My Wedding

 Mr. & Mrs. Brian James Larkin

Brian James Larkin and I were married at St. Patrick's Cathederal in New York City in Our Lady's Chapel on July 9, 1977 in an eleven o'clock Mass.

My godfather Jerry Coleman from Cleveland, a newly ordained married deacon, performed the ceromony. It was his first wedding and I imagine St. Patrick's Cathederal was as exciting to him as to me.

Temperatures reached 94 in the city that day and brownouts followed the next.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard VanderPutten

My brother Dick and his Irish bride, Margaret (Peggy) Egan were married on May 6, 1967 in the Queen of the Rosary Church in Roosevelt, Long Island.

There is a wonderful story here. Peggy had come from Ireland. Her American family knew Dick and decided they were meant for each other. They introduced the two and Dick immediately fell in love with Peggy and proposed. Peggy had long planned to return home for a visit. When she got there, her Irish relatives questioned why she would marry such a foreigner (American and with that strange Dutch last name). Dick, who had scarcely been off Long Island in his life, was not about to lose this Irish rose, and went chasing after her. And, as the fairy tale goes, he won the fair maiden's heart -- and hand.

I am pretty sure about this story, because I was there. I was a bride's maid.

 Mr. & Mrs. John Vander Putten

My brother John and his bride, Patricia Smith, were married at the Holy Name of Mary Church, Valley Stream, New York, February 12, 1967.

One week after they were married, the US Army shipped John off to Vietnam, where he arrived just in time for his 21st birthday. (In fact in passing over the international date line, he may have missed his birthday entirely?) As an MP, John was fairly safe for most of his tour. However, on Jan. 31, 1968, three weeks before he was scheduled to come home, the Tet Offensive began. The next few weeks were tense and scary for his bride and family. It was to everyone's great joy when John returned on February 20, 1998 -- two days before his 22nd birthday. That was a birthday to remember.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pollack

My sister Jean and Robert Pollack were married on October 18, 1980 at the Coral House Restaurant in Baldwin NY. She wore my wedding dress.

The necklace Jean had on was worn by my mother on her wedding day. All the women in our family have worn the necklace at their weddings, some over the dress and some under. This includes all my nieces and my nephews' wives. Niece Dorothy will wear it at her July, 2000 wedding.

 My Godson's Wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Michael VanderPutten

Michael VanderPutten and Tanya Revels of Thomasville, Ga. were married at St. John's Church in Bohemia, New York on July 12, 1997 at 11:00 am.

The reception was held at The Riverview in Oakdale.

 My Nephew Richard's Wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Richard VanderPutten

Richard VanderPutten and Meg Anderson were married March 16, 1996 in the United Methodist Church of West Sayville, New York

My Stepson's Wedding

Shannon Larkin with wife Dawne and their daughter Hillary