ALGER—An Omer resident’s family has been celebrating family reunions in the area for 67 years. The Annual Shannon Reunion, held this year on Aug. 5, was held at Oasis Lake Park in Alger.
The family celebrated its 50th consecutive reunion in 2006. This year’s event would have been the 67th consecutive reunion; however, the event was canceled in 2020 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Carol Shannon, of Omer said.
What would be considered another interesting aspect of the family’s reunions is the sheer number of attendees who are willing to travel long distances to attend each year.
Family members travel from all over the country, including California, Oregon, Delaware, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.
In Michigan, families from Standish, Omer, Oscoda, West Branch, Pinconning, Cadillac, Dewitt, Ortonville, Metamora, Midland, Frankenmuth, Saginaw, Bay City, Pinckney, Grand Blanc, Flint, and and National City were among those in attendance.
Shannon said there were 86 people there this year, representing various branches of the Patrick and Roslie (Rosalee) LeBlanc Shannon family.
Patrick and Roslie had nine children: Levi Martin Shannon, John Anthony Shannon, Patrick Conrad Shannon, Henry Joseph Shannon, Thomas Lawrence Shannon, Mary Pauline Shannon, Bridget Louise Shannon, Beatrice Magdelon Shannon, and Eleanor Rose Shannon.
“Many photos were taken (during the reunion), but one of the most special was the photo of the nine living grandchildren of Patrick and Roslie, taken by the church window of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Standish, built in 1901,” Shannon said.
Eric Shannon, son of Patrick and Carol Shannon and great-grandson of Levi Martin and Grace Kiley Shannon, constructed the case and support for the church window.