June, 1993
In April 1991 I wrote about my cousin Shirley Stevenson Anderson. Here are excerpts from that writing with a new ending.
Shirley, a non-Catholic, has possession of the Dunphy Catholic Bible. This bible began its history with the marriage of my grandparents, John Dunphy and Ellen Rowan in 1881 in Altoona PA, with the Rowan parents present. Upon the death of John and then Ellen Dunphy, the Bible was given to the youngest Catholic baptized daughter, Adelaide. Adelaide married Roger Stephenson and later became a Christian Scientist. When Adelaide died, Shirley claimed conservator-ship of the Bible as the youngest daughter of Adelaide. One year Shirley allowed me to bring the Bible from Houston to California. My darling husband carried the precious Bible to our house. It is very heavy and about 14″ x 10″ x 6.” I invited my children and their children to a champagne and cake party to toast the return of the Dunphy Bible to its rightful Catholic home. Children and grandchildren added their names to the one hundred year old signatures on its pages.
I swore our Catholic family should be caretakers of the Bible and I never intended to return it to my cousin. But after two years, guilt set in and I returned it to Shirley. I’m sure hoping the Bible gets willed to my youngest daughter, Eileen or even to my son, Fr. Dick. Don’t you agree that my mother, Ruth Dunphy, who remained Catholic and then I, her only daughter, should have the Bible to will to my youngest Catholic baptized daughter, Eileen?
Now for the happy ending! Shirley called me. She decided that the Bible should be cared for by me and sent it to us at Easter time when son Fr. Dick was in Houston. I am so happy. God moves in wondrous ways…my youngest daughter Eileen is expecting her first daughter in September. (Second born daughter Barbara who has a daughter says she’ll be happy to share the responsibility.)
Deo Gratias.
Elaine's Memoirs 