Helen's memories about meeting and falling in love

In the chapter on "Love and Marriage" in The Story of a Lifetime: The Personal Memoirs of Helen Sullivan McIntyre, Helen shares some interesting tidbits!

How did you meet your future spouse?

I remembered him from Grammar school.  Then when he was about 14 he sold papers at Laramie and Madison.  I would walk by on my way to the Jewel and he would always say "Hello."  After I started high school, he disappeared for a while. When I was about 17 he appeared again.  That was when we started to go to parties.  From then on it was always Larry.

Describe what your future spouse was like and tell something about his or her background.

Typically Irish, nice looking, full of fun, great personality but actually too short for me but I didn't care after a while.  His Mother was Ellen McIntyre, a nice little gray haired friendly lady.  His Father was Thomas McIntyre, on the quiet side.  Both had thick Irish brogues.  He had 3 sisters Mary, Blanche and Pat.  A brother Tom who eventually became a Dominican (sic) priest.  They lived at 4737 W. Gladys ave in Chicago.

What was your engagement proposal like?

One night I was over at Larry's house at 4737 W. Gladys ave.  I guess his Mother had invited me over for dinner.  It was a warm evening so we sat out on the small porch outside the living room.  It was on the second floor.  He kissed me a few times, then he said he wanted to marry me only he wasn't making enough money at the moment but he would work hard and get ahead and the we'd be married.

Give the date of your wedding and tell about the ceremony, the place, attire, decorations, etc. How old were you and your spouse?

November 26, 1937.  I was 23 and Larry was 24.  We were married at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. It was a quiet wedding.   My Mother didn't care for Larry because he drank too much and she didn't want me to go out with him, so we got married without telling everyone.  Mary Alice Hopkins and Jim Cullen stood up for us as best man and bridesmaid.  After the ceremony we all went up to Larry's sister's Mary Kenney's house on Menard and had a little party.  I remember I wore a blue wool dress, small black velvet hat with a veil and back suede pumps.

Do you have a favorite story about being newlyweds?

No, except that we didn't tell anyone at first about us being married.  Then like a dope I sent a Christmas card to Larry at his house; it said "To My Darling Husband".  Mrs. McIntyre found it and that was the end of our secret marriage!