Saturday, October 07, 2006

Association Canado-américaine AWARD

On October 5, 2006, Connie LEMONDE, a Franco-American author, playright, composer, poet, received an award from the Association Canado-américaine (ACA), Section Frère André, (in Woonsocket, RI). She was commended for her attempt to preserve the French-Canadian heritage. The award was in recognition of « sa dédicace à la préservation de notre héritage et de nos traditions Canadiennes-Franciases dans ses eécritures et sa musique. » Special mention was also made for the song, BONJOUR, TOUT L’MONDE, that she composed for « Le Jubilé Franco-américain » a few years ago, It was recorded by Josee VACHON.
You may find out more about Connie LEMONDE's life and Québec heritage by clicking on the ORANGE title above.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

OBIT: Marius LESSARD (1923-2006),

Marius LESSARD, the son of Émile+Eugénie SIMARD, died August 3, 2006. He leaves behind his wife, Monique DORÉ (Rémi+Marie-Anne CARRIER). Marius & Monique were married 1954-07-03 in Marie-Reine-du-Monde church in Montréal, QC. He will be missed by all including his children and grand-children.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

OBIT: Yvon BOURGEOIS (1936-2006)

Yvon BOURGEOIS (Roger+Laurette MIREAULT) died August 27,2006 at the Montcalm longterm-care facility, Foyer St-Jacques. Burial will be September 1, 2006 in the parish cemetery of Sainte-Marie-Salomé, Montcalm County, QC. He was married to Huguette LEBLANC in 1978-07-28 in Sainte-Marie-Salomé, Montcalm County, QC. His BOURGEOIS Ancestry is as follows:
Roger BOURGEOIS+Laurette MIREAULT
1936-12-28 Sainte-Marie-Salomé, Montcalm County, QC
Idola BOURGEOIS+Hermine GAUTHIER
1908-02-24 Sainte-Marie-Salomé, Montcalm County, QC
Germain BOURGEOIS+Sophanie GAGNON
1859-11-15 Saint-Jacques-de-l'Achigan, Montcalm County, QC
Amabale BOURGEOIS+Isabelle LÉGARÉ
1820-01-31 Saint-Jacques-de-l'Achigan, Montcalm County, Q
Germain BOURGEOIS+Madeleine BÉLIVEAU
Circa 1673 Port-Royal, ACADIE
Click on the ORANGE title above to go to the LANAUDIÈRE Region site, for more information about Sainte-Marie-Salomé (Montcalm) is located.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

OBIT: Germaine SAINTE-MARIE

Germaine SAINTE-MARIE died June 1, 2006. She was the daughter of Amédée+Maria SÉNÉCAL. Germaine and Claude BROSSARD (Charles-Auguste+Aline BEAUVAIS) were married 1947-10-18 in La Nativité-de-la-Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie parish in LaPrairie, QC. She leaves behind her daughter, Hélène (Jean-Paul GERMAIN) as well as her grandchildren, Jean-Philippe and Marie-Pier.

OBIT: Sophie CAMPEAU (1969-2006)

Sophie CAMPEAU died August 17,2006. She was from Saint-Mathieu-de-Laprairie, QC. The daughter of Claude CAMPEAU+Nicole GORDON, she leaves behind her spouse, Daniel DUGUAY, and his son, Frédérick. Her loss is also felt by her brother, Daniel, and her mother-in-law, Andrée LESSARD (defunct Robert DUGUAY), as well as by her brother-in-law, Pascal (Karine ROBILLARD), her god-child, Élianne, and her nephew, Félix. Burial in the LaPriarie, QC cemetery was August 22.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

ROBERT PÉPIN Descendants

In the September 2006 issue
(Vol. 134, NO. 8)
of the
REVUE SAINTE-ANNE.
published by the
Redemptorist Fathers of the Shrine in Beaupré, QC,
you will find an article about the descendants of
ROBERT PÉPIN.
For more information about this 2½ page article
containing 3 pictures of the PÉPIN descendants,
click on the ORANGE title above.

