Notes for: James Francis Coogan

Margaret Callahan Coogan died of gall bladder trouble 11 November 1927 at the Pittsburgh Hospital. James had known Mrs. Ellen Shields, Swissvale, since she too had a daughter (Mary Agnes) in the Greensburg Charity Sisters by the name of Sister Gervase. A year after his wife died James married Ellen Shields on 28 November 1928 at St. Anselm's Church also in Swissvale. Apparently this early decision upset some family members to the point that Ellen was not well accepted by them. (See also entries for Agnes Shields Bender, and Sr. Mary Gervase in this directory. There may have been other children through Matthew Shields but none of the Coogan-Shields marriage.

Especially affected was Sr. Margaret Frances and while nothing was said in the presence of the younger family members one could sense a tension.
On the death of James, Mrs. Coogan apparently went to live with one of her children, probably Agnes, and nothing was heard of her since.

In family photo James F. Coogan is upper row left, next to Margaret Callaghan Coogan