By Joan Gagne
FASWSTFinalProject
FAS329WST301
The purpose of this project is to shed light
on a family whose many members have gone their separate ways. The
members of this family, like most families, are busy with their families
and the increasing bustle of life in the twentieth century. This
paper illuminates and joins together their family tree for a brief moment.
The light shines on the founding faces and traces a lineage of strong Franco-American
roots.
America is in a phase of curiosity. People
are turning away from their busy lives to gaze into the past. They
are gathering knowledge of their ancestors to better understand their own
complicated thought processes, rituals, and emotions. We are a nation
in a quest for our roots. The spotlight is on diversity and Franco-Americans
are finding a way to fit our uniqueness into that diversity. Our
uniqueness needs to be celebrated not hidden. All nationalities,
not just Franco-Americans, are expressing a need to blend, not conform.
We are gathering up information about our culture and families by the armfuls.
We are then laying them at the base of our feet to affirm and tender our
own roots. This effort provides our souls with fertile answers to
clarify the way we are. Our substructure is enlightened with a knowledge
of our desires and hopes. We are growing mindful of our heritage
and can embrace it to add enduring, colorful, and healthy branches to the
family tree.
The Roy/Parent family tree has branched out to
many generations. Its' boughs have sprung from a single seed with
sunny armfuls of leaves. The seed of one woman and one man of Canadian
descent. The Roy/Parent Family Tree has provided America with the
diversity of being Franco-American. Our culture has been carried
forward whether it is recognized with choice or not. It is hope that
allowed those of French extraction to leave familiar ground to cross the
border to a foreign country. That hope is alive and well in a family
that continues to grow, work, and live in America. Our heritage is
celebrated with hope that diversity becomes a key factor and not a deterrent
to being American.
I was born at the end of my generation
within the Roy/Parent family. I was only three years old when my
Grandmother Delina Parent passed away. My Grandfather Joseph Parent
had passed away before I was born. I have no memories of either of
them, except what little my mother remembers. I have always felt
a void from not knowing my generation of this family. Being the youngest
grandchild of the next to the youngest sibling, my generation is almost
another generation older than I. The daughters of Joseph and Delina
Roy Parent lost a bond between them as they aged. The busy lifestyles
that have ensued since the 1950's when Delina passed on have interfered
with the social structure of the family. This generally happens when
the center of a family, like Delina, no longer is there to provide an established
communication base. These sisters did not reestablish a matriarch
to regain a center for their family and it is unlikely that this structure
will be regained within this particular aging generation. One
sister Diana, has passed on, two sisters,
Evelyn and Lorette, have Alzheimer's with irreversible symptoms, leaving
Yvette and Gertrude who are in their eighties as the elders of the family.
With an increasing knowledge of my heritage and
the importance to record our families for future generations, I have delved
into laying a base of the names of those who roots connect to the Roy/Parent
family. My generation and the generations that have been born after
me will have a written record of their family roots within this paper.
The information that follows is mostly a recording of the family members.
There is still a lot of information to gather to round out the people listed
here. The women are highlighted and there are remembered tidbits
of the Franco-American culture and the work of women.
Delina Roy Parent
This Franco-American woman contributed to her
heritage as most women of her time did, she left a legacy of children.
She gave birth, nurtured, and provided for her children until they matured.
Delina like so many other Franco-American mothers of her generation provided
her daughters with the basic skills to be a good wife and mother.
They received a parochial education. They were given a strong sense
of faith in the Catholic religion. Delina belonged to the Union of
Saint John the Baptiste and the Ladies of Saint Anne through her church,
St. Augustine's, where all her daughters were married. They honed
their domestic skills to enable them to care for their own husbands and
children. It is really not known, but assumed that Delina like all
women of the early twentieth century had certain expectations for their
daughters. She more than likely expected them to assume the responsibilities
of their French heritage by marrying well, bearing children, being proper
and chaste wives, and filling their days wi
th domesticity. She may also have expected
them to train their children in Catholicism and their French heritage,
even though she may have experienced the prejudice that came from being
both of those types of person and a woman.
For the most part her expectations were realized
and exceeded. She had seven daughters and they had 16 children including
6 daughters. Their children had 47 children including 18+ daughters.
That generation had 40+ children including 36+ daughters. That generation
added 2 more daughters to the line. Delina provided her lineage with
131+ people of which 69+ are Franco-American women. Delina was born
April 6, 1882 in St. Leonard, New Brunswick. Her parents migrated
to Waterville, Maine and Delina eventually to Augusta, Maine, where most
of her descendants still reside. They are not far from the Canadian
border from which their Acadian roots sprang. Delina's parents were
Joseph and Sophie Roy. Her mother's maiden name is not known.
Delina's siblings are: Jane, Maggie, Georgiana, Metahide and Henry.
Delina Marie Roy married Joseph Parent in 1904.
