L'Etoile Tuesday: L'avis Deces Mon Arriere Grand-Mere Mme. Philomene Robillard nee Foucher

Publie dans L'Etoile, Lowell, MA, 4 mars, 1941

DECES
ROBILLARD-- Mme. Philomene Robillard, nee Foucher, citoyenne de cette ville depuis cinquante ans. est decedee hier apres-midi au domicile de sa fille Mme. Fabiola Fournier, 547, rue Moody, a l'age de 71 ans et deux mois, a la suite d'une maladie de plusieurs mois de duree.
Feu Mme. Robillard etait paroissienne de St-Jean Baptiste et etait bien connu dans la paroisse. Elle etait membre de la fraternite du Tiers-Ordre de saint Francois et la congregation des Dames de Ste-Anne. Elle etait aussi membre fondateur de l'Auxilliaire de la Legion franco-americaine.
La defuncte laisse pour pleurer deux filles, Mme Fabiola Fournier et Mme Anita Patenaude, toutes deux de Lowell; trois fils, Rosario Robillard, de North Grosvenordale, Conn; Joseph H. Robillard de Manchester, N. H., et Antonio Robillard de Lowell; un soeur, Mme Rose Robillard de Grosvenordale, Conn. et un frere Theophile Foucher de Fort Benton, et trois arriere-petits-enfants, ansi que plusieurs nieces et neveux.
La depouille mortelle repose en chapelle ardente a la maison funeraire 744, rue Merrimack. C'est de cet endroit que les funerailles auront lieu samedi matin a 9 heures. Un service solennel sera celebre a 10 heures en l'eglise St-Jean Baptiste. Parents et amis sont pries d'y assister. L'inhumation se fera dans le lopin de terre de la famille au cimetiere St-Joseph. Les arrangements funeraires ont ete confies aux ordonnateurs d'enterrement Joseph E. Tremblay.

My translation:

DEATHS
Mrs Philomene Robillard nee Foucher, a citizen of this city for fifty years, died yesterday after noon at the home of her daughter Mrs. Fabiola Fournier, 547, Moody st., at the age of 71 years and two months, following an illness of several months duration.
The late Mrs. Robillard was a parishioner of St-Jean Baptiste and was well known in the parish. She was a member of the fraternity of the Third Order of St. Francis and the congregation of the Sisters of St. Anne. She was also a founding member of the Auxiliary of the La Legion Franco-Americaine.
The deceased leaves to mourn two daughters, Mrs. Fabiola Fournier and Mrs. Anita Patenaude, both of Lowell; three son, Rosario Robillard of North Grosvenordale, Conn., Joseph H. Robillard of Manchester, N. H., and Antonio Robillard of Lowell; a sister, Mrs. Rose Robillard Grosvenordale, Conn.. and a brother Theophile Foucher of Fort Benton, and three great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
The mortal remains are lying in repose at the funeral home 744, Merrimack Street. It is here that the funeral will be held Saturday morning at 9 o'clock. A solemn service will be celebrated at 10 o'clock in the St-Jean Baptiste church.. Family and friends are requested to attend. Interment will be in the family plot at Cimetiere St-Joseph. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to undertakers Joseph E. Tremblay.

L'Etoile Tuesday: Dans le New Hampshire - Deux Lowellois se noient dans riviere Oyster

L'Etoile, once a very popular Franco-American newspaper, was published in Lowell, MA from 1886 up until 1957, it's available for viewing on microfilm at several repositories in the area, including the Pollard Memorial Library in downtown Lowell. And, as you may very well know, back in May I started my own lil blogging meme, entitled L'Etoile Tuesday. The plan was to pick one article of interest each week from L'Etoile and from there I would transcribe, translate, and then publish it here at my blog. So far I've only managed to publish three articles... Anyway, the article below was not just some randomly picked article. After having found the grave of both the men mentioned in it, I went searching for death notices and this is what I found.

Cyprian Chrisman et Theodule Chouinard, son gendre, tous deux de Lowell se sont noyes dimanche, dans la riviere Oyster, pres de la briqueterie de King, a Durham Point, N. H. On a reconnu les cadavres de suite. Ils etaient a bord d'une barge remplie de briques qui s'est mise a couler.
Les deux noyes on saute a l'eau et ont peri dans les flots La femme de Couinard qui etait dans la barge voulut persuader son mari et son pere de ne pas sauter dans la riviere. Elle avait raison, car au dernier moment elle s'est sauvee elle, en sautan dans une petite embarcation.
Chrisman et Couinard allaient travailler aux briqueteries tous les etes. L'hiver ils revenant a Lowrll et travaillaient dans les filatures.
Pendant leur sejour en cette ville, ils demeuraient au No 9 Bay State Court.
Les depouilles mortelles de ces infortunes sont arrivees en ville a 11 h. 30. M. Joseph Albert, entrepreneur de pompes funebres, a de charge des funerailles.Chrisman avait 65 ans. Son gendre, Couinard, n'etait age que de 21 ans. Il s'est marie a Lowell, il v. un an environ.
Les corps sont expose a la residence des defuncts, 9 Bay State Court.
Les funerailles auront lieu demain a l'eglise St. Joseph.

