Wednesday's Walk: St. Patrick Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts

Yesterday, upon finding my great-great grandmother, Rose Ann Moran nee Kelley's obituary and funeral write up at the Pollard Memorial Library, I decided to go to St. Patrick cemetery to find her grave.

St. Patrick Cemetery is located at 1251 Gorham St., in Lowell. Established in 1832, it is Lowell's first Catholic cemetery.

According to her marriage record, Rose Moran nee Kelley was born abt 1873 in England. A daughter of Patrick and Rose, she was married to Michael Morran [sic] on 11 April, 1895 in Lowell, MA, by a Jms. J. Dacey [Mass Archives - Morran Michael, Lowell, 1895, 452, 212 Marriage]. Rose and Michael had six known children, Arthur, John, Robert, Francis, Rose and Della. After her husband Michael dies in 1906 [Mass Archives - Moran Michael, Lowell, 1906, 56, 278, Death], Rose is listed in the 1907 Lowell Directory as Rose A widow of Michael 32 Cross. Rose remained in the Acre through out her life. Moving around quite a few times, in 1950 she is listed in the directory as living at 14 Dutton. However, her 1951 obituary write up her residence is noted as being at 125 Mt. Vernon Street. I can only surmise that she moved to Mt. Vernon St. to be with her son, Francis Moran, and his family at the time. Perhaps she moved in with him because she was sick, as the obituary then goes on to state that she died at the Delaney Nursing Home.

Published on Thursday, 20 Dec., 1951, page 3, her obituary reads:

MRS ROSE A. MORAN
Mrs. Rose Ann (Kelly) Moran, widow of Michael Moran and a well known resident of this city, making her home at 125 Mt. Vernon street, died last evening at the Delaney Nursing home after a lingering illness.  She was born in England, the daughter of the late Patrick and the late Rose (Dacey) Kelly, but early in life came to this city. She was an attendant of St. Patrick's church. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Francis J. Boyle and Miss Frances Moran of Chicago, Ill; four sons, Arthur P. Moran of Westford, John Moran of Brooklyn N. Y., Robert M. Moran and Francis A. Moran of this city; many grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

According to cemetery records, Rose A Moran, age 72, was buried on 21, Dec., 1951 in section R, lot 16.  Section R is right behind the chapel on the right, her grave was easy to find. Buried with her daughter, Rose E. Boyle nee Moran, and her daughter's husband, Francis J. 'Phinney' Boyle, as well as with her grandson, Francis J. Jr. There is a flat marker at the grave, but Rose's name does not appear on it..

Moran, Rose, A., 72, 12/21/51 19, 2
Boyle, Rose, E. 77, 02/27/73, 19, 2A
Boyle, Francis, J.,  80, 12/11/73, 19, 1
Boyle Francis, J., 84, 10/12/05 (Francis J. Jr.), 20, 1A

After finding Rose's grave, I decided to go see if I could find her husband, Michael Moran's grave. According to the cemetery records Michael Marin [sic] was buried on 17 Dec., 1906  in yard 3, range 41, lot 38. I could not locate the grave because there's still snow in the section where I believe it to be. Michael is buried with a Mary J. McHugh, Thomas, McHugh, Thomas Carmody, Margaret Carmody, and two other Mary J. McHughs.

McHugh, Mary J., 0, 08/07/96, 18
McHugh, Thomas, 0, 04/05/98, 18
Marin, Michael, 39, 12/17/1906, 19
Carmody, Thomas, 72, 11/04/1915, 19
Carmody, Margaret, 64, 10/16/1916, 19
McHugh, Mary J., 64, 6/25/1930, 19 1A
McHugh, Mary J., 64, 01/27, 1940, 1A

Sentimental Sunday (on Monday): A Walking Tour of the Acre

Continuing in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day and Lowell's Irish Cultural Week,  this week, for Sentimental Sunday, I have chosen to share a few photographs I took the other day while on a walk through Lowell's Acre neighborhood. Hosted by David McKean, David is the local Historian/Archivist for St. Patrick's Church, which is located in the Acre.

