ASSOCIATION DES DESCENDANTS DE LOUIS TETREAU

SUMMARY Les Tétreau disent...

• Our members from all V O L 2 2 , N O 2 OCTOBER 2020 generations tell their confinement stories

• Our members from all generations tell their confinement stories

• Our members from all generations tell their confinement stories 1995 — 2020 IN THIS ISSUE

A word from the 2 President 25 years already! DoSpecial feature - Firsthand accounts of 3 the Covid-19 pandemic

25 years of memories 22

Obituaries 24

Roland Tétreault has 25 left us

Death of Georges- Aimé Tétreault, an 26 artist at heart

What the ADLT has brought me - 27 and still brings me

Jérémie Tétreault and 30 Alfréda Jeannotte In 2015 many of us celebrated our 20th anniversary. We had de- Tetreaus in Montana 34 cided to honor our founders as well as those who greatly contri- buted to the Association's database, notably Gene Tetro of Tétrault family 41 Vermont, who joined us for the occasion. tragedy P A G E 2 A word from the President

Dear members,

The year 2020 should have been one of rejoicing for the members of our Asso- ciation. The Association of the Descendants of Louis Tetreau was founded 25 years ago, and 400 years ago, on July 29, 1620, Mathurin Tétreau and Marie André Tétreault Bernard, the parents of our ancestor, Louis Tétreau, were married at Tes- sonnière in Poitou.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS We had hoped to celebrate these two anniversaries at our fall reunion. Unfor- tunately, under the current circumstances, we agreed to postpone this President meeting. Indeed, it would be difficult for us to gather while respecting social André Tétreault (013) distancing. We hold all of you dear and would not want to put you at risk. 52, route 104 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC However, we are exploring the possibility of holding our fall general assembly J2X 1H1 virtually. This meeting could probably be held on social media like Messenger 450 347-3156 or Skype. We will notify you as soon as we have made a decision. [email protected]

To mark the 25th anniversary of our Association, we agreed to send you our Vice-president Josée Tétreault (061) newsletter in color and in a new format. I want to thank Geneviève Tétrault 1862, boul. René-Gaultier, who took time during her summer vacation to revise the layout. We are pres- app. 5 ently considering the possibility of regularly publishing our newsletter in color. Varennes, QC J3X 1N7 450 985-1319 Without a doubt, 2020 will long be remembered. Who could have predicted [email protected] that a pandemic would keep us isolated from each other for months! Whereas some of us have fared well enough during the confinement, others faced a Secretary different reality. Some of our members have lost loved ones to the pandemic. Murielle Tétreault (113) I want to take this opportunity, in the name of our administrative council mem- 335, Penn Road bers, to offer you my sincere condolences. Beaconsfield, QC H9W 1B5 [email protected] In this issue, we offer you a special report on the way different members of our Treasurer group have lived through the pandemic and the period of isolation. Pierre Tétreault (322) 3310, rue Pacific We hope to be able to see you soon. Meanwhile, stay well! Saint-Hubert, QC J3Z 0E5 450 445-1863 [email protected]

Administrator Robert Tétreault (325) 202, avenue Belmont Welcome to our new members! Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5M8 Gerald Myers from Renton, Washington 514 695-9125 [email protected] Nancy Teodori from Pierrefonds, Québec Annette Parks from Seattle, Washinton

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 3

SPECIAL FEATURE First-hand accounts of the COVID-19 pandemic

Since March 2020, we have been living in historic times. In the following pages we will share with you some experiences that were lived out by our members from all age groups.

Anne-Charlotte Éthier, age 7, granddaughter of Danielle Côté

I was eager to physically touch my friends. It was difficult and annoying to respect the 2-meter rule.

