The Kelleher family lived in Kilmore Victoria Australia. Their ancestors, Patrick and Bridget Kelliher nee Mannix came out to Victoria from Callinafercy Co Kerry Ireland in the 186o’s. Hannah Mary Kelleher (Nance) married John Hugh Fanning on 21 Oct 1925 in Melbourne Victoria Australia.
Map of Irish Counties
My father’s uncle John Hugh Fanning married Hannah Kelleher, called Nance. She was a descendant of the Kellihers from Callinafercy Co Kerry Ireland. They lived in Kilmore Victoria Australia.
Nance Fanning nee Kelleher with her husband John Hugh FanningMy grandfather Frank Fanning on the left with Pat Kelleher on the middle horse. Pat was Nance’s brother.
John Hugh Fanning was the son of Edward Fanning and Sarah Collins and was born in 1893 and died in 1975. He was a farmer and married Hannah Kelleher. They are both buried in Kilmore Cemetery Victoria Australia.
A young John Hugh FanningHannah “Nance” Fanning nee Kelleher
John Hugh Fanning, called Jack, was the son of Edward Fanning of Bulla and Sarah Collins of Northcote. Sarah died young of consumption at the age 27 in 1897. Jack would have been four years old when his mother died.
Jack worked as a farmer and lived just outside of Kilmore at Willomavin in country Victoria. I can remember my father telling me that Uncle Jack, his uncle, never wanted to be a farmer and work on the land but that his father Edward made him.
He married Hannah “Nance” Kelleher on Oct 21 1925. His brother Frank was best man and Nance’s brother Pat was groomsman. Her cousin Alma Kelleher and her friend Aileen Hesford were bridesmaids. Aileen was later to marry Pat, Nance’s brother. Nance and Jack Fanning did not have any children.
Wedding of Nance Kelleher and John Fanning in Table Talk, 17 Dec 1925John Hugh Fanning and Nancy Fanning nee Kelleher 1945. His niece and my aunty Eileen Fanning is in the background.
Nance was an keen golfer and also very involved in the CWA and other community groups and activities.
Jack Fanning KilmoreJohn Hugh Fanning at KilmoreFrank Fanning, my grandfather on the left and in the middle is Pat Kelleher, Nance’s brother at KilmoreHanging Rock John Edward Fanning, the boy in the middle,Nance Kelleher on the right, Jack Fanning on the left, Frank Fanning on the right next to Nance about 1928Nance Fanning nee Kelleher at Sunnyside BullaDaisy Fanning nee Dillon, Ida Fanning nee Mackey, my grandmother and Nance Fanning nee Kelleher.
Nance and Jack Fanning are buried in the Kilmore Cemetery Victoria.
Nance Kelleher was the daughter of Denis Kelleher and Catherine Connors and was born in 1902 at Avondale, Kilmore. Her ancestors came out to Australia from Co Kerry in Ireland. Her grandmother Bridget Mannix came out in 1866 with five of her children. Her husband Patrick had arrived before her in 1864. In Co Kerry their name was written as Kelliher.
Obituary in the Kilmore Free Press for Patrick Kelleher, Nance Fanning’s uncle 9 Feb 1939.Obit Kilmore Free Press 4 Dec 1947 for Catherine Kelleher wife of Denis and mother of Nance Fanning nee KelleherAileen Kelleher Obit Kilmore Free Press 20 April 1950 Nance’s sister-in-lawDenis Joseph Kelleher, Nance Fanning nee Kelleher’s father. Kilmore Free press 13 June 1940
