Joseph McGunnigle (William's father)
When I saw Aunt Emily at Uncle Gerard's funeral last year, she gave me a big hug. She was always very short - maybe four feet ten - but at 94 she was even shorter. As we sat talking after the funeral one of the young cousins asked who my father was. "The problem child", Aunt Emily answered jokingly. My father's family loved him very much but he was the one to always get into trouble. She started telling stories about all of the mischief James had gotten into as a kid. One day my father opened the door of his house and ran upstairs with two policemen following him. My grandmother chased the policemen out of the house with a broom. My father had been throwing snowballs at their wagon with coal inside. When two of his sisters received their first holy communion he and Uncle Walter hid in the attic of the barn and threw horse manure at them - all over their pretty white dresses.


William McGunnigle (son of Joseph, father of James)


Grandpa is the little one - behind him is Uncle Walter and the man is his father, William. taken on the farm in Plainedge, Long Island.

First Communion picture - grandpa and his sister Emily

Grandpa's Family
second row: Aunt Emily, Aunt Margaret, Uncle Willie, Aunt Alice, Grandpa
first row: Uncle Gerard and Uncle Lawrence

Aunt Alice and Joanna Ryan

Grandpa's parents - wedding day 1900 - William McGunnigle and Delia Conway

Uncle Walter, Aunt Madeline, Jimmy, Jerry, and Susan (in carriage)

The Cousins: Jimmy, Bernadette, Joe, Maureen, Rosemary, Susan, Pat, and Sharon