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 4 An Exceptional End to Elementary School

My name is Maeva, and I’m 12 which each group performed of 12 students per area years old. Allow me to tell you a segment of choreography. (instead of two groups). I how I managed the home con- It was wonderful! Besides, very much enjoyed this finement here in Québec, spe- the video was broadcast on teacher to student ratio. It cifically in Jonquière. the very day when our perfor- made me less timid to speak mance would have taken in front of the class. At the very beginning of this place. This is always a very stay-at-home period, I was important event in the year, In short, I was happy to be worried because I was in the and I was very sad not to be back in school, even if I was 6th grade of elementary school, able to be on stage this time. unable to say goodbye to my Maeva Karivelil, age and I was afraid I would be Around mid-May, I found out elementary school, nor was 12, daughter of lacking some measure of that I would be allowed to there any year-end leave or Stéphanie Tétreault knowledge needed to be ad- return to school. I gave my any ceremony for those who mitted to secondary school. I mother a pleading look. She were moving on. was soon reassured and was gave me a sign of approval to led to understand that the say that I would be returning What I appreciated most teachers would be very under- to school. It was such good about the stay-at-home is that standing. Besides, the ministry news! I was happy at the we didn’t have any exams to of education emailed us some thought of seeing my friends study for, since they had all learning packages each week. and my teacher. been cancelled. Since my par- Well, I must admit that I didn’t ents worked from home and ‘’I gave my use them very often. I pre- Since we were too many pu- nobody had any night classes, mother a pleading ferred using some exercise pils in my elementary school, meetings or gatherings, we booklets and I also listened to the 6th grade students were spent all our evenings as a look. She gave the broadcast, L‘école à la transferred to the secondary family. I was introduced to the me a sign of maison (School at Home) from school in Kénogami (my next game of Monopoly, and this Télé-Québec, along with my 9- school). That was very cool. could last for hours! Now, approval to say year-old brother. This pro- Because we were only 30 stu- nobody wants to play because that I would be gram is very educational and dents we had a big secondary my father always won! I was interesting for children. school all to ourselves! Each also able to discover another returning to morning we had to meet in passion: cooking (especially school. ‘’ With my class, we began hav- the yard at our elementary desserts). ing Zoom meetings. I did the school to take a school bus. same with my dance group The seats were marked with On the other hand, there several times a week. It felt tape to indicate which places were also some disad- good to move together with we were allowed to take. We vantages, such as not being my group, even while we had to wash our hands upon able to see our loved ones were apart. Personally, I pre- entering school, and then in and our friends. Since we fer the regular way of teach- the classroom, and again as were always together at ing this art, but, luckily, Covid- we left. In total, with the arri- home, there might have 19 did not prevent me from val, recess, lunch and the end been some occasional ten- exercising my passion, my of classes, it added up to 16 sion in the family. way to unwind. times a day! Finally, my home confine- At the end of spring, my Our desks were spaced two ment wasn’t so bad, and the dance teacher produced a meters apart. We were end of my elementary school long video presentation in three groups of a maximum was truly unique!

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V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 6 The Home Confinement of an Independent Worker in Saguenay

March 13, 2020 will remain children. Fortunately, many without supervision, and we etched in the memory of all employers have allowed were always close by should the inhabitants of Quebec. It their employees (especially a problem arise. Needless to was on Friday the 13th that those who have young chil- say, my partner and I en- the government announced dren), to put in fewer hours joyed excellent snacks at that Quebec would be shut per day since work and the coffee breaks: muffins, cup- down for several weeks. supervision of a toddler cakes, cookies and even a bounding with energy are two-layered cake! The next day, at home, we rather incompatible. were celebrating my daugh- What I liked the most about Stéphanie Tétreault ter’s birthday along with Now, my partner who works our stay-at-home is that we four friends who would sleep for a government agency had all our evenings over. Then, on Sunday, our quickly set himself up at the (weekdays and weekends) lives changed dramatically. house, and this, until the end together as a family. No of August. The adjustment I more extracurricular cours- My children (6th grade and 3rd had to make was to work at es, no yoga, no overbooked grade) had returned to school home with all the members schedules! What a joy it was for 3 days after a week’s of my family present. My to be able to simply spend break. And now, from now partner works in a room ex- time together, all four of us, ‘’And now, from on, they were back on break… actly one floor above me. without having to plan, to for an undetermined length The most disagreeable ele- eat quickly, etc. The Corona now on, they of time. And so, like all fami- ment I had to “endure” is virus has slowed down time, were back on lies in Quebec, we had to rather not common. I dis- and we took advantage of it. break…for an adapt to a new situation at covered that the position he To have time for several home for work and with the holds requires him to make games of Monopoly lasting 3 undetermined children. As for me, nothing many phone calls per day, or 4 hours during the same length of time. ’’ changed with my work envi- and he laughs very loud…and week—unheard of! ronment. For the past 15 all the time! I therefore had years, I have worked inde- to learn to focus on my work In mid-May, we decided to pendently from home. So, it (an intellectual task that re- send our children back to can be said that working from quires constant concentra- school. Since we live in Sag- home is part of my routine. tion) while ignoring his inces- uenay, our region, which is sant laughter! remote and only accessible For a long time I heard peo- by a few roads, was able to ple envy my working from Luckily, our children are old close itself off with road home: wearing pajamas all enough to be able to occupy blocks. Thus we were able to day, loafing around in the themselves. My daughter more quickly eradicate the morning, taking a hike in the took a course for baby sitters virus from our population. afternoon in good weather… last year, and so, she took The return to a more normal not really. Those who care of her little brother. I life happened more quickly worked at home soon find that the time of home for us than in the Montreal learned that if they were confinement helped them region, for example. expected to put in 30 hours develop a sense of inde- a week, they had to produce pendence. They were able My son went back to his the work, with or without to experiment in the kitchen school with only 8 to 10 stu-