Our first stop along the way was at "The Worker" sculpture. Located at the corner of Shattuck and Market Streets, this sculpture was created in 1985, by brothers Ivan and Elliot Schwartz. Also known as the Hugh Cummiskey sculpture, Hugh Cummiskey was an Irish immigrant born in county Tyrone. He came to this place, which was to be Lowell, from Charlestown, Massachusetts by invitation from Kirk Boot. In 1822, Hugh, with his gang of 30 Irish laborers, walked all the way here to help widen the canal system.

In an "Irish Catholic Genesis of Lowell" by George F. O'Dwyer, it is written that Hugh Cummiskey died in the Acre, at his home on Adams Street on 12 Dec., 1871. It also goes on to say that there was a write up about Hugh's life published in the "Courier" on 14 Dec., 1871. I have searched the Dec., 1871 (4 pages available at archive.org) edition of the "Courier' and have yet to find it, but it is quoted in an Irish Catholic Genesis of Lowell, so you can read it there..

During the walk we stopped at Cummiskey Alley. Named after Hugh, I am assuming, here's a listing of those who lived at Cummiskey Alley in 1859.

Mrs. Margaret Delmore, widow, house 5 Cummiskey's alley
Mrs. Catharine Flynn,., house 5 Cummiskey's alley
Timothy Holland, laborer, house 3 Cummiskey's alley
Catharine Mahar, house 4 Cummiskey's alley
William Moran, laborer, house 2 Cummiskey's alley
James Reynolds, (Cal.), house 1 Cummiskey's alley

Michael Roach, laborer, house 1 Cummiskey's alley
Francis Rourke, Boott, house 4 Cummiskey's alley

While in the parking lot next to Cummiskey Alley we were standing alongside an old building, which, thanks to Google and Brian, I found out used to house The Cosmopolitian Cafe.  David didn't come right out and tell us what this building once was, all he said is that it was a bar at one time. So when I got home, I asked my "nice Acre boy", Brian. "The Cosmo" (as he called it), used to be a pretty rough place at one time. He compared it to the bar in the movie Star Wars. He said if you wanted to get into a fight, "The Cosmo" was the place to go. Ha ha... Also, I guess... this is the place where Micky Ward got his hands smashed by the cops back in the 80s. Anyway, according Mr. McKean, this building, with it's granite sills and lintels, is representative of the some of the buildings that were present in the "Irish Acre."

On to St. Patrick's Church, this is the church  where my maternal grandmother, Rita Maille nee Moran, was married in 1940. Actually, she was married at the rectory. She also attended St. Patrick's School for Girls. On May 27th, 1940 an article appeared in the Lowell Sun detailing her wedding. It reads:

Lowell-- A pretty marriage was solemnized yesterday afternoon at St. Patrick's parish rectory by Rev. Edwin F. Carney, assistant pastor, when Miss Rita Moran, daughter of Mr and Mrs. Peter Farley [sic], 2 Dutton street, and Mr. Paul Maille, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cuthbert Maille, Wheeler road, Dracut, were united in  marriage in the presence of many friends and relatives. Miss Irene Moran, sister of the bride, and Mr. Emile Maille, brother of the bride-groom, were the attendants.
The bride was attired in a gown of white silk taffeta Queen Anne style, with matching accessories. She wore an illusion veil and carried a Bouquet of white bridal roses, sweet peas and lilies of the valley. Her attendant was attired in pink taffeta with blue accessories and carried an old fashioned bouquet.
After the ceremony, a wedding dinner was served at the home of the bride's parents with Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Simoneau, uncle and aunt of the bride, serving as hosts. A reception followed after which Mr. and Mrs. Maille left for a visit to the World's fair. On returning, they will reside in Hudson, N. H., where Mr. Maille holds and important position with the nationally known Jasper Poultry Farms.

Surname Saturday: Moran

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day and Lowell's Irish Cultural Week I am featuring my ancestor, Michael Moran, for the GeneaBlogger's blogging prompt Surname Saturday.

Irish Cultural Week started on March 5th here in Lowell and ends on St. Patricks day. For more details you can see the calendar of events on the Irish Cultural Committee's Facebook page.