François MERCURE de VILLENEUVE Descendants

In the July-August 2006 issue
(Vol. 134, NO. 7)
of the
REVUE SAINTE-ANNE.
published by the
Redemptorist Fathers of the Shrine in Beaupré, QC,
you will find an article about the descendants of
FRANÇOIS MERCURE de VILLENEUVE.
This is a concise four-page history containing four pictures of MERCURE descendants.
For more information about the English version of this magazine,
click on the ORANGE title above.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

OBIT: GUINDON, Michel (1941-2006)

Died in Ville-Sainte-Catherine, Montérégie region, QC on August 14, 2006. He leaves behind his wife, Monique GIRARD, his son Daniel (Donna), his daughter, Sophie (Christian). and his 2 grancdhchildren, Séréna & Rose. He also leaves behind his wife,'s daughters, Monique (Alain) and Sylvie (Carl). A mass of Christian burial was held at the parish church of Saint-Constant, QC Further information may be obtained from the Funeral Home in Saint-Constant, QC at the following URL: www.poissantetfils.ca

Friday, August 18, 2006

Sr. Louise MADORE

Sr. Louise MADORE, originally from Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA, was elected the Superior General of the Roman Catholic Religious Community of the Daughters of Wisdom (Filles de la Sagesse). A teacher by profession, Sr. Madore is the only girl in a family of 5 brothers. Georges MADORE, her brother, is a Roman Catholic priest, member of the Montfort Fathers of Québec..
For more information about the Daughters of Wisdom, you may visit their website by clicking on the ORANGE title above.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

OBIT: HENRI SAEY, Roman Catholic Priest

Fr. Henri SAEY , well-known priest in the St-Henri/Pointe-St-Charles district of, Montréal, QC, died July 28, 2006. He was Assistant Pastor of St-Irénée parish from 1934-1967. The parish was founded in 1908, and the church is located at 3044 Delisle St., Montréal, QC. The parish doesn't have a website at the moment.
For more information about the parish, click on the orange title above.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Connie LEMONDE's latest novel

THE FAMILY SECRET

Distorted Images and the Long Road to Truth

1947 - Vermont - A Canadian-American father’s “nice/bad surprise” for six-year-old Michelle never happens but becomes the family secret that leaves her with distorted images of both her parents and sweeps her away from home to a boarding school in Canada and then to New Hampshire. In Canada she meets eight-year-old JP and together they go out looking for God. Instead, they find Ivan, an ex-convict whose life is changed radically by this meeting.

In the meantime, Michelle is sent to live with her ambitious, independent Aunt Lena and is introduced to a lifestyle that she could only dream of. But she continues to long for home and for the very doubtful love of her parents. Then, at sixteen, the “family secret” is revealed to her, and she is devastated not only by what her father had been planning but also because the incident had caused her to have such twisted thoughts about her mother and father. The truth was the opposite of what she had come to believe since she was six years old.

Then, the year of her graduation from high-school, her father is imprisoned and she has to choose between living with her aunt or going back to her small home town help her mother. Her decision brings JP and Ivan back into her life and changes everyone’s course for the better.
______________________________________________________________________

BIOGRAPHY of the AUTHOR
Born in Woonsocket, RI of Franco-American parents, since her retirement Connie has written 2 children’s books and has authored and produced 4 family-oriented plays for stage and one for radio. This is the 3rd book published by Infinity Publishing. The other two are a novel, BEST FRIENDS and a book of poems, UPHILL AND DOWNHILL.
Click on the ORANGE title above
to find out more about
CONNIE LEMONDE's
books

Sunday, July 02, 2006

RICARD Ancestry

In the June 2006 issue (Vol. 134, NO. 6) of the
REVUE SAINTE-ANNE. published by the
Redemptorist Fathers of the Shrine in Beaupré, QC,
you will find an article about the descendants of
Jean RIQUART (RICARD)
The article contains a drawing of Jean RIQUART and 3 pictures of his descendants:
1) Four generations of female RICARD's
2) Mr. & Mrs. Henri RICARD of Trois-Rivières, QC
3) Gr.grandfather, Armand RICARD with 3 generations.
This article is printed in the French publication of the REVUE SAINTE-ANNE. I don't know if it is published in their English version, The ANNALS of SAINT ANNE.
For more information ,
click on the ORANGE title above
and you will be brought to brought to the official site
of Saint Anne's shrine in Beaupré, QC

Thursday, June 29, 2006

NOVEL with Franco-American & Québec backdrop

Here's a portion of the first chapter to give you an idea of the book's flavor. It is at the publisher's and will be available later this year.
FAMILY SECRET
by
Connie LEMONDE

CHAPTER 1
“It’s a surprise. You’ll like it. Come on.”

