Delia was the third oldest of seven children and the only girl born to Irish immigrants John and Mary Fulton. (Delia's mother and grandmother were from County Roscommon.) The young woman, plain and dark-haired with deep-set eyes that her firstborn would inherit, had finished the eighth grade, and she devoted herself almost entirely to domestic pursuits. A nephew would later describe "Auntie Dee," as she became widely known, as "laid back, cordial, quiet, sociable" and an expert cook who made "fabulous meals." A cousin would remember her as "quiet, wonderful, reserved.... She was close to a saint and much loved." A granddaughter recalled a dignity and elegance about Delia, who was articulate and carried herself well. "She was very, very saintly." Neighbors later remembered Mr. and Mrs. Sheen with great fondness; said one, "Everybody in El Paso loved them."
By the time their first child arrived, the Sheens had moved from the farm to the nearby town of El Paso, where Newton and his brother Andrew ran a hardware store and the family lived in a small apartment. There on May 8, 1895, Peter John Fulton was born, and named after his two grandfathers.
The hardware store, along with much of the business section of El Paso burned down when an errand boy, seeing his father come down the street, ditched his lighted cigarette under the stairs and ignited a fifty-gallon can of gasoline. Newton then moved his family to a farm he inherited from his father. In 1900, the family moved to Peoria. Newton and Delia were committed to giving their children as much education as possible. Peter's first brother, Joseph, arrived in 1898. Then came Thomas in 1902 and Aloysious in 1908. The family's first home in Peoria, at 111 Seventh Street, had eight rooms, to provide space for the boys and for Delia's parents, who visited and lived with them on occasion.
No matter where they lived, the Sheens were devout Catholics. Regular church attendance, parochial schooling, grace before meals, the nightly Rosary, and frequent visits by clergy were part of the family routine.
By the time their first child arrived, the Sheens had moved from the farm to the nearby town of El Paso, where Newton and his brother Andrew ran a hardware store and the family lived in a small apartment. There on May 8, 1895, Peter John Fulton was born, and named after his two grandfathers.
The hardware store, along with much of the business section of El Paso burned down when an errand boy, seeing his father come down the street, ditched his lighted cigarette under the stairs and ignited a fifty-gallon can of gasoline. Newton then moved his family to a farm he inherited from his father. In 1900, the family moved to Peoria. Newton and Delia were committed to giving their children as much education as possible. Peter's first brother, Joseph, arrived in 1898. Then came Thomas in 1902 and Aloysious in 1908. The family's first home in Peoria, at 111 Seventh Street, had eight rooms, to provide space for the boys and for Delia's parents, who visited and lived with them on occasion.
No matter where they lived, the Sheens were devout Catholics. Regular church attendance, parochial schooling, grace before meals, the nightly Rosary, and frequent visits by clergy were part of the family routine.
Delia was the third oldest of seven children and the only girl born to Irish immigrants John and Mary Fulton. (Delia's mother and grandmother were from County Roscommon.) The young woman, plain and dark-haired with deep-set eyes that her firstborn would inherit, had finished the eighth grade, and she devoted herself almost entirely to domestic pursuits. A nephew would later describe "Auntie Dee," as she became widely known, as "laid back, cordial, quiet, sociable" and an expert cook who made "fabulous meals." A cousin would remember her as "quiet, wonderful, reserved.... She was close to a saint and much loved." A granddaughter recalled a dignity and elegance about Delia, who was articulate and carried herself well. "She was very, very saintly." Neighbors later remembered Mr. and Mrs. Sheen with great fondness; said one, "Everybody in El Paso loved them."
By the time their first child arrived, the Sheens had moved from the farm to the nearby town of El Paso, where Newton and his brother Andrew ran a hardware store and the family lived in a small apartment. There on May 8, 1895, Peter John Fulton was born, and named after his two grandfathers.
The hardware store, along with much of the business section of El Paso burned down when an errand boy, seeing his father come down the street, ditched his lighted cigarette under the stairs and ignited a fifty-gallon can of gasoline. Newton then moved his family to a farm he inherited from his father. In 1900, the family moved to Peoria. Newton and Delia were committed to giving their children as much education as possible. Peter's first brother, Joseph, arrived in 1898. Then came Thomas in 1902 and Aloysious in 1908. The family's first home in Peoria, at 111 Seventh Street, had eight rooms, to provide space for the boys and for Delia's parents, who visited and lived with them on occasion.
No matter where they lived, the Sheens were devout Catholics. Regular church attendance, parochial schooling, grace before meals, the nightly Rosary, and frequent visits by clergy were part of the family routine.
By the time their first child arrived, the Sheens had moved from the farm to the nearby town of El Paso, where Newton and his brother Andrew ran a hardware store and the family lived in a small apartment. There on May 8, 1895, Peter John Fulton was born, and named after his two grandfathers.
The hardware store, along with much of the business section of El Paso burned down when an errand boy, seeing his father come down the street, ditched his lighted cigarette under the stairs and ignited a fifty-gallon can of gasoline. Newton then moved his family to a farm he inherited from his father. In 1900, the family moved to Peoria. Newton and Delia were committed to giving their children as much education as possible. Peter's first brother, Joseph, arrived in 1898. Then came Thomas in 1902 and Aloysious in 1908. The family's first home in Peoria, at 111 Seventh Street, had eight rooms, to provide space for the boys and for Delia's parents, who visited and lived with them on occasion.
No matter where they lived, the Sheens were devout Catholics. Regular church attendance, parochial schooling, grace before meals, the nightly Rosary, and frequent visits by clergy were part of the family routine.
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