Parents of Joan Leslie, Actress and Cousin

Found a few of Joan's mother Agnes O'Hearn Brodel (my great aunt) but only this of her father John Frederic Brodel. 

MORE ABOUT JOAN

A few more photos of Joan and her home after marriage.

John 1978 - 2016

Posted this on Facebook this morning:

Good Friday morning friends. It was 9 years ago today that my 37 yr old son John died in a tragic car accident. This is something no parent wants to experience. My faith in Jesus Christ has greatly helped me and about a month afterwards while in prayer, I felt like God said, “It was time for John to come to me.” Shortly thereafter one of the first responders found me on Facebook to tell me they were with John, he was scared, they prayed for him and then they prayed with him. This brought me great comfort then and still does today. May God bless all you parents who have lost a child.

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AUGUST 1, 2025 UPDATE

I know John is in heaven but sometimes I visit where his ashes are buried which is down the street from where I currently live. 

We miss you John!!!

I Remember Mama... Joyce Palmer

 

I REMEMBER MAMA

 

So 111 years ago, Tully Joyce Hearn was born on June 30, 1914, in Victoria on Vancouver Island in Canada.

At age 3, she and her older sister Patricia lost their pregnant mother and unborn sibling to the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic and because their father was an international traveling businessman, they were raised by their maternal grandparents. 

 

The family relocated to Los Angeles, California… Joyce was a smart cookie and skipped third grade. After graduating from Los Angeles High, she was unable to go to college due to the depression so she joined the workforce. 

 

She met my dad, Gordon Palmer, on a blind date. They married and eventally moved to Burbank, California with their three daughters where she used her many talents on local volunteering.

Her favorire pass time was spent reading and I remember going often to the library with her. She used a large straw bag to carry the many books back-and-forth.

 

Our mom was smart, fun, witty and full of love and in honor of her, here are a few short gems she taught me when I was a little squirt…

 

Q. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

A. A woodchuck wood chuck all the wood he could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

 

Betty Botter bought a bit of butter, but she said, this butter’s bitter and if I put this bitter butter in my batter, it will make my batter bitter but if I buy some better butter and put it in my batter, it will make my bitter batter better.

 

Q. What kind of a noise annoys an oyster?

A. A noisy noise annoys an oyster.

 

(song) Be kind to your web footed friends

For a duck may be somebody’s mother Who lives all alone in the swamp

Where the weather is cold and damp. Now you may think this is the end.

Well it is.

 

 (Written by Cathy Palmer on June 30, 2025)

Mayflower Pilgrims

A painting by Bernard Gribble of the Pilgrim fathers boarding the Mayflower in 1620 for their voyage to America. Photograph: Print Collector/Getty Images

As a descendant of John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley through their oldest child daughter, Desire, I've become very interested in the Mayflower Pilgrims.

The following videos give a very clear presentation of the events back then. 

First video

 

Second video

 

Third video

 

Enjoy!

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MORE MAYFLOWER INFO

Tour of a Mayflower replica

 

Who were the Mayflower Passengers?