Audio Interviews and Transcripts

Interview with Maureen Fisher
by Mallory Fisher

This is the interview Mallory conducted with her mother, Maureen Fisher. She did not grow up in a strongly religious household. Her mother made sure of that. As reflected in the transcript below, Maureen's mother didn't even allow her daughter to go to church with her. Maureen’s childhood was a lot less strict when compared to Elizabeth’s. Maureen saw her mother as a very strong person for choosing her own path, even if that meant that her family wouldn't be involved in the church. While spiritual, Maureen isn't particularly religious. You can read a part of the interview below in the transcript typed out by the student or listen to the full interview in the audio player below.


From 3:40 to 5:40

Maureen: It was never a um tradition of going to church on Sundays. That never happened for me…

Mallory: Right.

Maureen: Um, and - however in Ogdensburg, I remember one time sitting on the back porch steps and um it was in the summer. And I remember seeing my mother walking on the side walk and I could see- I was in the back yard and I could look over and there was a fence that divided our two yards. It was my yard and there was another yard and then the sidewalk.

Mallory: Hmm.

Maureen: I remember seeing my mother walking in a nice green suit, skirt, jacket- suit, walking away – and I remember asking my father, “Where is mom going?” and he said to Church. And I said, “Well I want to go.” You know – I don’t want to stay here; I want to go because I see my mother. And I- in my mind in my memory- so, I must be, you know either kindergarten, first grade, or second grade.

Mallory: Hmm.

Maureen: Um running around the corner and running up to meet with her and I believe our discussion was [Laugh] no you’re not going but I will be back things like that and it’s okay – but I just remember she was going to church and I wanted to go with her. Um but I don’t believe I did. [Laughs]

Mallory: [Laughs] Yeah.

From 7:19 to 10:20

Maureen: Well you know the good memories I suppose is just that being united, I guess, in a place together with people – I think that we all – when anyone walks into the church I think that there is goodness that exists -

Mallory: Yeah.

Maureen: You know people are all in the same mind frame that you know we are doing a good thing here, we all belong, um we are following something, believing in something – so that, you know the solidness of that thought –

Mallory: Is just we’re all a part of something-

Maureen: You can embrace. – Yeah, you know that I can appreciate. Um and like, it’s funny like even in my – I mean I will just fast forward a little bit like- in my- it’s funny when you go through an experience like your marriage is ending or breaking or you’re going through a divorce that type of thing – it’s funny sometimes how you think- and I wasn’t one that was raised in a religious home.

Mallory: Hmm.

Maureen: But I felt at times I need to go to the church and just be there.

Mallory: Yeah.

Maureen: And why that thought would come to me I don’t know. You know, so sometimes I uh didn’t go but you know sometimes – I knew – I was drawn there. I remember one Christmas Eve, actually I think it was uh- not this past Christmas but the Christmas even before - I did go to a uh midnight mass and it was very good to be there. And a lot of what moves you is the good words and the music you know. And it’s very much- that was emotional for me- that moved me um at that time in my life. Because you feel lost- you know, of what you knew in life- was changed so much. So I think sometimes this idea of this togetherness is helpful.

Mallory: Yeah kind of like a piece of- like a place where you go to get a piece of mind-

Maureen: Yeah-

Mallory: Something that never changed that you always kind of knew.

Maureen: Right, you know. Even though I wasn’t a part of it – I wasn’t practicing it but I knew that I could be accepted and not you know- and- not beat up a log here – the doors open - yes, I could through and be there. And no one bothered me and I didn’t bother them; it was just, you know, it’s okay to be here.

Mallory: Yeah.

Maureen: So that- that’s a nice feeling that’s what’s good I think about religion.

Mallory: Yeah.