Saints and Souls of Halloween Past

As we reflect this weekend on our loved ones who have passed on, I think of my parents,
Nell and Jack Irby. My dad died of prostate cancer in 1988, and my mom succumbed to
breast cancer in 2014. Too soon for them both, and I miss them daily.

But I also reflect fondly on many memories, and since we have just had Halloween, I will
share some of those.

We lived on a farm, so prospects for trick or treating were limited. Instead, it was “appointment only.”
My mom dressed me in my Casper, The Friendly Ghost, costume (oh, that was so Nell,)
and we got in the car. First stop, the Barnes family (our cousins) just down the dirt road, where their four
older daughters had prepared goodie bags of homemade treats for the neighbors.

Then we headed into town, four miles away. There we made about four or five stops. I would go to
the door first (Trick or Treat) and then my parents would follow in for a visit. Cocktails and
nibbles were served!

I wore that Casper, The Friendly Ghost costume for several years. We weren’t poor, but my
parents were very conservative and saw no reason to buy a new costume until I outgrew it.
Casper was a little frayed by the time it was retired!

Those are just some of the good memories I have of my loved ones this weekend. I hope as we
commemorate All Saints and All Souls Days, you will recall ones just as special.

God Bless,

Margaret

Margaret Keightley
Executive Director
Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Richmond