Theresa Kerby (Flach)

b. 19 Jan 1891 d. 1958 m. 16 Aug 1922 William Moseley Kerby b. 22 Feb 1879 d. 6 Feb 1954

Theresa was the fourth child of Eva and Joseph Flach. After a happy childhood in `47', and schooling at Our Lady's Convent, Theresa showed great determination and dedication in achieving her ambition to become a teacher.

She went to St. Charles's Training College, and then to King's College, London as an evening student to study for a B.A. Degree in German and French. During the day she taught in a variety of schools in different parts of London. After graduating Theresa held a number of teaching posts, including Ramsgate, High Wycombe and Denbigh, before settling down in Leiston in East Suffolk. She lived in Aldeburgh, and cycled the four miles daily. She threw herself into the life of the school, and into the work of the tiny Catholic parish of Aldeburgh.

In 1921 Theresa met her future husband, Dr. William Kerby, (always known in the family as Billy) a senior Modern Languages master in Ipswich. They married in 1922 and moved into the house in Ipswich which was to be their home for the rest of their lives.

There were four children in the family( Eva born 1923, Raymond, 1925, Maurice 1928, and Dorothy 1930). Lady teachers were at that time obliged to leave the profession on marrying, but in 1942 Theresa was invited by the headmaster of the Ipswich Grammar School (Boys) to take up a post which had been vacated by a man who had been called up into the forces. Here she stayed till the end of the war, and later taught at the Ipswich High School for Girls.

Theresa maintained a lifelong love of travel, and lived a full and active life till her health and eyesight started to fail. The very sudden death of Billy in 1954 was a severe blow, but an operation for cataract in 1955 helped to improve her quality of life, but by 1958 ovarian cancer had set in, and despite major surgery, she died peacefully in July that year.

Descendants of Theresa Flach

* Eva Kerby b. 25 May 1923 d. 29 Jun 1990

* Raymond Kerby b. 24 Oct 1925

* Maurice Kerby b. 16 Jul 1928 m. 1 Aug 1956 Rina Caola

* Catherine Kerby b. 6 Jul 1959 m. 31 Dec 1983 Peter Roberts

* Sarah Roberts b. 14 Apr 1988

* David Roberts b. 12 Oct 1990

* Elizabeth Kerby b. 24 Jun 1961 m. 26 Aug 1988 Paul Balacky

* Amy Balacky b. 11 Sep 1990

* Joseph Balacky b. 4 Sep 1992

* Hannah Balacky b. 7 Oct 1994

* Josh Balacky b. 16 Sep 1996

* Simon Kerby b. 22 Sep 1962

* Dorothy Kerby b. 12 Apr 1930 d. 4 Oct 1988 m. 1959 Edward Tynan d. 20 May 1995

* William Tynan b. ___ 1960

* Joseph Tynan b. ___ 1962

* Gerard Tynan b. ___ 1963