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Page 135: Autobiography of Annette Elena (Paterno) Murphy [1934-] Dated July 17, 2002
I was born to Charles & Annette, on August 30, 1934 and was named after my mother and my godmother, Elena Ognibene. My early childhood was healthy and pleasant enough until the age of four when I contracted a strep ear infection. For the next four to six years, I was quite thin, had a difficult time gaining weight and I managed to pick up all sorts of small illnesses that came along. However, by the time I reached my early teens, I was a healthy as everyone else in the family!
As an active teenager I played basketball every day, enjoyed bowling and loved to dance. I also worked part time at the nearby Woolworth store that helped defray some of the costs of my tuition.
In October 1951, I met Ed, the love of my life (Charlotte and Ed’s sister were friends and they introduced us) and we became engaged in June 1952. We were married January 10, 1953 and started our life together in the military. Ed was transferred to Germany where our first two children were born, Skip (Edward, III) and Joanne.
The military was a good life and it provided stability and security. I was active in the NCO Wives Clubs wherever we were stationed and held offices several times. We were sent to Limestone, Maine and then to Brunswick where re remained for six years. Terry, Mary and Patrick were born there in the new thirty-two bed hospital. Would you believe! In 1985, we drove to Tacoma, Washington, lived there a year and then came back to the East coast to the Albany/Schenectady, New York area. Once Pat was into Kindergarten, I went back to work as a secretary at General Electric. I had a successful twenty-year career that I enjoyed immensely.
When Ed was sent to Vietnam in 1968, it was one of the longest years of my life and I thank God he returned to me safely. In 1971, Ed retired from the service and went into banking for a second career. The loss of Joanne to leukemia in 1980 was a blow and a difficult time for us, but I thank God for letting u know and love her.
In 1986, we chose to retire to Florida, so we built a lovely home with a pool that we enjoy. I still love making crafts and I work part time as a Coordinator for the Ft. Myers Community Prayer Breakfast. As I look forward to our 50th Wedding Anniversary in January 2003, I am thankful for the five children God gave us, as well as seven healthy grandchildren, and a loving husband.
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