**Anna was my maternal grandmother.**

Anna Costello was born on August 15, 1878 in Coldwater, Michigan. Her parents had emigrated to Michigan from Ireland with three young children. Two other children were also born in Coldwater.

When Anna's mother became very sick, her father packed up the six children and moved the family to St. Louis, Missouri, where he had heard of a doctor who could treat his wife. However, she passed away in St. Louis, and the children were accepted into an orphanage.

Around the age of sixteen, Anna became a "servant" to a family in St. Louis. She had a very difficult time and was mistreated by the family. Somehow she made a connection with Michigan relatives and returned to stay with them in Harrietta, near Cadillac, Michigan.

Anna had two first cousins, Kathryn and Rose Fitzharris, who married two Kailing brothers, Theodore and John, in Reed City, Michigan. The third brother, Phillip, was to marry another young lady, but chose to marry Anna after being introduced to her by her cousins.

Phillip and Anna were married in Reed City, Michigan on October 3, 1899. They lived on a large farm and had twelve children, five boys and seven girls. A daughter, Philomena, passed away at age 5 of blood poisoning, and a son, Sylvester, passed away from head injuries after being kicked by a horse. The other ten children are in the picture to the right taken in 1945.

Farm life was often very difficult, yet there was much joy and happiness in the household. My grandparents never had indoor plumbing, and Grandma always cooked delicious meals and baked goods using a wood burning stove and oven. My family always enjoyed visits there and helped out in many ways.

We were always curious as to why Grandma said she was all Irish when her maiden name was Costello, a Spanish name. Years ago, a cousin serving in the Air Force, visited Ireland to investigate her heritage. He discovered that when the Spanish Armada was defeated off the coast of England in 1588, the Spanish sailors settled in Ireland and married Irish women, instead of going back to Spain. My Grandmother's family was from the area where they settled, so she was half Spanish and half Irish. Phillip, whom she married, was born in Germany and came to America when he was nine years old.

Anna and Phillip's children were:

Alphonsus Kailing
Mary Kailing Haslem
Philip Valda Kailing
Rose Kailing Pratt
Helen Kailing Page
Bernard Kailing
Sylvester Kailing
Ann Kailing Erbes
William Kailing
Philomena Kailing
Veronica Kailing Cannon
Katherin Kailing Loomis

*A very heartfelt "Thank You" to Darlene for sponsoring Grandma's Memorial page. Your kindness and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated!*

**A very special "Thank You" to Ray Kling for information on Grandma and for the picture of her when she was 18 years old and living in St. Louis, Missouri, and to Gene Kailing for sharing the info and picture with us.**