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| Alice Dobson Creaghan (1896–1987) left a professional music career to become a busy wife and mother of six children |
Alice Dobson Marven (1896–1987) was born (January 5) in Hillsborough, New Brunswick, the daughter of Dr. Bliss Avard Marven and Margaret Dobson. The family moved to Chatham in 1909. As well as being a very busy medical doctor, her father was also president of the Miramichi Fox Company, reputed to be one of the best pelt-breeding ranches in the country.
Allie continued her music lessons in Chatham, attended local schools and then went on to university, Acadia in Nova Scotia and then McGill. She quickly became known as an excellent pianist. By 1918, she was employed as a church organist in New England. Allie ended her professional music career after marrying Jack in New York City on October 23, 1919 and devoted her life to being a very busy wife and mother to her six children.
All six children were born in Newcastle and all finished their high school in Moncton, always walking to school and coming home for lunch every day. Although known by one and all as Allie, school report cards were signed Alice M. Creaghan. Allie enjoyed family reunions and singsongs around her piano. During World War Two, members of the Armed Forces often joined in the family singsongs.
After Jack died, Allie continued to reside in her comfortable home, where children and grandchildren were always welcome. She was greatly saddened by the untimely deaths of her sister, Marion Marven, and her daughter, Marion Friel. Allie and Jack had 18 grandchildren in all.
Her funeral mass took place on October 13, 1987. Later that same day, granddaughter Julie’s husband, Frank McKenna (who attended the service with Julie), was elected premier of New Brunswick with the largest majority in Canadian electoral history.