Almost Wordless Wednesday: Mr & Mrs. Charles Francois Therrien, circa 1894

This week for Wordless Wednesday I present to you, dear reader, a picture that was sent to me from my first cousin, one time removed, Kevin Maille (Emile J, Theresa Normandin). This picture is believed to be of Charles Francois Therrien (J-B, Marie-Celine Letourneau); his wife, Marie Provencal (Isisdore, Philomene Desrosiers) and their daughter Rose. The picture, sent to me in .jpg format, has been edited by yours truly, with a copy of the original having been retained. Written on the original, in red ink, were the words, Grandpa, Grandma and Rose. These words are thought to have been written by my grand uncle, John Maille (Cuthbert, Rose Therrien). Kevin said that this picture, along with some others, were found in my great-grandmother's home (which no longer stands) at 60 Wheeler Rd. in Dracut. My great-grandmother, Rose Maille nee Therrien, was born on 7 Feb., 1894 in Lowell. So, if the information that was written on this picture is correct, I am assuming that this picture was probably taken around that time.

The Obituary of Paul L. Gormley Sr., Dracut, Massachusetts

Published in the Lowell Sun, 11 Oct, 1956, pg. 3.

PAUL L. GORMLEY SR.


Paul L. Gormley Sr., husband of Mrs. Alice M. (Therrien) Gormley, and a well known resident of the Collinsville section of Dracut, residing at 1 Water street, died unexpectedly this morning at his home. He was born in Lowell, the son of the late Francis and Catherine (Riley) Gormley. Mr. Gormley was employed at the Suffolk Knitting mill as a second hand in the spinning room. He was a member of St. Mary's parish in Collinsville. He is survived by his wife; three sons, Paul L. Gormley Jr., who is associated with the Curtis-Marble Co. of Worcester as an engineer, Gerald F. Gormley of the USMC, stationed at Parish Island, S. C.; and Robert C. Gormley of Collinsville; and a sister, Mrs. Charles. F. Edlund of Lowell.

Madness Monday: Robillard, Fournier, and Desrosiers, Oh My!

Yesterday I posted a Sentimental Sunday that featured the marriage of Donat Desrosiers and Rita Robillard. In the article that I posted from The Lowell Sun it stated that a Francis Fournier (an usher) was Rita's brother and that a Lorraine Fournier (a bride's maid) was Rita's cousin. Well, I must be thick, because I didn't pick up on that error at all!

Anway, it took an e-mail from my cousin Roger for me to see this error... You see, Roger's e-mail was another "holy crap" email, (that I rec'd at 6 am this morning with out having had any coffee yet! Thanx Rog..) telling me that Donat's father Louis is his grandfather Desrosier's brother! Which makes Donat Roger's mother's first cousin. So for some reason I went back and reread the original Lowell Sun copy and there is where I saw what I had missed in regard to the Francis, brother of Rita, error mentioned above.  Now... I know that Francois Fournier Sr. and Fabiola Robillard had at least three children, Lorraine, Francois and Dolores, so if Lorraine, who was a bride's maid and Rita's cousin, how could Francois, an usher, be her (Rita's) brother!? Thanks for waking me up Roger.. I am too young to be having a senior moment, so we'll just forget about this, right? 

And in regard to the "holy crap" email, the Donat Desrosiers and Rita Robillard marriage is connection number four for me and cousin Roger Foucher! How's that for madness!? And just so I don't confuse you anymore than I already have (yeah right!??) I'll quickly go through our connections in the order in which they were found.. The first way Roger and I are connected is through my paternal great-grandparents, Arthur Robillard and Philomene Foucher. Philomene was Roger's grandfather's (Joseph Narcisse Foucher) sister, making Roger my 2nd cousin 1x removed. The second way we are connected is through Leonard Faucher dit St-Maurice and Marie Damois., making us 6th cousins 4 x removed. This connection is on my maternal side. Charles Therrien, one of my maternal 5th great grandfathers, married Louise Faucher, Roger's third cousin 3x removed. And the third way we are connected is through my maternal side as well with another Desrosiers connection, which, I haven't entered into my datbase yet (hangs head in shame). But as far as I can tell we are connected through Alexis Desrosiers and Maire Reine Courtin dit Sanschagrin  Roger through Alexis' son Alexis and his wife Catherine Bonin and me (my Maille side) through Alexis' son Joseph and his wife Marie Anne Brassard. I do believe Joseph and M. Anne Brassard had a son Pierre who married a Genevieve Beaugrand dit Champage, she died and then he remarried a Francoise Chaput. Francoise gave birth to Marie Adeline Philomene Desrosiers who married Moise Prudhomme and she gave birth to Marie Amanda Prud'Homme who in turn married my g-g grandfather, Joseph A. Maille. Confused? I am!! Btw,  I need to get the records to prove that third connection.