August, 1947 “happened” and little Michelle’s life would never be the same again.
On that day she was humming as she grabbed a handful of grain from her blue bucket and scattered them around the chickens that were scampering all over their fenced yard. One of the hens stopped, looked straight up at the girl, and then returned to her dining. Michelle smiled back at the daring feathery creature and stooped to give her some extra food.
The girl’s father, Elphège Bellerose, had been gathering eggs in the coop when he noticed his daughter through the back exit that was still open. He quit his chore and walked to the door. For a while he stood observing his child, the only female out of five children. She was a beautiful six-year old: fair- skinned, a little tall for her age, with big, curious brown eyes framed by amazing eyelashes. The yellow pinafore dress that she was wearing over a short-sleeved white blouse was a strong complement to her long, dark brown hair that was tied in back and swished around a bit with every motion that she made.
After a few minutes, he called loudly, “Michelle, come in here!”
She jerked around and stopped short at the sight of her father, dressed only in overalls and mud boots, standing stiffly in the entrance.
The day was hot and sticky, and he drew a large handkerchief from a pocket and wiped his forehead. “Why do you look so scared?” he asked. “Did you do something wrong again?”
Michelle’s blue pail swung back and forth. “No.”
“Well, then, don’t worry. I won’t hit you. I just want to show you something.”
“What is it?”
He beckoned with his finger. “It’s a surprise. You’ll really like it. Come on.”
“A nice surprise?” the girl exclaimed excitedly, as she dropped her pail and started skipping ahead. Her father had never, ever given her anything special and she couldn’t wait to see what it was.
In the doorway, Elphège turned around and faced the front entrance as he waited.
Just as the child ran over the threshold, a loud, angry cry came from the front door that had just opened.
“What in the world are you doing?” roared throughout the whole room and the walls almost shook. Michelle braked short as her grandmother ran in waving her arms helter-skelter in the air. The woman was so incensed that her face seemed to be on fire.
Click on the ORANGE title above
to see pictures of the author,
Connie LEMONDE,
and of her Québec and Franco-American ancestors.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

GENETIC Disease study in QUÉBEC

RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA (RP)
The October 2005 issue of the JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS had an article about the discovery of a new gene responsible for Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative disease. The Québec population is often used for such genetic studies since only about 250 forefathers provide an ideal gene pool.
The study is under the auspices of the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) in Montréal, QC. More information is available by clicking on the ORANGE title above.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

PETER USTINOV married a French-Canadian from QUEBEC

Born in Ottawa, Ontario,
educated in Québec,
SUZANNE CLOUTIER
(1927-2003)
married
Sir PETER Alexander USTINOV
(1921-2004)
in 1954
Educated in Montréal and in Trois-Rivières, QC, in 1945 Suzanne left for New York City, NY. where she became a model. Noticed by GEORGE STEVENS, the producer, she made several screen tests in Hollywood, CA. She was cast in TEMPTATION with Merle OBERON & George BRENT. Then, Charles LAUGHTON accepted her as part of his theatrical group to act in Shakespearian plays throughout the U.S. for the next 3 years. In 1949 she became a member of the JEAN DASTÉ French company to act in the great classics. In 1950 she acted in «Juliette ou la clé des songes» & then at the Edward VII theater she played the French version of one of Orson WELLS plays, LA LANGOUSTE. In 1951 she played with ORSON WELLES in the filmed version of OTHELLO. From then on, her work was non-stop. She died in 2003.
CLOUTIER Ancestry

(1)
Zacharie CLOUTIER
Xainte DUPONT
1616.07.18
Saint-Jean-de-Montagne, Perche, (Orne) FRANCE
(2)
Charles CLOUTIER
Louise MORIN
1659.04.20
Québec
(3)
Zacharie CLOUTIER
Jeanne BACON
1708.05.23
Château-Richer, Montmorency County, QC
(4)
Zacharie CLOUTIER
Agnès BÉLANGER
1737.11.13
Château-Richer, Montmorency County, QC
(5)
Jean-Baptiste CLOUTIER
Marie-Louise GAGNON
1774.08.01
Beaupré, Montmorency County, QC
(6_
Louis CLOUTIER
Judith FRIGON
1809.01.23
Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan, Champlain County, QC
(7)
Urbain CLOUTIER
Henriette COSSETTE
1851.03.03
Saint-Prosper, Champlain County, QC
(8)
Joseph Dauphin CLOUTIER
Joséphine LEDOUX
1889.06.25
Saint-Narcisse, Champlain County, QC
(9)
Edmond CLOUTIER
Hélène ST-DENIS
1922.05.23
St-Jean-Baptiste parish, Québec City, QC
(10)
Suzanne CLOUTIER
Peter USTINOV
1954
Click on the ORANGE title above to read a short biography of
PETER USTINOV