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 7 dents per class. He loved this found some temporary solu- couples who have not survived teacher to pupil ratio. He found tions. Like many other families, this period of confinement. it less intimidating and was we highlighted anniversaries There were couples of adoles- more willing to participate. As through Zoom meetings. In cents or of adults who were not for my daughter who was com- March, I would occasionally go living together or in the same pleting elementary school, the for tea at my friend’s door to region, who were unable to see 6th grade students had to move talk, 2 meters apart, well seat- each other. There are peo- to a secondary school. Thus my ed—on the snow bank. ple who have had to grieve a daughter got introduced to her loved one without being able future school, which gave her a It is evident that video confer- to say their goodbyes. preview of her transition in Sep- ence platforms and social media ‘’It’s not tember. It was a very different have enabled us to break the Last week, in the context of without ending of elementary school for bonds of isolation. Watching my work, I did the revision of reason that I these 30 students who had the television’s news could be a a genealogical manuscript secondary school to themselves. source of anxiety, but the crea- about my client’s family. bought a As a mother, I must admit that I tivity of people on social media When I think of our ances- new bike: I really appreciated the absence like Facebook has been a balm tors who had very large fam- could no of exams and after-school on our isolation. I’ve never ilies of 12 or 14 children, homework. But this is only a laughed so much over such hu- who lived in a single small longer fit in postponement. It will all start mor and creativity to get through house, with, no doubt, a my shorts!’’ over in September. this unprecedented health crisis bedroom for the parents, while trying to keep a smile. one for the boys, the girls, As far as disadvantages go, evi- the older ones, and the dently, what I found most diffi- The stay-at-home has been easi- youngest, all of this in diffi- cult has been to not be allowed er for some, and more difficult cult conditions, I can’t help but to visit with my family (who live for others. I think about the admire their resilience and their outside our region) and friends. elderly who live alone, confined solidarity as a family. They too, I was particularly aware of the to an apartment, or about the in a way, knew what it was like fact that my parents and in-laws many families who live in tiny to experience lack of privacy were more at risk. But we apartments. There are some and confinement.

Articles wanted !

To our English-speaking Tetreau cousins, We are always looking for content for our newsletter. Feel free to submit a short, or not-so-short, story about your Tetreau ancestors and we would be pleased to include it in an upcoming newsletter. Here are some suggestions for possible articles: • A politician in the family? A musician? A star athlete? • An ancestor who served in the military and received a medal? • Anyone who witnessed a historic event? • A pioneer ancestor/family that moved to the United States or western Canada? • A famous (or infamous?) businessman or woman? Whether it’s about a recent Tetreau relative (parent, grandparent, etc.) or a more distant Tetreau ancestor, we would love to hear about their exploits and challenges. Please contact me regarding any submittal.