Published on pg. 1 in L'Etoile, Lowell, MA, 20 Aout, 1901

Cyprian Chrisman and Theodule Chouinard, his son in law, both of Lowell drowned Sunday in the Oyster River, near the King brickyard, in Durham Point, N. H. Where the corpses were identified. They were aboard a barge full of bricks when it began to sink. Both men jumped into the water and perished in the waves.
Chouinard's wife, who was on the barge, tried to persuade her husband and her father not to jump into the river. She was right, because at the last moment she saved herself by jumping into a small boat.
Chrisman and Chouinard would work in the brickyards every summer. In winter they returned to Lowell and worked in the mills.
While in this city, they lived at No. 9 Bay State Court.
The remains of these unfortunates arrived in town at 11:30. Joseph Albert, funeral director, is in charge of the funeral.
Chrisman was 65. His son in law, Chouinard, he was only 21. He married in Lowell, about a year ago.
The bodies are laid out at the residence of the deceased, 9 Bay State Court.
The funeral will take place tomorrow morning at St. Joseph church.

L'Etoile Tuesday: Les Avis de Deces de Mon Arriere-Grand-Pere, Joseph-Arthur Robillard

L'Etoile, once a very popular Franco-American newspaper, was published in Lowell, MA from 1886 up until 1957,  it's available for viewing on microfilm at several repositories in the area, including the Pollard Memorial Library in downtown Lowell.

Publie samedi, 30 janvier, 1937 dans L'Etoile, Lowell, Massachusetts, Etats Unis.

DECES
---------
ROBILLARD --Nous sommes au regret d'announcer le deces ce matin de l'um de nos vieux concitoyens, M. Joseph-Arthur Robillard, a sa demeure au no 90 rue Aiken appartiement 9, apres un longue maladie suportee avec une patience exemplaire, a l'age de 69 ans, 3 mois et 19 jour. M Robillard, qui demeurait en cette ville depuis 50 ans, etait tres bien connuet estime  de tous. Il laisse dans le deuil son epouse, Mme Philomene Robillard, nee Foucher; deux filles, Mme. Leo Patenaude et Mme Francois Fournier de cette ville; trois fils, MM Rosario et Heria Robillard de Central Falls R.I. et M. Antonio Robillard de Lowell; et un frere, M. Jerome Robillard de Cohoes, N. Y. Il etait membre de la Ste-Famille de la paroisse St-Joseph et des Forestiers Catholique, Cour Ste-Antoine, no 566. Les funerailles auront lien mardi matin a 8 heures de la demeure mortuaire au no 90 rue Aiken appartement 39. A 9 heures a l'eglise St-Jean-Baptiste son service solemnel sera celebre avec diacre, sous-diacre et choeur de chant. Parents et amis sont pres d'y assister. l'inhummation aura lieu dans le lot de la famille au cimetiere St-Joseph. MM Amdee Archambault et Fils on la direction des funerailles.

My translation:

DEATHS
---------
ROBILLARD - We regret  to announce, this morning, the death of one of our older citizens, Mr. Joseph-Arthur Robillard, at his residence no. 90 Aiken Street apartment 9, after a long illness, endured with exemplary patience, at the age of 69 years, 3 months and 19 days. Mr. Robillard, who lived in this town for 50 years, was well known, and held in high esteem by all. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Philomene Robillard, nee Foucher; two daughters, Mrs. Leo Patenaude and Mrs. Francois Fournier of this city; three sons, Mr. Rosario Robillard, and Heria Robillard of Central Falls R. I., and Mr. Antonio Robillard of Lowell; and a brother, Mr. Jerome Robillard of Cohoes, N. Y. He was a member of Ste-Famille of St-Joseph Parish and the Catholic Foresters, Court of St. Antoine, No. 566. The funeral will be Tuesday morning at 8 o'clock in the funeral home at no. 90 Aiken Street apartment 39. At 9 o'clock at St-Jean-Baptiste, a service will be celebrated with solemn deacon, subdeacon, and choir singing. Family and friends are requested to attend. Interment will take place in the family lot at Cimetiere St-Joseph. Funeral under the direction of Mr. Amdee Archambault and Son.