Below I have added some pictures of Antonio Robillard, father of the above mentioned Rita Robillard,  Anonio's sister Fabiola, and his brother Joseph, my grandfather. These pictures were taken circa. mid 1970s at a Robillard family reunion I attended when I was about 9 years old..

Antonio Robillard

My grandfather Joseph, his sister Fabiola and brother Antonio.

The Obituary of Paul E. Maille, Lowell, Massachusetts, 1994

Still not finished with my pile of obits and death notices..

Published in the Lowell Sun, Wednesday, May 18, 1994, pg. 21.

Paul E. Maille
...of Dracut,; 76


DRACUT -- Paul E. Maille, 76, a longtime resident of Dracut, died Monday at St. John's Campus, after a brioef illness. He was the husband of the late Rita G. (Moran) Maille.
Born July 19, 1917, he was a son of the late Cuthbert and Rose E. (Therrien) Maille.
He was a communicant of St. Francis Church and a member of the Dracut Senior Citizens Club and the A.A.R.P.
Before his retirement, he was employed as service manager with J.G. MacLellan and sons in Tewksbury.
Surviving him are two daughters, Patricia Riley, with whom he resided, and Roberta Maille of Londonderry, N.H.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Claude and Nancy Maille of Lowell and David and Diane Maille of Chelmsford; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Emile and Theresa Maille and John G. Maille, all of Dracut; a sister, Priscilla England of Dracut, his godmother, Alice Therrien Gormley of Dracut; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was also the father of the late Gail Robillard and brother of the late Leo Maille and rachel Maille Longridge.


MAILLE -- Died May 16, Paul E. Maille, aged 76, widower of Rita G. (Moran) Maille, a longtime resident of Dracut. Friends may call at the McKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME, 327 Hildreth Street, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday. Funeral Friday morning with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10 o'clock at St. Francis Church, Kenwood. Burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Francis Building Fund in Dracut. Arrangements by the McKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME.

The Obituary of Rita G. Maille, Dracut, Massachusetts, 1987

DRACUT---Rita G. (Moran) Maille, 65, wife of Paul E. Maille, of 100 Wheeler Road, died Friday at St. John's Hospital. Her mother-in-law, Rose E. (Therrien) Maille, had died earlier Friday morning.
Born in Lowell, she was a daughter of the late John and Yvonne (Ferron) Moran.
She was a communicant of St. Francis church and a member of the parish Sodality.
Prior to her retirement, she had been employed with Flowers by Albert. She had owned and operated Rita's Gift Shop in Cupples Square and served as a volunteer at St. John's Hospital.
Surviving her her besides her husband are two daughters, Mrs James (Patricia Riley and Miss Roberta Maille, both of Londonderry, N.H.; two sons, Claude (Chick) Maille and david Maille of Lowell; two brothers, Robert Moran of Dracut and Paul Farley of Ayer; a sister, Mrs. Irene Sheehan of Pelham; 11 grandchildren; a great-grandson; also several nieces and nephews. She was also the mother of Gaile Robillard who died Nov. 5, 1982.

Published in the Lowell Sun on 23 Aug. 1987, pg. unknown.
Since the obituary doesn't specifically mention the date of death, it is to be noted that she died 21 Aug. 1987.

The Obituary of Emile J. Maille, Dracut, Massachusetts 2008

Catching up on obituaries today..

Emilie J. Maille
owned Lowell service station, WWII vet; 87
DRACUT---Emile J. Maille, died peacefully at his home on Thursday, July 3, 2008, with his wife, Theresa (Normandin) and his son, Russel at his side.
He was born in Lowell, on August 5, 1920, a son of the late Cuthbert and Rose (Therrien) Maille.
Emile owned and operated Maille's Gulf Service Station on Riverside Street in Lowell for nearly 40 years.
He was a member of St. Francis Parish in Dracut, and served as an usher.
He served with the United States Army during World War II, stationed in Tyler Texas, as a sergeant with the military police. Emile was highlighted in a Texas newspaper for riding his motorcycle in winter 1900 miles to Massachusetts for family leave.
Emile had a lifeling interest in automobile racing, and as a young man in the 1940s, he raced midget racers on local New England tracks. He often attended the Indianapolis 500 Memorial Day race, and in later years watched it faithfully with family members at yearly celebrations.
In the more than 20 years, Emile has enjoyed his retirement, he and Theresa have have traveled, gardened extensively at their home, relished Theresa's home cooking, and enjoyed get-togethers and celebrations with their growing family.
Besides Theresa, his beloved wife of 61 years, Emile leaves behind and large family of seven children; 14 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren. His children include two daughters and five sons, Linda Matte and spouse, C. Richard of Pelham, NH, Donna Franz and spouse, William of Windham, NH, Richard and Priscilla (Spanos) Maille of Tyngsboro, John and Christine (Orleans) Maille of Merrimack, NH, Thomas and Melissa (Hamilton) Maille and Russell Maille, all of Dunbarton, NH, and Kevin and Jerrilee (Nickerson) Maille of Raymond, NH. He also leaves a sister, Priscilla England of Dracut.
His family will miss him dearly.
MAILLE---Emile J., age 87 Relatives and friends may call the McKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME, 327 Hildreth Street, from 4 until 8 P.M. on Monday. His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday morning at 9 A.M. in St. Francis Church, Wheeler Road, Dracut. Burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. For directions or condoleneces please visit www.mckennaouellette.com

