I received this email from the Cranston Public Library regarding the obituary of Edna Frecette:

Bill Dorgan’s response from the library is as follows.

We don't have access to historical obituaries that include that time frame (1967) and/or the likely newspaper in which the obituary would appear, other than the Cranston Herald, in which an obituary for the name Edna Dorgan does not appear (I also checked Edna Frechette, which does not appear, either). You may want to contact the Reference department at Providence Public Library, which does have access to historical Providence Journal articles, including (I believe) obituaries.

Providence Public Library
https://www.provlib.org/

Thank you,
Zach Berger
Reference Librarian
Cranston Public Library

--
Cranston Public Library
Reference Department
140 Sockanosset Cross Rd.
Cranston, RI 02920
www.cranstonlibrary.org
401-943-9080

This may be Edna’s birth record:

Name: Edna Frechette
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1910
Event Place: Au Sable, Iosco, Michigan, United States
District: ED 117
Gender: Female
Age: 8
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Daughter
Birth Year (Estimated): 1902
Birthplace: Michigan
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Michigan
Mother's Birthplace: Michigan
Sheet Letter: B
Sheet Number: 10
Sheet Number and Letter: 10B
Household ID: 41
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: T624
Affiliate Film Number: 650
GS Film Number: 1374663
Digital Folder Number: 004972481
Image Number: 01110


Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Napoleon Frechette Head M 28 Michigan
Sophia Frechette Wife F 28 Michigan
Edna Frechette Daughter F 8 Michigan
Hazel Frechette Daughter F 6 Michigan
Iona Frechette Daughter F 3 Michigan

Citing this Record:
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML56-4T9 : accessed 5 March 2018), Edna Frechette in household of Napoleon Frechette, Au Sable, Iosco, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 117, sheet 10B, family 41, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 650; FHL microfilm 1,374,663.



Social Security Death Index:

Age: 66
Given Name: Edna
Middle Name:
Surname: Dorgan
Name Suffix:
Birth Date: 22 Jan 1901
State: Rhode Island
Last Place of Residence: Providence, Providence, Rhode Island
Previous Residence Postal Code: 02909
Event Date: Mar 1967

Citing this Record:
"United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J51M-F2V : 20 May 2014), Edna Dorgan, Mar 1967; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

Patrick Dorgan’s Passenger Record:

First Name:   Patrick
Last Name:   Dorgan
Nationality:   Ireland, Irish
Last Place of Residence:   Medleton (sp)
Date of Arrival:   June 9th, 1897
Age at Arrival:   4y
Gender:   Male
Ship of Travel:   Teutonic
Port of Departure:   Queenstown
Manifest Line Number:   0414
Passenger ID: 102902013044


Patrick Dorgan is a colorful character. He is described as a brilliant man, an engineer, a toolmaker, and a veteran. He was often "on the run" from "business associates". He sometimes used an alias, Patrick Forgan, perhaps to escape his creditors. He traveled to many States and spent some time in Indianapolis, Indiana, with his nephew, Francis Maguire.

Patrick Dorgan married twice. His first wife was a woman named Violet. I have been unable to locate a marriage record for this marriage. His second wife was Edna Frechette from New York, perhaps Long Island. Francis Maguire said Patrick may have lived on Long Island for some time. I have not secured a marriage record for Patrick and Edna. Francis and Edna appear in the 1959 and 1960 City Directory of Providence, living at 51 Mitchell Street, and in 1962, living at 138 Messer Street.

Patrick Francis Dorgan signed up for the WWI Draft on 5 June 1917 in Providence, Rhode Island. He used his real name, Patrick Francis Dorgan, but he gave his birth date as July 18, 1891, and his place of birth as Sydney, Australia! He stated he lived at 443 Pine Street, Providence, Rhode Island, with his wife and sister under 12 years old. He also stated he was a “naturalized citizen” and a salesman at the Chandler Motors Company of Cleveland, located at 118 Broad Street, Providence, Rhode Island.

"United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8W7-GVJ: Patrick F Dorgan, 1917-1918.

Patrick said that he served with the US Navy in World War I, but I have been unable to find his military record. His father, Patrick J. Dorgan, and his two brothers, David A. Dorgan and Michael J. Dorgan, and Richard Hartnett, enrolled in a citizenship class conducted at a library or school during the War in 1917. But, ironically, Patrick F. Dorgan was not with them.