One of the events I attended as a part of Irish Cultural week was on Thursday night. I attended the the Archeological Dig Presentation held at the O'Leary Library at UMass Lowell's South campus. The presentation was lead by Dr. Colm Donnelly of Queens University in Belfast, Ireland, Dr. Frank Talty of UMass Lowell, and David McKean, Parish Historian and Archivist for St. Patrick's Church here in Lowell.. The presentation detailed the events surrounding a 4 week excavation project that took place on the front lawn of St. Patrick's Church last summer. Producing over 1300 artifacts, among those on display were: a set of iron nails; a small section of rosary beads; a few children's marbles, made of clay; cattle bones; a clay tobacco pipe bowl; some slag/clinker, and some oyster shells.  I didn't take any pictures of these artifacts, but Richard Howe did and he has posted a picture of them at his blog-post entitled "Archeological Dig Presentation."

I found Thursday night's presentation to be very interesting, as I am not all that knowledgeable when it comes to Lowell's Irish history. I learned about Hugh Cummiskey and his gang of Irish laborers who walked from Charlestown to Lowell to work on the canals. The Sisters of Notre Dame, who came to Lowell in 1852 from Cincinnati to teach at St. Patrick's School for Girls. The Know-Nothing Movement, a political group which was anti-immigration and anti-Catholic, and about the Smelling Committees, a group of men formed to sniff out, if you will, the alleged abuse that was going on in within the Catholic schools and convents. All in all, the presentation gave me a better understanding in regard to lives of the Irish immigrants that settled in Lowell during the early part of the 19th century, I really enjoyed it.

In my family tree I only have one ancestor, a maternal great-great-grandfather, whose parents came from Ireland or perhaps he was born there himself. I have yet to prove anything either way.  This ancestor, Michael Moran,  is first located (in my genealogical research anyway) in Lowell on 11 April, 1895, when he married a Rose Ann Kelley. Documented as being the son of John and Bridget he was born abt. 1867 in England.

The reason that I firmly believe this Michael Moran to be my great-great-grandfather is the Vermont marriage record I found for Michael's son, my great-grandfather, John. John Moran, son of Michael and Rose Kelley, married Yvonne Ferron 3 March, 1918 in the town of Rockingham Vermont. My Ferron line has already been researched and proven so I believe, short of a birth record, this record confirms John's parentage.

 The next bit of information I have finds who I believe is my Michael Moran in the town of Newmarket, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Enumerated on the 9th day of June 1900, he is the head of his family. A white male, who is 33 years old. He is documented as being born in March 1867 in Ireland, as are both his parents. He has been married for 7 years. What is most interesting to me here, is the fact that this census documents him as immigrating to the United States in 1888 and that he is naturalized.I've looked for an index card for petition but haven't found one that matches up with the birth information that is given.

Anyway, also in this 1900 enumeration of Newmarket, NH is Michael's wife, 'Rosa'. His daughter Rosa, and sons John and Robert. What throws me off here is that daughter Rose is documented as being born in Nov., 1894 (they were married in 1895?). However, if I do a search at familysearch.org. I find reference to a Rose Moran that was born on 16, Nov., 1895 to a Michael and Rose Kelly, but this information doesn't state at which place the birth supposedly occurred. Also there is a John Moran, who died in Lowell on 3 July 1894 at the age of 3 months old, a son of Michael and Rose Kelley. So all of this isn't coming together as smoothly as I had hoped... I have more thoughts to share in regard to this 1900 census and the records that confirm and contradict the information contained within, but I think I'll skip to the next record that have for who I believe is my g-g-grandfather, Michael Moran.

My newest piece of information in regard to my research of Michael Moran is a Return of Death from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, City of Lowell. This record is for a Michael Moran who died on 15 Dec., 1906 at 32 Cross street, in the rear. I believe this address to be his home address. He was 39 years old, born in England, his father is unknown but his mother is documented as being Bridget Higgins (note the name of his mother from the 1895 marriage info) also born in England. It is documented that he is single, but yet if we look at who the informant was it states, "Wife." Buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery on 17 Dec., 1906.

I have yet to go out to the cemetery to see what information they hold for me there. The reason I believe this is my Michael is a 1910 census from Lowell which documents a Rose Moran living on Cross street...  Enumerated along with the widowed Rose are her children, Arthur, Rose, John, Robert, Francis and Della. It all seems a little weak right now, I know.. There is lots more to the story that I haven't covered here and more research to be had, but you get the jist of it. The purpose of posting all of this is the hope that maybe one of Michael's descendants will see this and contact me. It's cousin bait, if you will. So until next time.