Friday, June 02, 2006

VERMET dit LAFORME

I've just worked on the following VERMETTE ancestors and thought I'd share the information with those of you, who may be interested.
VERMETTE
(1)
Antoine VERMET dit LAFORME
from St-Nicaise, FRANCE
Barbe MÉNARD
1669.08.26
Sainte-Famille, Île-d'Orléans, Montmorency County, QC
(2)
Jacques VERMETTE
Jeanne DUPIL
1706-10-25
Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Portneuf County, QC
(3)
Augustin VERMETTE
Marie-Josèphte/Josette JUNEAU
1750-11-16
Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Porneuf County, QC
(4)
Joseph VERMETTE
Geneviève AYOTTE
1774-09-26
St-Antoine-de-Padoue, Louiseville, Maskinongé County, QC
(5)
Jean-Baptiste VERMETTE
Marie-Anne PAGÉ
1812-11-23
St-Joseph-de-Maskinongé, Maskinongé County, QC
(6)
Norbert VERMETTE
Julie BELLEMARE
1842-09-13
St-Joseph-de-Maskinongé, Maskinongé County, QC
(7)
Norbert VERMETTE
Marie FRANCOEUR
1871-07-04
Saint-Tite, Champlain County, QC
Apparently, Barbe MÉNARD, who married Antoine VERMET dit LAFORME, was a King's Daughter (Filles du Roi). For more information about these women, click on the ORANGE title above ,

Churches to close in SHERBROOKE, QC

Two churches in the diocese will be permanently closed on Sunday June 11. St-Jean-de-Bréboeuf, on the corner of King St. West & Jacques-Cariter St in Sherbrooke was founded in 1946. According to environmental requirements, the church must be decontaminated of all asbestos. The buyer and the parish will share the cost. Très-Saint-Sacrement, the second church in Sherbrooke to be closed, was founded in 1938. Christ-Roi church, founded in 1940, was closed last April.
Since 1995, 23 churches have been closed in the diocese of Sherbrooke.
For more information about the
diocese of SHERBROOKE,
click on the ORANGE TITLE above.

Marie-Paule GIGUÈRE from housewife to foundress of a religious community

Foundress of the religious community of
Notre-Dame-de-tous-les Peuples
Marie-Paule is at odds with the Catholic Church and has been for years. Her story is interesting and well worth looking into as part of Québec, as well as Church history. Housewife, mother of 5 children whose husband was an alcoholic, religious experiences and circumstances led Marie-Paule to give her life to God. She still lives in the Community infirmary at Lac-Etchemin, QC surrounded by her followers.
Marie-Paule GIGUÈRE's Ancestry
(1)
Jean GIGUÈRE
Michelle JOURNEL
1599.07.26
Tourouvre, Orne, FRANCE
(2)
Robert GIGUÈRE
Aimée MIVILLE
1652.07.02
Québec City, QC
(3)
Joseph GIGUÈRE
Angélique MERCIER
1698.10.18
marriage contract
Notary L. CHAMBERLON
Montmorency County, QC
(4)
Chrétien GIGUÈRE
Dorothée RACINE
1732.11.24
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Montmorency County, QC
(5)
Claude GIGUÈRE
Judith GUIMOND
1771.01.28
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Montmorency County, QC
(6)
Ignace GIGUÈRE
Marguerite CLICHE
1803.10.03
Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, QC
(7)
Narcisse GIGUÈRE
Théotise DOYON
1825.10.25
Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, QC
(8)
Richard GIGÈRE
Joséphine DOYON
1861.01.08
aint-Joseph-de-Beauce, QC
(9)
Gédéon GIGUÈRE
Mélande GAGNON
1894.01.22
Sainte-Germaine-du-Lac-Etchemin, Dorchester County, QC
(10)
Ernest GIGUÈRE
Laura BÉGIN
1920.07.19
Saiante-Germaine-du-Lac-Etchemin, Dorchester County, QC
(11)
Marie-Paul GIGUÈRE
Georges CLICHE
1944.07.01
Lac-Etchemin, Dorchester County, QC
Simply click on the ORANGE TITLE above to discover more about Marie-Paule's life and the foundation of the Community.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