Their marriage produced seven daughters. By birth order: Evelyn born
March 4, 1905; two daughters who died in infancy, Juliette and Blanche
were born probably 1907 and 1908; Lorette born December 31, 1909; Diana
born November 19, 1911 and died January 25, 1997; Yvette born February
18, 1917; and Gertrude born August 1, 1918. There are many male descendants,
but the women descendants are focused upon more closely in the next few
pages. Four daughters of Delina are the oldest living generation
at the time of this printing. These women are between 81 and 93 years
old, so it is important to have their reflections on Franco-American womanhood
recorded.
Delina was a working mother and wife which was more common for Franco-American women than not. She worked in the shoe shop and cotton mills in Augusta until she was 66 years old. She and her husband shared parental and household duties. Delina's daughters all worked in Edwards Cotton Mill during their teen years before marriage. Diana and Lorette also each worked a short time in the shoe shop in Augusta. After marriage they all were homemakers and raised their children without the help of day care providers or nannies. Each daughter could embroider, cook, and sew. Evelyn knit and crocheted, quilted, and sewed. Diana tatted with a round metal disk about 2 inches in diameter, a ball of string, and used two fingers to manipulate the thread. Lorette embroidered many beautiful linens for her home. Yvette sewed clothing, made quilts, and kept a vegetable garden for her family. Yvette canned or preserved most of her produce for use over the winter. Evelyn had many plants and a flower garden, as did Dian
a. Domesticity was the accepted occupation of these women. Only Evelyn worked after the death of her husband and after her children were raised to adulthood.
Evelyn and Lorette delivered their children at home. Yvette had three of her five children at home. Diana had all of her children at a hospital. Each woman spent weeks in bed after the birth of their children. Some of Evelyn's children were attended by Delina, who was complimented by the local doctor as the one he called for most child birth cases. He said she was the best nurse he had in the area
Delina's youngest daughter Gertrude is mentally-handicapped. Gertrude was the victim of a society that ignored the less than perfect. Gertrude was always at home with her parents and then she lived with her sister Evelyn, until Evelyn was admitted to a nursing home for Alzheimer's. A niece,Connie cares for her now. Gertrude is very capable of dressing and taking care of her personal needs. She has no physical handicaps, yet she was never trained for any type of occupation and she never married like the rest of her sisters. She has a sharp memory for people and dates.
As a young child, Gertrude washed dishes after meals and attended parochial school. She was ignored by the system and the nuns, who let her remain at the third grade level until she was 16 years of age. Her days were spent in her own world being ignored by those around her at the school. It is supposed it was easier for Delina to have her go to school for care and safekeeping, because both parents worked outside the home. Her potential was never evaluated or analyzed and neither was the severity of her handicap. She loves children, especially babies, and relates well to them. She speaks French and very little English. It is supposed that all the years she lived with her sister, she must have helped with domestic chores, but it is not known at this printing.
The generations of women produced by these women saw many changes in the women's movement. These women have furthered their education beyond parochial school. These women work, as their mothers and Delina did. They have professions that include: nursing, law, politics, teaching, an Air Force career, government employees, computer technicians, day care, and many others. They have borne children and solved day care issues. Delina has provided a solid French basis in these women of responsibility, hope, faith, and character. If she were alive today and could look down through her family tree, she would find women that reflect her many characteristics of a Franco-American woman.
Evelyn Parent Labbe
Evelyn married Omer Labbe in 1924. They had seven children: Doris, Wilfred, Lionel, Richard, Roger, Constance, and Raymond. Omer was killed in car accident one late night in 1953 after 29 years of marriage. Most of the children were adults but four were minors. Delina and Gertrude moved in with Evelyn and her children. When Delina became ill Evelyn cared for her as long as she could before Delina had to go to a nursing home in Hallowell, Maine. After this Evelyn went to work for the State of Maine until she retired around 1980.
Her daughter Doris married Lucien Fluery in 1947. They had four children: David, Daniel, Paul, and Diane. David had two children, Patrick and Kathleen; Daniel had two children, Azure and Brandon and he has a daughter Katelyn; Paul had two children, Brittani and Lauren; and Diane had three children: Raymond, Gregory and Steven.
Her son Wilfred had two children, Elizabeth and she has a son Steven; and Michael who has a son also named Steven.
Her son Lionel has four children, John, Peter, Susan, and Joseph. John has three children; Peter has two children, Sarah and Erin; Susan has two children, Greg and Elizabeth; and Joseph has one daughter Elizabeth.
Her son Richard has three children, Barbara, Michael, and David. Barbara has four children, Andrew, Alexander, and 2 daughters; Michael has a daughter, Katilyn; David has no children.
Her son Roger has three children: Karen, Andrea, and Robert. Karen has two children; Michael and another son. Andrea has no children. Robert has passed away.
Her daughter Constance has two children: Elizabeth and Gerard. Gerard has two daughters, Amanda and Sophie.
Her son Raymond has four children: Raymond Jr., Anna, Katherine, and Timothy. Raymond Jr., has a daughter Deborah; Anna has no children; Katherine has two children; and Timothy has one daughter.
Some names are unknown at the time of this printing.
