The McCabe family

Kerb grave with arched top. Inscription at the front on a plaque. It reads: IN LOVING MEMORY OF MARY JANE WILLIS CALLED TO NEST NOVEMBER 3RD 1952 AGED 44

Life story retold by Mairtin Parr

Mary Jane Willis nee McCabe was born in 1908 in Bracknell. She is the only child of Bernard and Elizabeth McCabe to be born outside of Ireland. Mary was one of 4 children: Kathleen. Josephine McCabe, Elizabeth Mary McCabe and John Charles McCabe.

Bernard Francis was born in 1873 in Dalystown, County Longford near Abbeylarra, Ireland and Elizabeth Mary McCabe nee Dunne was born in 1865 in Maynooth county Kildare, Ireland. They came over to England between 1901-1908. The family moved from Bracknell to Reading and eventually lived at 72 Erleigh Road.

B&W photo of a man in his 60s? in a garden. He is wearing a suit jacket and is looking at the camera. He is wearing pointy slippers.
My Great Grandfather Bernard Francis McCabe

Bernard was a horse groom and served in the first world war with his son in the artillery. He died on 2nd February 1956 and is buried at Reading Old Cemetery.

Elizabeth Mary McCabe was a fashion model in her late teens, early 20s. She also died in 1956 (1st April) and she is buried with her husband.

Sephia photograph of a young woman dressed in Victorian outfit with a hat. she is standing up holding an umbrella. She is wearing a two piece dress suit with a white lacy high neck top and flowers on the lapel on the left.
My Great Grandmother Elizabeth Mary McCabe nee Dunne

Mary married George Willis a grocer who worked for Baylis in Reading. She married in 1950 but died in 1952 at only 44 years old. The family were Roman Catholic and George Willis bought the grave plot but 10 months after Mary died George remarried. The extended family emigrated to Australia. George Willis married a further 2 times before his death in 1997.

Mary is buried with her mother Elizabeth Mary McCabe and her father Bernard Francis McCabe.

Close up of the kerb of Mary Jane Willis' grave. It reading ALSO BERNARD FRANCIS MCCABE...It is covered by grass.

Buried in Section 24, Row A, Number 19