Elizabeth Ellen Gillis was born on 26 April 1894 in Georgeville, Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, Canada. They lived on a small farm, only two miles from water...shore as they called it  (North Cumberland Straight).  You could see water two miles away plus Church steeple (from upstairs bedroom).  Their house was on a hill and the view was absolutely beautiful.  It was a clean, well taken care of farm, the best around! Children were all born at home. She was baptized at St. George’s Church, Georgeville, Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, Canada on the same day.

Elizabeth is buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Forest Hills, Boston, MA,  beside husband (just around the curve from Gate entrance, about 4 over) near where the office is.  Tombstone has praying hands on it.  My plot is Gate of Heaven Cemetery, near new Mausoleum, near a Chemical Plant! I’m in a hazardous waste dump probably. (hahaa) Well most of the girls had naturally curly hair, (blue eyes all) Mom and sisters could talk in Gaelic (Scotch) when they didn’t want us to know what they said. My mother came to Boston probably around 1915. She knew daddy (John P. Dineen) during World War I.  She said he went to Camp Devens, MA and was turned down as he had a hernia.  Had it for years, never got fixed. She took care of Dr. Frotingham’s children.  He served in WWI and was gone, and she helped take care of three children (boys), one named Tim died at about age 5.  Dr. Frotingham attached to Peter Brent Brigham Hospital.

Kate O’Connor was a laundress at Frotingham's and introduced Elizabeth to her nephew, John (my father).  Elizabeth (Betty to him) was 5’2", light brown hair, blue eyes, around 145 pounds...not skinny, a fair cook, but Aunt Jennie was better! <g>

Us kids were kept neat as a pin while growing up.  We lived at 1070 Bolyston Street for 5 years in Boston, MA.  My mother never owned a washing machine till she was nearly 80 years old. My father took us, everyda, to Fenway, which was a big park. He also took my cousin Virginia (Jennie's daughter) when her mother worked.

Finally had four of us at that Apartment. John, my brother, was skinny, 6 pound baby, long skinny legs, I can remember that when she laid him on the couch. Her sister, my Aunt Nancy, lived below us and Aunt Helen moved in with her when she came to Boston from Nova Scotia.  Later, when Aunt Nancy was alone, Aunt Jennie O’Meara & her daughter Virginia moved in with her.  They lived together (the two sisters) until death took both of them.  Aunt Jennie’s husband, Cosmos O’Meara, worked as a Pastry Chef at College & Hotels and was living where he worked.

Mom (Elizabeth) had an easy temperament, helped with homework, but only had around 6th grade education. She helped with Math, Chemistry, Latin - no slouch, smart. Not sew’er or knitter - nothing, just children. Very good to people, had lots of company, or girls on their day off (relatives & friends). Aunt Margaret (Gillis) was very close to her.  She would take me to the circus, buy me ice cream or take me to the movies.  She died when I was only 7 years old, suddenly.  We later moved to an apartment in Dorchester, MA (around 1936) on Clarkson Street, which had more room. Then to  we moved to Roxbury (Roxbury Court) where my brother Donald Dineen was born. Mom had all her babies at Boston City Hospital. Donald was the last baby.

She had him when she was 46 years old.  She bled before she had him, so he was probably previn placenta (placenta before baby).  Elizabeth and family moved to 39 Linden Park Street, Roxbury MA about 1942. John, husband worked for Holtzer-Cabot, Heath Street, Jamaica Plain.  I was the oldest child and was a student nurse at this time, left August 1944.

My mother developed asthma about 1934.  It started as sinus-bronchitis-asthma. She suffered with theasthma until she died. She was even hospitalized a few times with it. She had her gall bladder removed at age 73.  She spent five days in hospital (Peter Brent Brigham Hospital) in Boston, MA. She did beautifully, never went out much. She read the papers, but no books.

Daddy (John Dineen) read for all of us...he was a book nut!! I can’t remember Mom baking bread, or such, but Aunt Jennie did. She washed clothes by hand. Everyone was neat as a pin. She sent us all to church/catechism. Later when she was in her 40’s, she didn't go much because her asthma kicked up in closed in places. When she shopped, she carried big shopping bags home. We went with her later when she got older. Daddy always brought fish home from the market. He seemed to read papers and entertain children by taking them out and read us stories. Couldn’t fix a thing around the house. Mom had kerosene and gas stove combination in Roxbury, and a kerosene stove in parlor. Three bedrooms and pull out couch in living room in Linden Park Street.   No telephone till 1945 when I worked for the Telephone Company (New England Telephone & Telegraph Co) and got it. She was very attached to Jennie and Nancy and her brother Jack that lived in Roxbury. Used to go see him and wife (no children). They would send my brother (John William) over to help him with coal and stuff.

Mom & Dad moved to 36 Oregon Court, Roxbury, MA (Mission Hill Project) were there in 1972 - moved around 1974 when Donald (son) bought three story house at 67 Jamaica Street, Jamaica Plain, MA. Her and Daddy both died while living there. She died at the Roxbury Memorial Nursing Home of congestive heart failure.