KARMA and GENEALOGY

This afternoon I received an email from
Bill Williams
to which was attached a file containing
MY TRUTH
his philosophical views on life.
After reading the file, I began to equate KARMA with HEREDITY, genetic, social and learned, hence, KARMY is related to GENEALOGY as far as I'm concerned. Read on and think about it. Look back on your life and try to see how your ancestors have influenced it via heredity, thus touching you with their KARMA. You are part of them and they are YOU.
Karma is continuous on all levels of existence. Karma results daily in the material world through our actions & our non-actions as well as our thoughts and emotions. We are continually, minute by minute, second by second, nano second by nano second, creating and paying off karma. It works not only on the physical, mental and emotional level, but on the spiritual level as well. When you pick up something you must eventually put it down. That is Karma
You create karma by the act of picking the thing up and the unavoidable karmic reaction comes when you are forced or choose to put it down. Note, however, that if you do not choose to put it down, you will eventually be forced to do so. Not picking it up at all will result in the karma of the thing staying in place. If it is in the way of something you are attempting to accomplish, by choosing not to move it has created bad karma relative to you. So we do create our own karma.
When you die the excess karma goes with you. You may be required to pay it back on the physical level six lifetimes from now, or in the very next life. Karma is the Law and cannot be denied.
There are many forms of karma. When and where your karmic debt comes due (is balanced) is largely determined by you. Just as when you put down whatever it is you picked up is determined by your choice. But by the same token, if you choose not to balance your karma by choice, your payment will be extracted by force (by operation of the law). You will have lost the right to choose. The law is then enforced by circumstance. Taking responsibility and acting responsibly gives you control of the karmic result and gives you the ability to correct bad choices. The key is to act responsibly in the first place.
So the evil men do does live after them. It will be here for them in the form of karma due and the entity that created it will be held responsible for it when he returns. But what about the good a man does. The law always works and cannot be denied, so the good is rewarded with good and the evil will be rewarded with evil.
Most religions teach that you will be rewarded in heaven. But where is heaven? If the Universe is moving in a more positive direction and everything is getting more positive and if the occult statement of “as above, so below” is correct, the conclusion must be that heaven is in the future.
Is your karmic reward in the future? The answer must be yes & no. Yes if you have not collected it here. No if you have. He who understands this bit of knowledge will be rewarded with great wisdom, purchased with his karma.
The Universe is based on the need to know, the ability to understand and the wisdom to use the knowledge properly. If the great Hermes spoke the truth when he said “As above, So Below,” and if our karmic rewards are in heaven (a more perfect & positive place) then so are our punishments. If karma is the rule of law then reincarnation is its vehicle. With this key the wise man can see the other half of the half-truths.

St-Vincent-de-Paul Orphanage


Dear Murmur, Thank you for giving me info about your blog! I had fun reviewing the stuff that you had on it. Especially meaningful for me was information that you had about the St. Vincent de Paul boarding school. My three older brothers were sent to St. Vincent for a while. My brother Bob spent the most time there. My older brother graduated and went to a regular Catholic High School in Manchester. The middle brother spent the most time there--not with the happiest of memories. But now, at least, we are all understanding the move to the boarding school! Then I was sent to the Mount for my boarding school time! Oh, well, I met the nicest bunch of young ladies there! I really loved having the time away from my family and spending it with great friends.
Thanks again for the info!

View pictures of SAINT-VINCENT-de-PAUL Orphanage and Boarding School in Manchester, NH by clicking on the ORANGE TITLE above. This will bring you to one of my albums on Webshots. There are 13 pictures posted there of the Boarding School building as well as of former students. Of course, should any of you be former students of the School and should you wish to share pictures of those days, please leave a COMMENT on this BLOG or leave a message in the GUESTBOOK of the album on WEBSHOTS.