Right now I am going to go get ready to go on a walking tour of the Acre neighborhood in Lowell. Hosted by David McKean, it should be a good, as I found him to be a most enjoyable speaker on Thursday night.

Mystery Monday: Mr. & Mrs. Paul E. Maille's Mystery Vacation - Solved

***Mystery Solved! Thanks to the great detective work of my fb friend and fellow genealogist, Albert Riezebos, the statue in the picture below is believed to be that of Saint Brother Andre Bessette, located at L'Oratoire Saint Joseph du Mont-Royal, Quebec (St-Joseph's Oratory of Montreal). Please read my original post below.***

Mystery Monday is a daily blogging prompt from GeneaBloggers - the genealogy community's resource for blogging.

I am posting this picture of my maternal grandparents, Paul E. Maille and Rita G. Moran, for this week's Mystery Monday in hopes that somebody will recognize the place in which the photograph was taken.

If you look closely, you will see that my grandfather is holding a home movie camera. This is why I am assuming that they were on vacation. I am also assuming that is was taken in a church yard somewhere, or perhaps a cemetery. Although I don't really believe the latter to be the case. The photograph, which you can plainly see, is severely damaged. This is the condition in which I found it. It was taped to the inside of my mother's scrapbook along with many other unidentified photos.  If you recognize this place, or have first hand knowledge of when and where this photograph was taken I would appreciate it if you could please leave a comment or contact me personally at callmeshell at gmail dot com...

Tombstone Tuesday: Pauline Gail Robillard nee Maille, Cimetière Saint-Joseph, Chelmsford, Massachusetts

 This headstone should have been posted long ago..

 Buried with her mother, Rita G. Moran; her father, Paul E. Maille and her maternal grandmother, Marie Yvonne Ferron. My mother was the first to be buried in this plot, her inscription should read Pauline G. (Maille) Robillard or even Pauline G. Robillard nee Maille. Sadly, lots of disagreement plagued the events leading up to and following the death of my mother in 1982.

Surname Saturday: Ferron

Clicking the surname link will take you to the search results for that surname.

1. Me

2. My mother, Pauline Gail Maille

3. My maternal grandmother, Rita G.Moran, b. 23 April, 1922, Lowell, MA, m. Paul E. Maille, 26 May, 1940, St. Patrick's church, Lowell, MA, d. 21 Aug., 1987, St. John's hospital, Lowell, MA

4. Her mother, Yvonne Ferron, b. 16 Jan., 1902, Lowell, MA. m. John Moran, 3 Mar., 1918, Windham, Vermont, d. 22 Jan., 1983, Lowell, MA

5. Her father, Claude Benjiman Ferron, b. 20 Oct., 1844, St-Aime, Massueville, Richelieu, Quebec, m2. Geogianna Rabouin, 22 Aug., 1876, St-Paulin, Maskinonge, Quebec, d. 6 Nov 1930, Lowell MA.

6. Joseph Ferron, b. 10 Feb., 1805, Ste-Anne-de-Yamichiche, St-Maurice, Quebec, m. Marie Ouellette, 11 Feb., 1833, St-Leon-le-Grande, Maskinonge, Quebec, d. the 24 December, 1888, St-Leon-le-Grande, Maskinonge, Quebec. I can not read the exact date of his burial, it looks like vingt six. However the record does state that he died 24 Dec., 1888 (decede le vingt-quatre du courant) please see the image below and click to enlarge.

7. Joseph Charles Ferron, baptised 27 May, 1778 St-Anne-de-Yamachiche, Maskinonge, Quebec, m Catherine Grenier 5 Nov., 1804, Ste-Anne-de-Yamachiche, Maskinonge, d. unknown.
Joseph Charles' exact date of birth on his baptismal record is not mentioned.

8. Jean-Baptiste Ferron, b. circa. 1718, St. Leon-de-La-Chapelle-Uree, Normandie, France, m2. Charlotte Pepin, 19 Feb., 1776, Ste-Anne-de-Yamachiche, Maskinonge, Quebec, d. 12 April, 1793, Yamachiche, buried Ste-Anne-de-Yamachiche 14 April, 1793.

