Jane Gonsalves DeCoite

Fifty years! That's a long time to remember back. Let's see- I have been happily married to my best friend Steve, for 45 years. After 3 years of college I married Steve and moved back to Washington, D.C. and worked for IBM in downtown D.C. (My bus in the mornings on the way to work, passed by Teddy Kennedy's town house. Often saw Teddy, Joan and their kids.) Then we moved to Forrest Park, Ill for 2 years. I worked for IBM for one year in Chicago and then Monique was born, and that was the end of my working career outside of the home. The next twenty years was spent as room mom of various kids and a full time "taxi" for piano lessons, dance lessons, sports practices etc. for four kids. Very busy with fund raising for St. Michael's Grammar School in Livermore and Carondelet High School and De La Salle High School. Took up tennis and played on a couple of teams for a good 30 years. Then, tennis elbow got the best of me. Donated my time working for the Discovery Cancer Shop in Pleasanton for 10 years. Very involved with the Dental Wives in So. Ala. Co. while Steve was practicing.

My main thing these days is grandparenting. I love it. They are the best! I love reading, gardening, walking, hiking, and a little golf with Steve. (I'm not very good, so we don't keep score when I play with him.) Both our mothers - Pauline DeCoite 89, in a condo and Lela Terrill 86, in assisted living apartment, live in Pleasanton and we see them daily. Steve and I have been very fortunate. Our children and grands are healthy and good. Our kids have turned into good, caring, happy, responsible adults.

Life has been very hectic this past year. Our daughter Jennifer was married on June 26 and the reception was in our garden in our Pleasanton home. Then, two weeks later our son Jamie's wife had their first child, on July 14. Pretty exciting. We are very thankful for the wonderful life we've had. We have been blessed.

O'Dowd was a special place for the Gonsalves family. My two older brothers, John (Bud) (deceased) class of '58' and Larry '59' and my sister Susan '65' all graduated from O'Dowd.

Loved all of the teen dances held at all of the different parishes. Too bad they don't have something like that for the teens today. What fun we had. My older brothers were good dancers and they taught me to dance. It was nice having partners at home to practice with.

My favorite teachers were Bishop John Cummins, Speech and Father James Keeley Religion. {Verda, do you remember the class I'm referring to?}