Robert Tétreault (325) Administrator Association des Descendants de Louis Tetreau (ADLT) Email: [email protected] Tel: (514) 607-9125

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 8 Chronicle of an Announced Catastrophe

March 12. There was a cer- March 12, 4th Period. I was others had parents who are tain nervousnessness among with my cultural geography teachers and wondered if the personnel at my school. group in 5e secondaire.1 We they would still get paid if We had just returned for a had finished viewing a film schools closed. As best as I few days after a week’s which we were discussing could, I tried to reassure my break during which many when our general director older students suddenly students and colleagues of took to the public address turned into small children. mine had travelled. Every- system to make a general My impulse in such cases is body was talking about the announcement. I’ve been to offer an historical per- epidemic that was spreading teaching for 16 years in this spective. The only compari- in Europe. I was personally school; it’s quite rare that son that I thought would be Geneviève Tétrault worried because I take an the general director would useful in the moment was immunosuppressant to con- thus interrupt a class. Al- the ice storm of 1998. trol my Crohn’s disease. most every time that he did, Schools were closed for Between two sessions, infor- it was to share bad news. three or four weeks, de- mation was spreading My heart was pounding, but pending on the region. among the adults that Fran- I had to keep a serene face Teachers were paid and pro- cois Legault (Quebec’s Prime for my students. As a stu- grams were completed with- Minister) would be holding a dent had once told me when out having to extend the press conference during the we went through another school year into the sum- lunch hour. Related to that, difficult time, “If the teach- mer. Later I would under- ‘’Ultimately, what a rumor was spreading that ers roll over, what are we stand that this was like com- we lived through schools would soon be supposed to do?” I hadn’t paring apples and oranges. closed. As long as the an- been able to see the Prime would turn out to nouncement was not made Minister’s press conference, March 12, 3:45 p.m. The be much worse officially, the rumor was not but I knew that he had not bell rang for the end of the than what we had shared with the students, announced the closing of the school day. Little did we and the Corona virus re- schools, for now… Our direc- know it would be the last imagined. ’’ mained a topic of discussion tor announced then that we time this year. I had an eerie like any other in my human were expected in school to- foreboding. I watched my sciences groups where talk morrow, but that the situa- students leave; I looked at of ongoing events was rou- tion was evolving rapidly and my empty classroom with a tine. The subject seemed that we should check our feeling that I wouldn’t see it distant, across the oceans; it emails in the evening. There tomorrow. I had the same did not concern us directly. were 10 minutes left in the reaction as before a snow- This is no less what the stu- period; it was impossible to storm. I gathered all my dents thought as well as do anything else, so we important personal effects many adults. When I shared talked about the situation. to bring home. In the course my concern with colleagues, My adolescent students of the evening, we received I felt that they thought I was were worried. Some the dreaded email announc- exaggerating. Ultimately, thought it would be prefera- ing that our private school what we lived through ble to close the schools like would be closed the next would turn out to be much they had done in other coun- day. Most of the other pri- worse than what we had tries. Others wondered how vate and public schools did imagined. they would complete their the same. Within a few learning programs if the hours, our lives crashed. schools were to close. Still