Happy Mother's Day

My mother in 1960...

 Randy Seaver's SNGF:  

1) List your matrilineal line - your mother, her mother, etc. back to the first identifiable mother. Note: this line is how your mitochondrial DNA was passed to you!

2) Tell us if you have had your mitochondrial DNA tested, and if so, which Haplogroup you are in.

3) Post your responses on your own blog post, in Comments to this blog post, or in a Note or status line on Facebook.

My matrilineal line

1. Pauline Gail Maille (1944-1982)
m. Jerome Robillard

2. Rita G. Moran (1922-1987)
m. Paul E. Maille

3. Yvonne Ferron (1902-1983)
m. John Moran

4. Georgianna Rabouin (1856-1919)
m. Claude Benjman Ferron [Drouin]

5. Domithilde Guillmette (1832-1898)
m. Frederick Rabouin [Drouin]

6. Sophie Hubert (1807-1898)
m. Leandre Guillmette [Drouin]

7. Angelique Desrosiers (1774 -?)
m. Michel Hubert [Drouin]

8. Madeleine St-Louis dit Billy (1751-1830)
m. Joseph Desrosiers [PRDH]


I have not had my mtdna tested and I still have lots of work to do on this line. Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Tombstone Tuesday: Ferron/Simoneau, Cimetière Saint-Joseph, Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Sec. C., lot # unknown. I need to get a copy of the paper work for this plot. I took the top picture last Saturday and the bottom one the weekend before. Those are Gerbera daisies in the planters. My girls helped me plant them last weekend.

According to the headstone, buried here are Georgianna (Rabouin) Ferron and her husband Claude. Claude and his first wife, Celina Lamay's daughter, Celina Ferron. Claude and Georgianna's son, Joseph Edmond Ferron. Claude and Georgianna's grandson, a son of Yvonne Ferron and John Moran, John Moran. Alfred Simoneau, husband of Claude and Georgianna's daughter Victoria (Ferron) Simoneau, who is also buried here and Blanche Aldea (Ferron) Guilmette, wife of Alfred P. Guilmette, also a daughter of Claude and Georgianna. All of the obituaries for the people mentioned above, except for John Moran's, have been posted to my blog.

Sentimental Sunday: Miss Moran to Wed Paul Maille

Published in The Lowell Sun, Saturday May 11, 1940, pg. 5.

Bride-to-Be Is Guest at Shower

LOWELL -- Miss Rita Moran, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Farley, 2 Dutton street, was honored guest at a pre-nuptial testimonial held at her home Thursday night in anticipation of her marriage. On May 26 at St. Patrick's church, she is to become the bride of Mr. Paul Maille, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cuthbert Maille, Wheeler road, Dracut. Mr. Maille is a graduate of the Sacred Heart school in Nashua, N. H. He attended St. Louis de France school in this city and has an important position in the nationally known Jasper poultry farm. Miss Moran is a graduate of St. Patrick's girls school and attended Lowell High school, being a member of the Tri-Hi club.

