X) in Seattle, King County, Washington. Granddaughter Anna Jane "Janna" (Edmands) Hawes, 21, biological daughter of son Allan Christie Edmands I and daughter-in-law Mary Anna Hawes Edmands but brought up by Margery Jane "Janie" Doyle Hawes, married in Laramie, Albany County, Wyoming, to Richard James Yarnot, 23. Great-granddaughter Adrienne Cecile Edmands, actual daughter of granddaughter Marguerite Phyllis "Margot" Edmands, 19, out of wedlock but disguised as granddaughter, daughter (actually adopted daughter) of son Ernest John Edmands and daughter-in-law Marguerite Phyllis "Peggy" Bailey Edmands, born (as part of Generation X) in Washington, DC. Great niece Susan Findley Tucker, 32, married Alfred James Frugoli in Palo Alto, CA. | 1965 |
| Age 79: Active locally with DAR, Legion Auxiliary, Bible class, Young in Heart, sewing group, Kings Daughters, other groups, and friends. Suffered diabetes, indigestion (diarrhea), sciatic leg pain, neuritis, neuralgia, hypertension, eczema, problem left eye, hearing difficulties, dizzy spells, worrying. Social Security now $69.60 per month. Visited niece Eleanor Ramsdell Tucker and family in Baldwinville, MA. Niece Virginia Ramsdell O'Donnell and husband Paul visited from Peekskill, NY; Eleanor visited too. Family purchased an air conditioner for the house. Great-granddaughter Veronica Jane Yarnot, daughter of granddaughter Anna Jane "Janna" (Edmands) Hawes Yarnot and her husband, Richard James Yarnot, born (as part of Generation X) in Tampa, Pinellas County, Florida. Brother-in-law Oscar Melvin Edmands died in Saugus, Essex County, Massachusetts, at the age of 89 years 10 months and 25 days. Disturbed about grandson Allan Christie Edmands II, 24, who was presumably living as a "beatnik" in New York City: [11 December] "Called up Mary [Allan's mother] in pm and asked for Allan's address, as I thought of asking him for Xmas. She told me but said he hadn't any money and not to send him any as he'd just spend it foolishly. I was kind of upset as she said he was a beatnik and Jean said he had a beard and I felt bad but I sent him an invite anyway but told him not to smoke, if he did, around here. I didn't sleep much all night worrying about him and I almost wish I hadn't sent the invitation. He's in Larchmont NY c/o Katy Abel-- sounds Jewish to me." | 1966 |
| Age 80: Active locally in fair weather with DAR, Legion Auxiliary, Bible class, Young in Heart, sewing group, Kings Daughters, other groups, and friends. Suffered diabetes, indigestion (diarrhea), sciatic leg pain, neuritis, neuralgia, bursitis in shoulder, hypertension, eczema, problem left eye, hearing difficulties, dizzy spells, worrying. Slid on icy front walk and was lame for a couple of weeks. Nonetheless: [7 July] "Dr. said he was pleased with the way I had kept young for my age, but increased insulin dose to 14 units." [24 October] "Someone called from Free ch for me to join the theatre group. I laughed and said I was 80 years old. The woman gasped and said 'You don't sound like 80.'" Disowned grandson Allan Christie Edmands II, 25, who apparently had a life-style Mary did not approve of: [3 January] "Thankyou note from Mary [Allan's mother] with Allan's latest address in it in New York. He changes so much I'll wait to hear from him before I write again." [13 January] "Wrote to Mr. Hill in New York and asked if he could tell me where Thompson St. was and if it was a stage or slum district. Told him about Allan and how he's become a drifter." [20 April] "Got a short letter from Allan. He's working in a bookstore going to Buffalo to stage manage some play. I don't know whether to answer him or not. He said he might see us when the weather gets better." [9 June] "Wrote to Allan rather a stern letter but don't know as he will get it." The letter definitely rescinded the previous invitation to come and visit. [5 November] "... said I was sorry about how Allan was acting even though she [his sister Chris] said in her letter he looked a little better in health but she hated the long red hair and beard. How can he act so." [26 December] "Got homemade card from Allan." The card exhorted "Peace on Earth" with a strong implied disapproval of the Vietnam War. [27 December] "Told [Chris] about 'card' I got from Allan." Visited niece Minerva Ramsdell Russell and family in South Dartmouth, MA; and niece Eleanor Ramsdell Tucker and family in Baldwinville, MA. Son Ernest John Edmands, 50, and daughter-in-law Marguerite Phyllis "Peggy" Bailey Edmands visited enroute to funeral of her uncle in Springfield, MA. They visited again just after Christmas, accompanied by their second daughter Marguerite Phyllis "Margot" Edmands, 21, and their "youngest daughter" (really Margot's daughter) Adrienne Cecile Edmands, 2. John and Peggy very upset when their third daughter, Ernestine "Tina" J. Edmands, 18, eloped with Theodore Francis Watts IV. Granddaughter Anna Jane "Janna" (Edmands) Hawes Yarnot, 23, her husband, Richard James Yarnot, 25, and their daughter, Veronica Jane Yarnot, 1, visited on their way up to Expo 67 in Montreal just before Rich was to ship out to Vietnam. Great-granddaughter Mary Monica Yarnot, second daughter of Janna and Rich, born (as part of Generation X) in Laramie, Albany County, Wyoming. Nephew Ned Charles Lindsay Brown, widowed husband of late niece Frances Josephine Edmands Brown, died in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 71; he was buried at sea. | 1967 |
See the final 3 years of her life