Merry Christmas 2002 from the Arlington Heights Hennings.

As is the case with most families, there is sad news to go along with the happy. This year we celebrated my mother’s 88^th birthday and within a few months we were sad to see her pass away but happy she was joining dad, Daniel, Jean, Heather and the rest of her family. Of the McNallys only Agnes, who is in a nursing home, and Raymond, the youngest, who had been taking care of Vivian these past years, are left. The oldest, Vivian (96), also passed away this year.

This is our 4^th Christmas without Jean. We all miss her, especially when we see so many reminders in the decorations. Elizabeth has done a great job getting the house decorated for the holidays.

Last year I ended the Christmas letter with a reference to a ‘very special Mary’, Mary Ann Keegan. This year I need to begin with her. A few months after Jean died Mary Ann lost her husband. We have known each other for most of the 25 years we have both worked at Alexian Brothers Medical Center. In fact, Jean had worked with Mary Ann, in the Patient Accounting Office of the hospital, for a few years. We talked about our losses, etc. over the years and a year ago this October started dating. We announced our engagement at the annual Family 4^th of July Celebration. All of our children have shown that they support us as do our many friends. The wedding is scheduled for July 5^th, 2003. We know we cannot replace what we had with our spouses but we can offer our children and grandchildren another person to love them as we love each other. My grandchildren, especially, have benefited by having an experienced grandmother figure. I need to express my thanks to my other Marys and their families for all they have done for me. We have a very special relationship and I hope it will continue.

Mary Ann and I spent a week, this February, in Ireland. She had never been and in particular wanted to see Keylemore Abby and the Waterford Crystal factory. We started in Dublin, then to Gallway, Connamara, Cashel, Kilkenny and Waterford taking many beautiful back roads. After a week of me, including the experience of driving on the other side of the road, she agreed it must be love. Mary Ann is the Director of Patient Accounting at Alexian Brothers and very active in her parish. We have many of the same friends since she lives in Elk Grove and I was on the Elk Grove Fire Department for 10 years.

I remain at Alexian Brothers as Sr Technology Analyst in the Information Resources Department.

This has obviously been a very busy year. We had Maureen’s wedding, My sister Mary’s daughter Erica was married in Cleveland and my brother Patrick’s son Brian in Chicago. Mary Ann’s niece Jennifer in Chicago and a trip to Mary Ann’s Villa in Florida along with my first trip to Disney and Epcot. In addition to St Patrick’s day and 4^th of July we had a gathering of the new families, Mary Ann’s and my children all came to Arlington Hts on Labor day. Great fun and a wonderful feeling of support from everyone. Check out pictures and info on my web site. www.fredhenning.com Click on Family & Friends

Sean: Everything is going well on the north side of Chicago. The newlyweds just celebrated their one-year anniversary in November. Anne graduated, in June, from DePaul with her MBA in Marketing. She is still working for the family business and Sean is still at Globalcom. Sean and Anne spent a good deal of time over the summer in pain watching the Cubs play and had a lot of fun with friends and family at the games. Sean swears that 2003 will be the Cub’s year!!!! (He is still on pain medication from his last knee surgery, which was just two weeks ago.) They enjoyed their time on vacation in Mexico and California in the fall. They came back from Mexico with a new addition to the family, Lucas the fish. Lucas’ homecoming will be shortly after the new year.

Christopher: Katie is still in Marketing with W.W. Granger. She has been redecorating, painting, etc. Chris will be laid off by Sprint at the end of December. They are moving all of their legal work to Kansas City. If you know of any jobs for a Lawyer, please call !!! Chris and Katie had a number of guests for Thanksgiving. The O’Hara family was in town for Molly’s wedding the next day. It was a fun affair. The DJ was great with the kids. Little Chris (2) and some of the other children were doing their versions of the jig while Donnybrook played Irish music before dinner. He is almost potty trained. He has a new talent that most parents would enjoy. He plays the drums with kitchen spoons – on the couch cushions. Anna (4) was a flower girl for Molly. She is in pre-school and is anxious to take more Park Dist programs. Eleanor (8) is in the 3^rd grade . She made her First Holy communion this year, is in Brownies and the Children’s choir. She will be a shepherd in the Christmas Pageant.

Michael: Mike has survived several cuts at WorldCom. All we can do is hope WorldCom keeps afloat. Mike spends some of his evenings managing Eduardo’s Mexican restaurant in DeKalb. It’s been 11 years now. He has made some major strides on his house in DeKalb. Chloe (8), made her First Holy Communion, has just completed another semester of Irish Dance. The instructor graduated and they are looking for a replacement. Chloe is an aspiring writer and has written several short stories including ‘ABC’s with Fairies’. Recently she was appointed Post Master for her school. (Thanks to Uncle Billy’s incredible letter of recommendation). Chloe plays video games, watches TV and begs her dad for a dog!

Coleen: The Kowalski’s are into remodeling. Some of the projects include a new back entrance, kitchen and bath work, Maggie's room, living room-dining room partition removal, carpet removal, painting, etc. Coleen is still with Pella and Scott has been doing very well with Chicagoland Heating and AC. Maggie (4) had a trip to Disney, is taking Irish Dance and will be in next years South Side Irish parade. She will have a solo in the Christmas show (the only one) "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus". Moira (21 mo) calls all football Irish and says ‘go Irish’. Moira loves Elmo and following around her "Big Sisr" Coleen has hosted the St Patrick’s Parade fest and annual 4^th of July gathering of about 100. Thank You and Scott from all of us.

Elizabeth: The Robinson’s are back from Michigan and staying in Arlington Hts. for the time being. Gibson and Vivian have been taking swim lessons at the Park District with Billy accompanying them to their classes. Mary Frances is enjoying her ‘terrible two’s’ early and does her best to try and destroy as much as possible every day, but she is good about picking up toys when asked. Liz is back at her old job and happy to be back in the Chicago area. As usual, Liz keeps the house in great shape. Billy and Liz have been troopers when it comes to having all of the grandchildren and their parents over at the house.

Megan: Megan remains at Alexian Brothers, working Midnights as the ER ‘Charge Nurse’. She has been able to cut back to just 3 nights a week. Megan is playing volleyball whenever possible. Lance has been coaching the Sky High Volleyball Club. The Club setter, he coached, was on the team that took second in State. Lance also coached the St Viator girls varsity team (2^nd year) to the best season in over 10 years. Kaley (5) loves school, is taking Irish Dance, loves her Braeden and is working very hard at being good. Gabrielle (2 ½) is very articulate, takes off her clothes as often as possible has an assertive personality and does a wonderful Lance ‘baby face’. Braeden (17 mo) is always on the move. He is looking for input, input and needs to start talking so he can tell Kaley she is not his boss.

Maureen: Maureen is now Mrs. Martin. We had a beautiful Celtic Wedding in June. Mike in his full Kilt outfit looked grand and Maureen in her Braveheart style headpiece, etc. was beautiful. Mike’s relatives, myself and some of my brothers and friends wore kilt outfits. Mike and Maureen spent their Honeymoon in Ireland. Mike, like Maureen, has Scottish and Irish heritage. The Martins have a home in Arlington Hts and have just acquired a dog, Lady Jane! Maureen continues to teach at St Viator, this year she has AP History and loves it. She continues to takes courses toward a Masters at Dominican University. Mike is still with AT&T. Recently he had some advanced training on Cisco routers. The heart of the Internet as they would have us all believe. Mike takes very good care of Maureen and the little kids all love ‘Big Mike’.