Buffet Luncheon

At the testimonial a buffet luncheon was served by Mrs. Joseph Gagnon, Mrs. Blanche Guilmette, Mrs. V. Simoneau, Mrs. Peter Farley, Mrs. Leo Fortin, Mrs. Cuthbert Maille. The guest book was in charge of Mrs. Wallace Scobie. During the evening an entertainment was enjoyed. Those present were: The Misses Dorothy Sullivan, Rita Paquin, Virginia Gallagher, Dorothy Normandy, Rita Ferron, Beatrice Kraus, Rose McKinnon, Gertrude Therrien, Priscilla Maille, Kay Spillane, Eleanor Mack, Anne Martineau, Mary Demeres, Irene Lescard, Helen Lescard, Blanche Alberts, Teresa Gagnon, Rena Gagnon, Dorothy Methey, Germaine Clermont, Helen Stafford, Shirley Lounds, Alice Mahoney, Irene Courtois, Mrs. Emile Lussier, Mrs. James McCluskey, Mrs. James Hayes, Mrs. James Farley, Mrs. Leo Fortin, Mrs. Annette Robitaille, Mrs. Rose Belanger, Aleilia Rouleau, Mrs. Blanche Rouleau, Mrs. Oscar Martineau, Mrs. Emma Parent, Mrs. Worth McHomb, Mrs. Fred Simoneau, Mrs. Joseph Gagnon, Mrs. James Mckeon, Mrs. Mary Daly, Mrs. Ernest Blackburn, Mrs. Arthur Methey, Mrs. harold Wilkins, Mrs. Joseph Clermont, Mrs. Albert Daignault, Mrs. Alfred Therrien, Mrs. John Croteau, Mrs. Edward Fortin, Mrs. William Stafford, Mrs. Albert Simms, Mrs. Henry Ferron, Mrs. Cuthbert Maille, Mrs. Wilfred Courtemanche, Mrs. Ephrem Guilmette, Mrs. Joseph Hamel, Mrs. Eugene Gagnon, Mrs. Adelard Gagnon, Mrs. Wilfred Rondeau, Mrs. Elsie Lounds, Mrs. Leon Mahoney, Mrs. Jack Higgins, Mrs Ernest Lawrence and several others.

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 Pauline Robillard, Lowell, Massachusetts, 1982

Published in The Lowell Sun November 6th 1982, pg. 8.

Pauline Robillard
...of Derry, N.H.
Mrs. Pauline (Maille) Robillard, 38, wife of Jerome C. Robillard, a resident of Derry, N.H., died yesterday at Lowell General Hospital. Born in Lowell, she was a daughter of Paul and Rita (Moran) Maille. Besides her husband and parents, she is survived by a son, James D. Robillard, 7th grade student at the Hood school in Derry, N.H.; a daughter, Michelle R. Robillard, a freshman at the Pinkerton Academy, Derry, N.H.; two brothers, Claude Maille, and David Maille, both of Lowell; two sisters, Mrs. James (Patricia) Riley of Londonderry, N.H. and Miss Roberta Maille of Lowell; and several nieces and nephews.


ROBILLARD -- Died Nov. 5, Pauline (Maille) Robillard, aged 38, beloved wife of Jerome C. Robillard. Friends may call at the Leo J. Ouellette Funeral Home, 327 Hildreth St., from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10 o'clock at St. Francis Church in Kenwood. Burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery, East Chelmsford. Funeral Directors Leo J. Ouellette.

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 Joseph Neree 'Henry' Ferron, 1955, Dracut, Massachusetts

Published in The Lowell Sun 26 Feb 1955, pg. 3.

NEREE FERRON
Nerre Ferron, better known as Henry Ferron and husband of Rose-Anna Gauthier Ferron of 483 Nashua road, Dracut, died yesterday at his home. He was born in Canada, the son of Glaude and Anna Rabouin. Ferron removing here at an early age where he resided in Lowell primarily and for the past 42 years in Dracut. Surviving him is his wife; fours sons, Leo, Raymond, Arthur and John, of Dracut; three daughters, Mrs Henry Bartlett, Mrs. Albert Sims and Mrs Francis McCarthy of Dracut; a brother, Joseph Ferron of Lowell; four sisters, Mrs. Joseph Gagnon of Chelmsford, Mrs. Alfred Simoneau and Mrs. Robert Moran of Lowell, and Mrs. Blanche Guilmette of Tulsa Okla: 18 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

FERRON-Died in Dracut, Feb 25. Neree Ferron better known as Henry Ferron. Friends are invited to call at the Archambault funeral home, 311 Pawtucket street, from 7 to 10 pm today and on Sunday and Monday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 10 pm. Funeral Tuesday morning. At 10o'clock at Ste. Mary;s of the Assumption church, Dracut. A solemn high mass of requiem will be celebrated and burial will take place in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Funeral Directors Amedee Archambault & Son in charge.

