Patsy, Perseverance, and Peace

In the middle of the twentieth century, Detroit, Michigan, was booming. Many young families saw it as the perfect place to raise their children.

Mary Anne McMahon was one of the daughters of Motor City. In her memoirs, she chronicles the changes Detroit experienced at the time and the cultural life of the thriving city.

McMahon shares stories from her happy adolescence at Detroit's Catholic schools. Growing up in the Motor City gave her a unique experience, and you can feel the love she still has for her hometown. McMahon eventually moved on to Houston, Texas, and she includes several charming stories about the "Motor City to Oil City" transition. Her perspective as a northern transplant in a southern state reveals her humor and warmth.

As McMahon had a family of her own, she looked back on the lessons her parents taught her about life and the emotional impact of her sister's death at a very young age. Patsy, McMahon's sister, died before McMahon was even born, but McMahon celebrates her in her work and shows how much Patsy was cherished and missed. Her work focuses on community, family, and contentment.