By Darcie Antonelli

FASWSTInterview From:
FAS329/WST301
Franco-American Woman Interview

 First of all, I have to say this was an experience. Finding the person I wished to interview was not easy. When I finally found the person, I was worried about what I should and shouldn't ask. I was thrilled when the interview came and went so well.
 I chose to interview a woman by the name of Laura Mae Rudolph. Roy is her maiden name. She is the public school nurse in the Ellsworth, Maine area.
 Laura grew up in a very northern town in Maine in an Acadian village. This village was off of route one by the towns of Grand Isle and Madawaska. She grew up in an original Acadian home with values that can never be replaced. The homes in this Acadian village were extremely small and had dirt floors. These homes were found in the St. John Valley. Her mother and sister are the last to live in Aroostook. Laura now owns part of the families land.
 I loved this story. The last descendant left a will that said that the first relative to ask about the family history and land would inherit the land. It worked out that Laura did ask, and became the recipient. Which she is incredibly proud of.  Laura Rudolph's family history was amazing. She does posses a family history book that worked out so I can see it. She is an incredibly busy woman. One of the facts I wished to investigate in this family history book was the fact that her father's father was one of the original seven Cyr brothers that left France and settled in the valley. I wanted to know more and will try to contact her again.  As we have learned in this class the French and the Indians were allies at times. Laura told me that' "most Acadians are dark skinned and dark eyed." This seemed to be a Native American characteristic to me. She did continue to tell me that she has always heard they may have some I It would not surprise her to find Indian ancestry in her family history. Indian in them. "Dark skinned and high cheek boned."
 There were no public schools where Laura grew up. The schools were all Catholic Parochial schools. She was taught by Nuns and brother's of Sacred Heart. She says, "I retain all that was taught me. It is in grained in me." There are also Nuns and Priests in Laura's family history.
 As with the stories we have read for this class about French women, Laura was also taught to have strong feelings of the family being responsible for taking care of their own. Families supported each other and adopted into their homes those who could not take care of themselves. This respect for elders was strongest in the immediate family. Children respected their parents to the highest degree. While she was growing up, Laura made it clear that her mother was the disciplinary one. "What she said went and that was it." Her father had never said a word or laid a hand on them. There was an "unspoken fear" of him and it was tempted or questioned. She said they were all scared to death of him and she still laughs about it today wondering why.
 Laura's first spoken language was French. She was "six years old" before learning English. Hers would be the last generation raised as French speaking. She also mentioned the fact that the children who spoke English were the ones who had more problems. The community was very close though, whether speaking French or English. Still when she calls her "Mamma" she speaks French on the phone. She said they speak, "true Acadian French." She also went on to explain that there were phrases that are specifically Acadian when speaking.
 Mrs. Rudolph told me that back in her grandmother's day the women were sub-serviant to men. She was proud of the fact that her and her husband consider each other to be equals. Laura was proud of the fact that the women and mothers worked as hard as the men. She has no problem working with her sons by her side fixing the house, or having them work with her in the house. Some of older family members are not so comfortable with this. Men in their day did not work in the house. Especially helping to clean, fold laundry, etc.
 Out of all the stories I heard on this interview the one that fascinated me the most was the story of when she found a man she fell in love with and they wanted to marry. Laura was a grown woman and working on a career when she met the man she would marry. Her future husband happened to be German and of the Lutheran religion. In her family they were all Catholics and that is the way it was expected to continue to be. Laura went through a lot of hassle and trouble to make this marriage happen comfortable for all. She was told she would have to sign papers making a statement her children would be brought up Catholic. She refused. She was told her children would be born with problems. She was left with a choice of whether to leave her religion or not. All that she was taught. This is after being twenty-seven years old and knowing nothing other than being Roman Catholic. She told me of three dispensations she dealt with. 1) being non-Catholic, 2) not married in a catholic church, and 3) a priest not of this diocese, a catholic priest not from her area. So Laura and her love were married with a priest and a minister form both churches. Communion and wine were served for her only. She says her and her husband decided to raise their children Lutheran. Yet, every summer Laura and her family return to Aroostook county and her families home land. While staying there they attend a catholic church. No Lutheran churches around. Laura's sons get to experience both religions this way. She says they celebrate "Christmas every other year" swapping between the Lutheran and Catholic churches.
 Laura's strength, strong will, determination, and pride in her family remind me of the women we have been reading about. These must be true characteristics of Franco-American women. The End!