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 9

March 13, 11:00 a.m. The deci- not have a clear mind and a cess to computers. We began to sion was made: schools would strong heart is very difficult. I’m have weekly meetings of teach- be closed for two weeks. I must saying this because it was also ers to share our experiences and admit that I was relieved. The at that moment that we were the tools we knew of for dis- more we learned about this ill- told that we could send work to tance learning. It was informal ness, the more I asked myself the homes of students, optional and different from one teacher how I would be able to protect work because of the disparities I to another depending on each myself in this Petri dish which is mentioned earlier. I live alone. one’s situation. Of course, it a school. So, for starters, I must I’m cut off from my family, my was the students who were usu- admit that I was concerned for friends, and my professional ally most motivated and the myself. I remind you that we environment. I worried about better performers who did the expected schools to be closed my aging parents and about my work I sent them by email. Each for two weeks. There was much brother who had lost his job. I one did their best according to criticism leveled at the Minister took inventory of all I had for their circumstances. of Education for telling us at the food to see how long I could time that the two weeks would hold out before sending him to Then, at the end of April, the be a vacation. We must remem- the front for provisions. My Ministry of Education told us ber that when we left the day head was not into teaching. I that we could retrieve the ‘’I watched before, the students left every- assumed that my students were material we had left at the my students thing behind in their lockers: not into learning either. I could- schools and that school leave; I notebooks, class notes, shoes, n’t imagine, at the moment, that would be obligatory. It was lunch leftovers… In spite of the it would be important for any- a done deal! It was a lot of looked at my privileged environment in which one to know any more about work to organize a schedule empty I teach, not all my students have the Constitutional Act of 1791. for on-line courses. We also classroom access to a computer and some (That’s where I was at on that had to select what the minis- with a feeling small towns in my region do not infamous March 12 with my try considered essential have access to high speed inter- students of 3e secondaire.)2 knowledge to be taught in that I net. Many of my colleagues the short time that was left. wouldn’t see were in the same situation. In It’s after a conversation with my The minister of education it tomorrow.’’ short, we were not prepared for school’s 2nd cycle (equivalent of talked as if there was a docu- distance learning, and our stu- grades 9-11) principal, who her- ment, some sort of list, dents did not all share the same self has adolescents at home, which was not the case. We advantages. To continue teach- that I understood. I realized also had to adapt the material ing and to make the work man- that to get through this I would so it could be presented on-line datory would only accentuate need my students just as much in a very limited time. There the inequalities that were al- as they needed me. We all were only 6 weeks left and the ready there before the pandem- needed to get ic. back into a rou- tine, to occupy March 23, 1:00 p.m. The gov- our minds with ernment announced that school tasks other than closures would extend until May the one o’clock 1. The whole Quebec economy press confer- came to a halt. Already the bor- ence. Bit by bit, der with the U.S. had been we got ourselves closed, homes for the elderly organized. We were closed, gatherings were called every stu- prohibited, legislative assem- dent from the blies were on hold, etc. People school to find like me were also asked to stay out how they at home. This was serious. I felt were and wheth- The first video sent to my students: fragile. To teach when you do er they had ac- "One day, you will be able to tell your grandchildren that you were there!"

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 10

work that was required. But, I didn’t have the pleasure of on the whole, and consider- truly being with them, but ing the context, they worked they made me proud on nu- well. It must be said that as merous occasions. Some of a society, we demanded them salvaged their year much of them. They were through hard work during not able to reconnect with this period of time. The situ- their friends at a time in ation gave me time to offer their life when this is im- more personal feedback portant. They did about their work. This was babysitting. They became especially helpful to the essential workers in the re- weaker students. They were tail and restoration business, present. They very quickly and they had to dovetail all adapted to the new ap- that with their studies. The proach. They were a great message as to the obligatory help in dealing with comput- character of school work er glitches (mine and each I also baked bread! changed several times, and other’s). They showed me they didn’t know until the empathy, always asking me on-line periods were shorter last day how their final grade how I was. Together, we than the ordinary sessions. would be tallied.3 So, why turned this time of challenge ‘’I didn’t have bother with the work if it and constraint into a suc- May 11, 9:30 a.m. Finally, I won’t change the grade at cess. All this was possible the pleasure of was with my students. The the end of the year? Who because of the bond we had truly being with same ones I said goodbye to can blame them for not created since September at the end of the day on wanting to work for nothing, 2019. This bond was created them, but they March 12. I was nervous like from their point of view?4 because we had spent our made me proud on the first day of school, days together. This link was on numerous the previous August. Nerv- When asked how I liked dis- created through uncon- ous like a beginner, in spite tance teaching, I always say trolled group laughter; an occasions. ‘’ of my 18 years of experi- that I didn’t have any fun, encouraging pat on the back, ence, because I was afraid I because, to do good work, the time spent drying tears wouldn’t be able to manage we need contact, a bond, a of heartbreak, and through everything (two monitors, presence. During those six activities (school year open- the keyboard, the material weeks, I taught to a screen ing activities, field trips, car- to present, a completely on which appeared an ava- nival, amateur theater pro- different style of manage- tar5 of the students. They ductions, etc.). This is why it ment), afraid to run out of failed to turn on their camer- will be important to return time, afraid I would find my- as, so I couldn’t see them. I to the classroom in Septem- self alone in front of my couldn’t see the question ber. In order to help my new screen. To my great sur- marks in their eyes, nor the students progress, we must prise, my students were all spark that indicates they create this bond without there! I was so proud! understood. If they laughed which nothing is possible. at my jokes, I couldn’t hear it Little by little, the routine got (yes, I manage to make them It was June 26. This was the established. It became the laugh in normal times!). I first day of summer vaca- “new normal” like we often believe we have demonstrat- tions, which will, realistically, heard on the media. The ed that we will never be able not be such this year, be- number of students partici- to replace teachers with cause even though we speak pating remained very high. computers. A good point about it more and more as a They didn’t all do the work for us! thing of the past, the pan- and I didn’t collect all the demic is not finished. This

