The Stow Family

Mommy, Daddy and Emily.

Uncle Michael Comes to Visit

Uncle Michael came from Connecticut to visit Emily today.

Red Sox Baby

Here are some photos of Emily in her Red Sox outfit.
"Hey Grandad, we have Coco Crisp in center field...what do you think about that?"

Emily Cheers Up Nana

Nana Connelley spent the afternoon writing Thankyous to everyone who gave flowers and cards. Emily cheered her up.

Emily Plays with Liam

Emily's cousin Liam came to visit today. Emily really liked playing with him.

Everybody in Bed

Here's a photo of Mommy, Daddy, Emily and Gorby the Cat in bed.

Grandma and Grandad Help Out

Emily's Grandma and Grandad Stow are staying with us. It is great to have them here to help us...Emily really enjoys playing with them.

Emily's Cute New Outfit

Emily is growing so fast that she is almost growing out of clothes before she can wear them. Here are a few photos of her in a very cute new outfit:

Boston Globe Obituary

Emily's Aunt Kathy wanted to make sure that her Dad (Emily's Grandpa) got a really great obituary in the Boston Globe. I think she succeeded:

Thomas Connelley; Globe pressman loved to travel, 67

By Bryan Marquard, Globe Staff | January 15, 2006

For a guy who loved living in Norwood and never wanted to move away, Thomas E. Connelley Jr. certainly got around.

Wedding ceremony? Ireland. Honeymoon? All over Europe. Vacations? The finer spots of Mexico.

Mr. Connelley, who worked at The Boston Globe as a pressman for 40 years, collapsed at home Friday. An inveterate traveler who always had an eye out for the next trip, he was 67 and had spent the night before he died engaged in his favorite retirement activity, baby-sitting a grandson.

Mr. Connelley grew up in Norwood, where he graduated from high school. Working as a newspaper pressman was the family trade.

''I think he just followed his dad's footsteps into the family business," said a daughter, Kathleen Devlin of Foxborough. ''My grandfather worked at the Herald-Traveler" and other newspapers that are no longer around.

The job at the Globe afforded close proximity to one of Mr. Connelley's other passions.

''If it was a sunny day, he was out on his boat," Devlin said. ''That's the beauty of the Dorchester Yacht Club. He would work nights, walk across the street, and get on his boat. And he would take anyone out with him."

Mr. Connelley met Mary Bernadette Brennan at Moseley's on the Charles in the late 1950s. He stopped by the landmark Dedham ballroom before going to work. She was there with friends. They danced, and he sought her out the following Sunday at an Irish dance hall on Dudley Street.

''Sometimes I felt I could have danced all night," Mrs. Connelley said. ''He loved to dance."

The couple married in Curry, County Sligo, near where she grew up in Ireland.

Raising their four children in Norwood, Mr. Connelley was the family photographer, often encouraging reluctant offspring to pose across the street from the house at what became known as the picture-taking rock. His favorite portrait spot, since removed, was part of Highland Cemetery, where Mr. Connelley will be buried.

Mr. Connelley also loved encouraging birds to visit his yard. He became adept at identifying each species and took care to build predator-proof feeders.

''I can see them, looking out now -- ones that the squirrels couldn't get," Devlin said. ''I see one, two, three feeders, and they're all hanging from fishing line. And there's suet tacked onto the trees."

The night before he died, Mr. Connelley baby-sat Devlin's 4-year-old son, Liam, who called his grandfather Papa Tom.

Though he loved his three grandsons, ''I think he got his dying wish six weeks ago," Devlin said, when Mr. Connelley's first granddaughter, Emily Stow, was born.

In addition to his wife, daughter, grandson, and granddaughter, Mr. Connelley leaves two sons, Thomas III of Medfield and James of Norwood; another daughter, Anne Stow of Foxborough; a sister, Jean Kelleher of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and two other grandsons.

A funeral Mass will be said at 9 a.m. Tuesday at St. Catherine Church in Norwood.

Sad News

"Now I have everything I ever wanted" - Tom Connelley

Emily's Grandpa passed away yesterday :(

Thomas Connelley Jr., a retired Newspaper Pressman for The Boston Globe, died unexpectedly at his Norwood home on Friday. He was 67 years old. Tom was an avid fisherman and boating enthusiast who enjoyed long, sun-filled days out on his boat in Boston Harbor. He was happiest when his sons and grandsons were right there with him.
Tom was a life long resident of Norwood who leaves behind his devoted wife of nearly forty years Mary Bernadette (Brennan). The two met dancing at Moseley's on The Charles some 46 years ago. Besides boating, Tom was also a self-taught photographer and naturalist. He could name any bird that showed up on his back deck and challenged others to do the same.

A second-generation pressman, Tom retired from the Boston Globe in 2002 after more than 40 years of service. He enjoyed spending his free time with his four children and four grandchildren. Tom is survived by two daughters and two sons: Kathleen Devlin and Anne Stow both of Foxborough, and Thomas Connelley III of Medfield and James Connelley of Norwood. He also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren, Patrick and Cameron Connelley, Liam Devlin, and his new granddaughter Emily Stow. Tom is also survived by his sister Jean Kelleher of Grand Rapids, MI.

Tom was a member of the Boston Pressman's Union #3, the Norwood Sportsmen's Club, The Globe Stream and Forest Club, The Norwood Knights of Columbus and the Dorchester Yacht Club. He loved everything about the outdoors.

"It didn't take much to make Dad happy," said his daughter Kathy. "He enjoyed getting to know his grandsons and granddaughter…it was the simple things in life that kept him going." His daughter Anne will treasure her memories of his quirky sense of humor and his contagious smile. His son Tom fondly remembers his fun-loving nature and the joy he got from spending time with his precious grandchildren. His son James will always remember his love and appreciation of all styles of music, especially Latin and Jazz, and anything by Norah Jones.

He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Thomas E. Connelley Jr.
Of Norwood, Jan. 13, 2006, suddenly. Beloved husband of Mary B. (Brennan) Connelley. Loving father of Kathleen Devlin of Foxboro, Thomas Connelley III of Medfield, James Connelley of Norwood and Anne Stow of Foxboro. Brother of Jean Kelleher of Grand Rapids, MI. Grandfather of Patrick and Cameron Connelley, Liam Devlin, and Emily Stow. Funeral from the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole St. (Rt 1A) NORWOOD on Tues., Jan. 17 at 8 AM. Funeral Mass in St. Catherine's Church at 9 AM. Visiting hours Monday 4-8 PM. Interment Highland Cemetery, Norwood. In lieu of flowers donations in Thomas' memory may be made to Norwood Circle of Hope, 165 Nahatan St., Norwood, MA 02062. Late retired: Boston Globe Pressman. Late member Norwood Knights of Columbus #252.

Life is Fun

Emily Visits Mommy's School

Emily went to Sudbury to meet Mommy's class yesterday. Everyone was excited to meet her.
Mommy told everyone about how great Emily is. There were lots of questions:
"What was her first word?"
"Does she crawl?"
"Does she like eggs?"
Arlette Clark, the cafeteria lady who knit great stockings for us, got to hold Emily.

Everyone said Emily was very cute. Emily slept the entire time.

Emily's Smiles

Emily has been smiling more lately. She is also very animated when she's in a good mood.

Emily Meets Jake

Anne went to Providence Place Mall to meet up with Annmarie, her friend from college. Annmarie had a baby boy on November 29th. They managed to find the nursing room at Nordstrom which looks nicer than most people's living rooms.

Emily and Jake both had their best stereotypical boy/girl outfits on and Jake couldn't keep his eyes off Emily.