Published in the Lowell Sunday Sun 6 July 2008, pg. 19

The Obituary of Victoria Simoneau nee Ferron, 1990, Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Published 16 Dec 1990, pg. 57 in The Lowell Sun

SIMONEAU - Died December 13. Mrs. Victoria F. (Ferron) Simoneau, formerly of Dutton and Cosgrove Streets, Lowell. Friends may call at Dracut Funeral Home 2159 Lakeview Avenue, DRACUT Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Her funeral will take place Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock from the funeral home, followed by her funeral mass to be celebrated at 10 o'clock in Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, Smith St., Lowell. Burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of the donor's choice.


Victoria F. Simoneau
...owned rooming house
Victoria F. (Farron) Simoneau, formerly of Dutton and Cosgrove streets, Lowell died Thursday at the Northwood Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late Alfred Simoneau.

She was born in Canada, daughter of the late Claude and Georgianna(Roboulin) Ferron. For more than 30 years Mrs. Simoneau, the first owner of the former Black North Inn on Broadway Road in Dracut, ran a mill-worker rooming house on the Dutton Street Front Row. She also managed Friend's Day-Old Bakery on Cabot Street, where bread was purchased at two and three cents a loaf during the Depression years.

She was a communicant of Notre Dame de Lourdes Church and was a member of the parish's Ladies Sodality. She was also active in St. Anne's Sodality at Notre Dame and Cercle Jeanne Mance. Surviving her are a grandchild, Alan Reedy of Lowell, a stepson, Roland Joseph Simoneau of Lowell and many nieces and nephews.

I am going to look into the history of The Black North Inn. The Village Inn is now what used to be The Black North Inn. I have been told that there was a picture of Victoria Simoneau that hung in the entry way of the Village Inn in Dracut. I would like to see that.

Here is a picture of me and my great Aunt Victoria during the summer of 1968. This picture was taken in the backyard of my grandfather, Paul Maille's house at 163 Meadowcroft St. Lowell, MA. I am sitting on Victoria's lap. My father identified this picture for me. He said he believes the woman on the right might be Paul Maille's mother, Rose Therrien, but he is not sure. He also did not know who the woman on the left is. I believe she may be Victoria's sister Blanche.

Update-24 Apr 2008- Paul Farley (Peter, Yvonne Ferron) and Robert Moran (John, Yvonne Ferron) have further identified this picture. Left to right..Blanche Ferron, Victoria Ferron and Yvonne Ferron. Taken abt. spring/summer 1968 at 163 Meadowcroft St., Lowell, MA

The Obituary of Cuthbert Maille, 1946, Dracut, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Published 18 Dec 1946 The Lowell Sun pg. 3

CUTHBERT MAILLE
Cuthbert Maille, husband of Rose Therrien Maille and a well known resident of Dracut, making his home in Wheeler Road, died early yesterday evening at St. Joseph's hospital after a short illness, aged 54 years. He was the son of the late Joseph Adam and Marie (Prudhomme) Maille and had for many years devoted his time to farming. At the time of his death he was employed by the Nashua Beef company. Besides his wife he is survived by four sons, Leo, Gerard and Emile of Dracut, and Paul of North Chelmsford; two daughters, Mrs. William Longridge of Coventry R. I. and Mrs Ernest England of Lowell; a brother Ludger Maille of Dracut; a sister Rev. Sister St. Jean d'Avila of the Grey Nuns of the Cross at St. Joseph's girls school, Lowell; eight grandchildren and his mother-in-law Mrs. Marie Therrien

MAILLE
Died in this city, Dec 17, at St. Joseph's hospital, Cuthbert Maille, husband of Rose Therrien Maille of 60 Wheeler Rd. Dracut, aged 54 years. Friends are invited to call at the Archambault Funeral Home, 311 Pawtucket St., Funeral Friday morning at 10 o'clock in St. Louis de France church, a solemn high mass of requiem wil be celebrated, and burial will take place in St. Joseph's cemetery. Funeral Directors Amdee Archambault & Sons in charge.