Joseph Neree Ferron baptized on 26 April, 1891, né la veille at St-Paulin, Maskinongne to Claude Ferron and Georgiana Rabouin. Godparents: Edmond Grobouin & Lizie Germain (I am not sure the spelling of the godparent's names are correct, they are hard to decipher in the image)

(Drouin Gabriel, Institut Genealogique Drouin, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Le Fonds Drouin 1621-1967, Quebec vital records, 1891, St-Paulin, Co-Maskinonge, P.Q., B.40 Joseph Neree Ferron, Register Photocopy to the Greffe of Trois Rivieres)

The Obituary of Marie Aldea "Blanche" Guillmette nee Ferron, 1977, Lowell, Massachusetts

Published in The Lowell Sun 24 May 1977, pg. 22

Mrs. Blanche Gullmette
....widow
Lowell - Mrs. Blanche (Ferron) Guilmette of 33 Cosgrove St., wife of the late Arthur P. Guilmette, died last night at the Casa Grande Nursing Home in Tewksbury.
Born in St. Paulin, Canada, she was the daughter of the late Claude and the late Georgiana (Raboin) Ferron. At the time of her death she was retired, having been a proprietor of a lodging house on Dutton Street.
She was a communicant of Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, a member of the Ladies Sodality of her parish and a member of the Marguerite D'Youville Charity League of the Franco American School.
She is survived by one daughter; Mrs. Doris Cooper of Tulsa, Oklahoma and two sisters; Mrs Victoria Simoneau and Mrs. Yvonne Moran, both of Lowell.

I believe Blanche to be the same Marie Aldea Ferron baptised in St. Paulin Maskinonge on 7 Nov 1889 née la veille (born the previous day) to Claude Ferron and Georgiana Rabouin

(Fonds Drouin 1621-1967, 1889 St. Paulin Co-Maskinongne, PQ - B 64 Marie Aldea Ferron Register Photocopy to the Greffe of Trois Rivieres- Godparents: Joseph Rabouin & Rosalie Ferron).

I believe this to be true because in the 1930 census of 25 Dutton St. there is an Aldea Guillmette who is the head, age 40, married, 1st marriage at age 16, occupation is listed as Lodging House (although it states she is married in the census I do not see her husband documented in the census of her household). There is also a Doris Gillmette age 12 who is her daughter.

Also it is stated in the above obituary that, like her sister Victoria Simoneau nee Ferron, Blanche also ran a rooming house on the Dutton Street

Reference for the census of 25 Dutton St., Lowell Ma is (1930 U.S. Census) Massachusetts Series: T626 Roll: 921 pg. 142 ED 9-119 Ward 5 Line 13

The Obituary of Celina Ferron, 1942, Lowell, Massachusetts

Published in the Lowell Sun 5 March 1942

Deaths
CELINA FERRON
Miss Celina Ferron, a resident of Lowell for the past 45 years and an attendant of St. Joseph and St. Jean Baptiste churches in St. Joseph's parish died yesterday afternoon at the home of her sister, Mrs. Alfred Simoneau, 9 Dutton street, after along illness. She was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and the bread fund of the French-American orphanage.
Surviving her are five sisters, Mrs. Simoneau, Mrs. Blanche Guilmette and Mrs. Peter Farely of Lowell; Mrs. Joseph Gagnon of East Chelmsford and Mrs. Domonic Lavalle of of St. Paulin P. Q.; two brothers, Joseph Ferron of Lowell and Henry Ferron of Dracut; and several nieces and nephews. The body was removed to the Archambault funeral home 311 Pawtucket St.

Funeral Notice
FERRON---Died in this city March 4, Miss Celina Ferron at the home of her sister, Mrs. Alfred Simoneau, 9 Dutton street. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home, 311 Pawtucket street. Funeral will take place Saturday morning at 10 o'clock from the funeral home. At 11 o'clock at St. Jean Baptiste church, a solemn high mass will be celebrated. Burial in St. Joseph cemetery. Funeral directors Amdee Archambault & Son in charge.