Evelyn was busy with groups after retirement. She traveled a great deal on senior citizens tours and filled her days with works of charity. She was a member of the Cushnoc Senior Citizens a group made up of mostly Franco-American women. They made this quilt for the Bicentennial of Augusta. She worked with other women in her church and was very active until she became ill.
Lorette Parent Rodrique
Lorette married Joseph Rodrique around 1930.
They had one son Lionel. Lorette was a unique animal lover, providing
a home for many dogs and cats, up to 30 or more at a time. She was
a one woman humane society. Her home was a great attraction for children,
there were always lots of puppies and kittens. She helped her husband
with their chicken farm. They had 20,000 plus laying hens and sold
the eggs produced on their farm. Her work was at home and amongst
her beloved animals.
Lionel married and produced three granddaughters
for Lorette. The oldest Jeanne Smith has two daughters Sarah and
Darcie. Next is Pat Cunningham who has two children, Eric and Kelly.
The youngest is Diane Rodrique who has two daughters Jill and Meagan.
Jill has a son Preston.
Lorette resides at a nursing home because of
Alzheimer's disease. She will be 90 years old December 31, just before
the new millennium.
Lorette is shown here with her only son Lionel.
Diana Parent Theberge
Diana married Robitelle Theberge in the 1920's.
They had two sons Richard and Norman and one daughter, Lucille. Lucille
was the oldest. Diana was a homemaker. They had 10 grandchildren
and 2 great-grandchildren. At the time of this printing, Diana's
family recording is limited to her obituary.
Yvette Parent Michaud
Yvette married John Michaud at St. Augustine's
Church in Augusta, Maine on September 24, 1936. The priest was Father
Casavant. This is their wedding picture below complete with the fiddler,
who was John's brother-in-law John Vigue. John and Yvette are in
the 2nd row from the bottom 2nd and 3rd from the left. Some male
relatives in the front row were wearing dresses and making love faces,
a symbolic celebration of the upcoming wedding night, lost on this generation.
Below the wedding party is a picture of all the women who attended the
wedding. It was traditional to take separate pictures of all the
men who attended the wedding and all the women who attended. Yvette's
mother, Delina, is directly behind her. Yvette wore a navy blue velvet
dress and carried flowers with long ribbons draping down the front of her.
Hats were worn when the women were in church. No music was played
during the wedding ceremony, but there was plenty at the reception afterwards.
John and Yvette had five children, Cecile, Jo
hn Jr., Lena, Raymond and Joan. John usually
worked two jobs at a time to provide for his family. Yvette worked
for a short time after marriage and then stayed home with her children
because there was no day care available. Her job entailed all the
details of raising five children, feeding them, and keeping a home.
Yvette's daughter Cecile was born February 9,
1938. As a teenager, Cecile worked at the Edwards Manufacturing
Co., in Augusta until her marriage to Robert Babcock on May 11, 1963.
They have five children: Diane (b.3/24/64), Robert Jr. (b.2/23/65), Dwight
(b.3/20/66), Donna (b.5/17/68) and Roger (b.1/7/71). Her daughter
Diane has a daughter Wendy (b. 1/16/88).
Her son John Jr. was born May 10, 1940.
He is a woodsman who owned his own business until his son Jeffrey acquired
it in the 1980's. John Jr. married Muriel Whitaker on August 19,
1962. They have three children: Timothy (b. 5/30/63), Jeffrey (b.
6/27/65), and Tammy (b. 9/8/69). Timothy has a daughter, Cara.
Tammy has two children: James and Bethany.
Her daughter Lena, named after Delina whose nickname
was Lena, was born December 6, 1942. She married Joe Irish March
16, 1963. She is trained as a secretary and has had various jobs.
They have three sons: William (b. 8/63), Craig (b. 2/28/65), and Michael
(b. 7/8/68). William has a daughter Marissa. Michael has three
children John Michael, Nicole, and Timothy.
Her son Raymond was born October 19, 1947.
He is a mechanic and woodsman working in the Michaud Woods Business.
Raymond married Cindy Jones on June 19, 1994. Raymond has two sons:
Nathan (b. 1/72) and Ryan (b. 10/30/77).
Her daughter Joan was born February 25, 1955.
Joan married Michael Gagne October 5, 1979. She is employed as a
Legal Technician with the Maine Legislature. Joan has two daughters:
Angela Gagne Palmer (b. 10/8/72) and Holly Gagne (b. 9/22/75). Angela
has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Holly has a Bachelor of Arts in
Political Science. They are the first in this line to graduate from
college.
Notes from the author: This concludes the
known lineage of Delina Roy Parent. Following is an outline of the
Franco-American women as they descended from Sophie Roy, Delina's mother.
Included are Delina's siblings, but their families are not recorded at
the time of this printing. The emphasis is on the female lineage
and some males are included for clarification of the female listings.
The information recorded herein are as related from the memories of the
older living generations of the Roy/Parent family and are as accurate as
that.
(Lineage Listings available on request from email address: mikjo105@aol.com)