Youth
Thomas Patrick Zachary O'Brien was born March 15th, 1898, at Glen Osmond.
Thomas Patrick Zachary O'Brien was born March 15th, 1898, at Glen Osmond.
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| Thomas O'Brien |
Marriage
It was while Bernard Redmond O’Brien worked as Coachman and Groundsman for Archbishop Spence, that his son, Tom, met his bride-to-be Teresa Bowden. From time to time, Tom went to work with his father in the grounds. Miss Alice Bowden of Port Adelaide, housekeeper to Archbishop Spence, was sometimes visited by her young sister Teresa, who helped her with the cooking when the Archbishop had special visitors. During these times, Tom and Teresa met, fell in love and were subsequently married. The marriage took place on 11th February 1920 (at the Monastery or Port Adelaide) and the young couple, Tom aged 22 and Teresa 20, made their home next door to Tom’s parents, Bernard and Mary Ann O’Brien on Portrush Road.
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| Teresa and Thomas O'Brien |
Children
All children were born at Quambi Nursing home, South Terrace Adelaide
- Kevin Thomas, B November 30th, 1920
- Second child, Thomas Aloysius, B June 21st, 1922
- Augustine Bernard, B October 28th, 1923
- Patricia Mary, B April 22nd, 1926
- Mary Margaret Ann, B February 14th, 1934
- Kathleen Teresa, B May 10th, 1936
- Bernard John, B July 13th, 1938
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| Bernard, Teresa and Tom O'Brien with children Tom, Pat and Gus |
The family attended Mass at the Passionist Monastery Glen Osmond - and frequently at the Carmelite Monastery (previously the Archbishop’s Residence). The Carmelites always remember Kevin and Tom as the first boys to serve Mass at Carmel.
Kevin, Tom, Gus and Pat started school at St Raphael’s at Parkside. The boys later attended St Ignatius College, Norwood. Pat attended Cabra Convent as a Boarder in Grade 7, then a day scholar until she attended Muirden’s Business College in Adelaide The family moved to Brighton for awhile in the mid to late 30’s and Mary started school at St Joseph’s Brighton. Tom caught the train to Adelaide during that time and worked in Aunt Jean’s Tailor Shop. He delivered parcels round the City on his bike (which he took on the train with him). Back at Glen Osmond, Mary, Kath and Bernard attended school at Cabra, later, Bernard attended St Ignatius College.
Later life
Tom was chief marshal each Monastery Sunday, organising the 20,000 people who came to participate, as well Midnight Mass and any other important occasion at the monastery. He also supplied many pounds of grapes to the priests and students. Tom later became an organiser for the Retreat House and was a ready hand for the numerous calls that were made upon his time and energies. Fr Sebastian spoke of the faith of Tom O'Brien and that the Monastery was always the number one priority. He took up the collection at the 8am mass each Sunday since being a teenager, continuing for nearly 50 years.
Later life
Tom was chief marshal each Monastery Sunday, organising the 20,000 people who came to participate, as well Midnight Mass and any other important occasion at the monastery. He also supplied many pounds of grapes to the priests and students. Tom later became an organiser for the Retreat House and was a ready hand for the numerous calls that were made upon his time and energies. Fr Sebastian spoke of the faith of Tom O'Brien and that the Monastery was always the number one priority. He took up the collection at the 8am mass each Sunday since being a teenager, continuing for nearly 50 years.
Tom died at Calvary Hospital in Adelaide after a long illness.
Teresa died in Port Adelaide on November 2nd, 1980.
Teresa died in Port Adelaide on November 2nd, 1980.
Credit
- Notes by Yvonne O'Brien, c 1990
- Letter to parishioners from Fr Mark CP August 21st, 1977
- The Southern Cross, August 1977
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