Published 9 March 1942, The Lowell Sun

Funeral
MISS CELINA FERRON
The funeral of Miss Celina Ferron, one of the better known citizens of French extraction in this city who died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Alfred Simoneau, 9 Dutton street, after a long illness, took place Saturday morning. The cortege preceded by an open car filled with floral tributes, left the Archambault funeral home, 311 Pawtucket street, to arrive at St. Jean Baptiste church, where at 11 o'clock a solemn high funeral mass was celebrated by Rev. Jean Valliere, O. M. I., assisted by Rev. Eugene Fournier, O. M. I. as deacon and by Rev. Armand Morrissette, O. M. I., as sub-deacon. Present were many relatives, friends and neighbors. The church choir under the direction of Rudolphe E. Pepin, musical director, organist and choir master, sang the requiem mass by Pietro A Yon. The singers were Edward Coutu, Emile Lagasse, Arthur E. Paquin, Leo Cote and Wilfred Jacques.
A delegation representing the Third Order of St. Francis was composed of Miss Anna Mailhot, Miss Philomena Demers, Miss Marie Morrissette and Miss Diana Cote. Also present at the mass were the Grey Nuns of the Cross from Notre Dame de Lourdes parish. The bearers were Leo Ferron, Arthur Gagnon, Raymond Ferron, Paul Maille, Robert Moran and Maurice Simoneau, all nephews. Burial took place in the family lot in St. Joseph's cemetery were the committal prayers were read by Rev. Lucien Brassard, O. M. I. funeral Directors Amdee Archambault & Son were in charge of the arrangements.

It is to be noted that Celina died at the home of her sister, Victoria Simoneau. Victoria Simoneau nee Ferron was my Great-Aunt. She ran a boarding house at 9 Dutton St., for many years. The header on my blog is a picture of the south-east side of the Dutton St., front row in Lowell, Massachusetts before it was demolished.

The Obituary of Claude Ferron, 1930, Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts

FERRON---Claude Ferron died last night at the home of his daughter Miss Victoria Ferron, 9 Dutton Street aged 75 years. During the last 35 years he resided in Lowell and up to his retiremment 12 years ago he was the owner of a boarding house. His pleasant disposition and honesty gained him the admiration and esteem of all those with whom he came in contact. He leaves six daughters, Miss Celine Ferron, Miss Victoria Ferron, Mrs. Joseph Gagnon, Mrs Arthur Guilmette and Mrs. John Moran, all of Lowell, and Mrs Dominique Lavalle of St. Paulin, P. Q.; two sons, Joseph Ferron and Henry Ferron, both of Lowell and two brothers, Maxime Ferron of Joliette, P. Q., and Benjamin Ferron of St. Leon P. Q.; also 23 grandchildren. He was a member of the Holy Family Society.

Published in the Lowell Sun on 7 November 1930. I forgot to note the page number : S Below is the funeral announcement which was published 10 Nov. 1930 in the Lowell Sun. Again, I forgot to note the page number.

FERRON---The funeral of Claude Ferron took place this morning at 8 o'clock from the home of his daughter, Miss Victoria Ferron, 9 Dutton Street. Solemn funeral mass was celebrated at 9 o'clock at St. Jean Baptiste church by Rev. Arthur Lemire, OMI, assisted by Rev. Louis G. Blachand, OMI as deacon and Rev. Narcisse Cotnoir, OMI as sub-deacon. The choir under the direction of the organist, Mr. Rodolphe E. Pepin, sang Antonio Mauro's funeral mass, the solos being sustained by Mr. Rodolphe E. Pepin, Mr. Arthur Leveille, Mr. Elzear Cote, Mr. Edouard Coutu, Mrs. Maria Jacques and Miss Cecile Vincent. At the end of the mass the choir sang Menegali's "Jesu Salvator Mundi" A very large number attended the funeral and more were at the church in respect of deceases whom they held in high esteem. Among those from out of town were Mrs. Dominique Lavalle of St. Paul P. Q., Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mercier, Mr and Mrs Albert Duchaine of Shawinigan Falls P. Q., Mr and Mrs John Riley of Haverhill and Mr and Mrs. Alfred Cloutier of Hartford Conn. The Holy Family Society was represented by Messrs. Alphonse Ninteau, Joseph Cloutier, Amdee Jacob, Isidore Tetreault, Ernest Sauvageau and Pierre Dupuis. The bearers were Messrs. Oscar Lamie, Ernest Morin, Arthur Metty, Narcisse Asselin, Ephraim Guilmette and J. Tremblay. Burial was in the family lot in St. Joseph's cemetery were Rev. Lucien Brassard, OMI recited the committal prayers. Arrangements were in charge of Joseph E. Tremblay.

Benjamin Ferron, the brother of my Claude Ferron, was the grandfather of Jacques Ferron