Patrick’s Obituary appeared in the Providence Journal on 10 April 1969, page 28:

“Patrick F. Dorgan died Tuesday at his home, 168 Whitehall St. He was the husband of the late Edna (Frechette) Dorgan. Born in County Cork, Ireland, a son of the late Patrick J. and Mary (Hartnett) Dorgan, he was a 50-year resident of Providence and a Navy veteran of World War I. Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Anne T. Maguire and Mrs. R. James Moriarty, both of Cranston; and two brothers, David A. Dorgan of Providence and William J. Dorgan of Cranston. The funeral will be held tomorrow at 9 a.m. from the J. F. Skeffington Chapel, 925 Chalkstone Ave., with a high requiem Mass at 10 in St. Anthony’s Church, Plainfield Street. Burial will be in St. Anne’s Cemetery in Cranston.”

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140105171/patrick-f-dorgan: accessed 16 January 2024), memorial page for Patrick F. Dorgan (unknown–8 Apr 1969), Find a Grave Memorial ID 140105171, citing Saint Ann Cemetery, Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA; Maintained by Mom (contributor 48202874).


Francis Maguire shared this personal remembrance of his uncle, Patrick Francis Dorgan:

UNCLE PAT

My first memory of Uncle Pat is when, out of the blue, he arrived at our home on Bartlett Ave, in Cranston, sometime in the year 1930. This has to be close since I remember he took care of us while Ma was in the hospital for the birth of Hope (August 5, 1931).

Although I was only nine years old at the time, it seemed that Uncle Pat arrived without any warning from our parents about the new guest he just appeared and moved in. I'm sure there must have been adult negotiations before the move; kids wouldn't be consulted at all.

Pat was a favorite with all of the kids, as I remember, and I loved him because he would always have time to tell me about what he was working on and give all sorts of advice. He was adept with tools, and he repaired everything around the house. His pet project was converting an old RCA console radio into a sort of stand-up cabinet, and he insisted on painting it “Chinese Red”; no other tint would do. He helped me to write a letter to Ma while she was in the hospital, and he also wrote a letter for my brother Bill since Bill wasn't ready to write at the time.

The crash of 1929 took a terrible toll on working people, and I presume millions of people were forced to move in with relatives, the way Uncle Pat came to us. The folks told us that Pat had been working on some type of oil equipment in Mexico and had developed an illness like malaria and had been in the hospital before he came back to Rhode Island. I can't imagine how he could recuperate in a home filled with nine kids aged one month through nineteen.

Pat left us sometime between the years 1932-1935. I don't know when, but he didn't move to College Rd. with our family.

Our father died in 1936, and I don't think we saw much of him during the years 1936 through 1940, even though he was working in Prov. He was somehow connected with the Fay theater, and he may have had connections with Mr. Fay. I've always suspected that Uncle Pat was an “expert” on large industrial-type oil furnaces.

Before 1940, Pat lived in Prov and apparently married Vi. I remember “Aunt Vi” since we would visit with her when we were kids. She was a kind and pretty lady and always handed out candy and coins. As I recall, Vi lived in a large double on Broadway near downtown Prov. Pat was never there when I visited; he had probably departed for other pastures sometime in the early 40s

The next connection with Pat was when we drove our mother to Kew Gardens, NYC, to visit him and his new wife, Edna. At that time, I knew Pat worked on or supervised the installation of large boilers because he took me to one or two installations. He and Edna seemed to be doing quite well at this juncture, as their apartment was rather upscale and they dressed very nicely.

So we all were off to war in 1942 and heard no more from Uncle Pat until 1947, the year our son Jim was born. We had just moved into a new, small two-bedroom home on the south side of Indy in August of '47, and I think Pat called in early '48 to ask if they could come to Indy to see us. Of course, I was happy to see one of my favorite relatives.

I picked them up at the train station, and lo and behold, they arrived with lots of bags and baggage and also a “freakin” dog. So they moved into a small bedroom with a twin bed and alongside a crib with Baby Jim. This went on for many long months until the strain on our marriage reached the snapping point.

Pat, Edna, and doggie finally left, and I put them on a train to Rhode Island, probably in early '49. We never heard from Pat or Edna again.

Edna had been married to someone with an Italian name like Mongano; my sister Pat probably has the correct name in her archives. Edna's son, I think “Tommy” was in the Army stationed near Quonset Point in early 1942, and he called me several times for a ride back to base. I obliged him several times until I found out he was charging the 3 or 4 GIs with him, and he never offered to pay for gas. One of our finer citizens.

One more remembrance of Uncle Pat, if I would smart off to him, he would say, “DON'T GET AHEAD OF YOUR TICKET”. I would be puzzled until he explained the difference between first-class and other-class tickets.

Over the years, I think Pat would stretch his luck and live beyond his ticket only to use his last dollar to get out of town, hence all of the name changes.

Hope you can use the info, Bill

Fran

Patrick F. Dorgan
BIRTH
21 Jun 1891
DEATH
8 Apr 1969 (aged 77)
BURIAL
Saint Ann Cemetery
Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
Add to Map
PLOT
Section 30A, Lot 51, Grave 1
MEMORIAL ID
140105171 · View Source