L'Etoile Tuesday: Les Avis de Décès pour Francois-Xavier Savard

I've decided to start my own little blogging meme for Tuedays. Calling it L'Etoile Tuesday, the plan is to take one article each week from L'Etoile, transcribe it, and then translate. L'Etoile, a very popular Franco-American newspaper, was published in Lowell, MA from 1886 up until 1957. It's available on microfilm at several repositories in the area, including the Pollard Memorial Library in downtown Lowell

So... this week, because I transcribed and posted his Petition for Naturalization yesterday,  I have chosen the death notice for Francois-Xavier Savard, my youngest daughter's paternal third great-grandfather, which was published in the October 26, 1916 edition of L'Etoile.

As far as I can tell, at the time, L'Etoile listed death notices according to which undertaker was handling the arrangements, hence the heading below.

JOS. ALBERT & FILS

SAVARD -- Francois-Xavier Savard, est decede ce matin a sa demeure No 711 Lakeview Ave., a l'age de 61 ans. Il laisse dans le deuil 3 fils, Arthur, Oliver et Edouard Savard; 2 filles Mmes Corrine Grondin et Clorida Tremblay des freres et des soeurs au Canada. Le defunt appartenait au Tiers-Ordre et a l'Association Funeraire. Le service aura lieu samedi matin a 8 heurs, en l'eglise St-Louis de France avec diacre sous diacre et choeur de chant. Parents et amis sont pres d'y assister.

My translation:

JOS. ALBERT & SONS

SAVARD - Francois-Xavier Savard, died this morning at his residence No. 711 Lakeview Ave., at the age of 61. He is survived by three sons, Arthur, Oliver and Edward Savard; 2 daughters Mrs. Corrine Grondin and Mrs.Clorida Tremblay brothers and sisters in Canada. The deceased belonged to the Third Order and the Funeral Association. The service will be held Saturday morning at 8 o'clock in the church of St. Louis de France with sub deacon deacon and choir singing. Relatives and friends are welcome to attend.

One thing to note about this death notice is the mention of Frank's membership to the Funeral Association. That little reference is very interesting.. Verrry interesting, indeed. Because on page 80 of  Felix Albert's autobiography an Immigrant Odyssey: A French-Canadian Habitant in New England, Felix, father of Joseph Albert the Lowell undertaker, refers to Frank as his clerk. And, in a small 1892 Lowell Sun article, which tells us of Frank's mother's death in Point-aux-Trembles, Frank is referred to as being Felix's foreman. Was Felix Albert an undertaker as well? I think he made caskets, but I didn't take too many notes when I read the book, so I'm not sure. Needless to say, I need to revisit that book again. Also, what about the 1909 Lowell Directory that states that Frank was insurance agent at 13 Merrimack Square. Now, I'm wondering what type of  insurance he sold, and for who, was he in business for himself?? I need to go to the library and go through all of the pertinent directories to see if I can obtain any more details. One more thing, there was no mention about Frank's membership to the Funeral Association in the death notice that was published in The Sun. Which just goes to show you how invaluable a source L'Eoile is for anybody researching their Franco-American connection in Lowell.

L'Etoile, 1886 - 1957, Lowell, Massachusetts

Today I am working on extracting and translating a few obituaries that I think were published in the Franco-American newspaper L'Etoile.  The word étoile, in French, means star. From the personal collection of Susan Johnson nee Mayotte, the obituaries  I have are .jpg copies of  originals that were clipped out of a newspaper. The text is all in French, so I'm only guessing that they were published in L'Etoile. However, the years of death (1934 & 1938) for the persons the obituaries were written for fit the dates of publication  for this newspaper (1886 to 1957). Also, I believe it may have been the only French newspaper published in Lowell at the time these obituaries went to print. So the likelihood that they were published in L'Etoile, in my opinion, is high. 

L'Etoile is available on microfilm at the Boston Public Library. Also, the Library of Congress states that the Institute Canada-American Bibliotheque in Manchester, NH, has copies of the original newspapers. Where is this Institute Canada-American Bibliotheque? Do they mean the ACGS? I'll have to look into this as Manchester is certainly closer to me then Boston.

Update: After a bit of  research  I am led to believe that L'Institute Canada-American is now called the Association Canado-Americiane. The ACA is a Franco-American fraternal benefit society and, according to their website, they are located at 52 Concord Street in a historic building in downtown Manchester, NH. The ACA shares the building with The Franco-American Centre and I think it is here that I will find those original copies of L'Etoile. I'm going to call them in the morning to confirm this information. Also, I do believe I will be able to find copies of L'Etoile at the Center for Lowell History, located at 40 French St. in downtown Lowell. I have submitted a query asking them if the collection is complete and if the copies are originals or on microfilm, as I would really prefer to view original copies over microfilm.