52 Ancestors - Week 43 - Lost Contact

52 Ancestors – WEEK 43 – Lost Contact

By Cynthia Keefer Patton 

All my life I remember my mother telling me about her baby brother Melvin. How she missed him. How she really didn't get a lot of time living with him in their home because she married so young. How she wished he would keep in contact with her more.

She tried, but for whatever reason he was elusive. She only got occasional updates from our Grandmother Mahanna (Nana) on his whereabouts. We knew he married several times. We knew he had some daughters. We knew he lived in New York. We knew he worked as a fireman. My little brother Kevin Keefer also worked as a firefighter and Mom often commented on how "alike" he was to her own brother. His quiet reserved demeanor and his overwhelming kindness for others.

I was doing some broad searches on the Mahanna name last week and came across his obituary. I was looking for my cousins information, hoping to plan a reunion in the coming years. So I wasn't shocked to see he was gone. But sad. I also found his most recent wife's obituary. They had relocated to North Carolina from New York and that is where he spent his final days. 

Melvin Mahanna and older brother Donald, Jr. (home from his time in the service) Personal photo in possession of author

I wish I had known my Uncle Melvin better. I wish I had known his daughters. I hope I can contact them and try to overcome our lost contact.

His obituary confirms most of what I was told: https://www.27east.com/southampton-press/melvin-j-mahanna-of-north-carolina-and-formerly-of-north-sea-dies-june-26-2176721/