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was not a normal end to the leagues, students) only one aunt talk about this experience with school year. It felt incomplete. contracted Covid, and she re- their children, just like previous All the activities that help with covered in spite of her advanced generations shared stories closure did not happen. The age. I’m very aware of having about war or the assassination senior prom was postponed come out of it unscathed and of JFK. It’s sure that I will never indefinitely. There were no final I’m truly grateful. I simply hope forget this time in my life and exams, no final field trip to La that we can draw some lessons that it far surpassed the crisis of Ronde. My colleagues who are from this crisis, that we won’t the ice storm and the tragedy of retiring after decades of loyal waste it by giving in to the very 9/11. See, I too am speaking of service did not receive the usual human desire to return to a for- it as in the past. Yet, no end to tribute. Of course, I’m one of mer life too soon. Some good this crisis can be predicted as I the lucky ones who kept receiv- and some beauty must come write these lines. ing a salary while staying in the from this. To console my stu- security of my home. In my en- dents, I told them that when tourage (family, friends, col- they get to be my age, they will

‘’It’s sure that I will never forget this time in my life and that it far surpassed the crisis of the ice storm and the tragedy of 9/11.‘’

I also had time to complete jigsaw puzzles of 1,000 and even 1,500 pieces!

Notes

1. Equivalent to 11th graqde in U.S. 2. Equivalent to 9th grade in U.S. 3. It varied depending on the level. From grades 7 to 9, they were given a pass/fail without having been tested. 4. n 10 and 11, a percent grade was given to make the passage to the next level easier. Many students be- lieved they would be passed whether they had done the work or not. 5. We adults know it’s good to remain mentally active. But what would you have done at their age? 6. This varied with the students: a photo of themselves (rather rare), or of a place, a patch of color, sometimes even the photo of another student. In other words, nothing helpful to me!

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 12 Home Confinement in the Mascoutain Countryside

On March 12, I went home on a different form. We now this is not a problem, since aware of the fact that a virus use our devices to order we don’t expect company. I threatened to change our items, to conduct business, have a number of ongoing routines for a few weeks. I and to hold medical appoint- projects, but cancelled dead- could not imagine that my ments. lines gives me some respite. car in the garage and my I continue to work, calm and warm clothes in the closet We take advantage of mod- rested, full of hope and good wouldn’t be taken out for ern internet technology to intentions. the rest of the winter. communicate through email, Facebook, Messenger or Jean-Claude found the be- The very next day, a period Skype with our family and ginning of the home confine- Pierrette Brière of home confinement start- friends, to stay close to our ment rather difficult. It de- ed which proved to be much children, to receive good nied him his morning coffee longer than anticipated. In news from my sister in Italy buddies and his habitual the course of the first four or to hold enriching virtual daily rounds. Tired of televi- months, I can count on the meetings with my upbeat sion with its repetitive pro- fingers of one hand the num- group of “six Monday gramming, he has returned ber of times that I set foot friends.” As septuagenari- to DIY projects. He con- off our property. Whether it ans, we even managed to structed a little gem of a ‘’I could not was to avoid contracting and catch up with some technol- chicken coop, the home of imagine that my transmitting the virus, out of ogy to access our financial our two chickens which pro- car in the garage respect for the fears of my statements, to pay bills, and vide us with fresh eggs and fellow countrymen, or out of to forward a few funds to their gentle cackling. After and my warm a sense of obedience for the our children along with some springtime chores, he clothes in the established rules, I stayed birthday wishes. tackled the vegetable garden home as much as possible. which has already given us a closet wouldn’t And it’s not over. Even as we miss our loved nice variety of fresh vegeta- be taken out for ones, we are not alone bles. Boredom has been Jean-Claude and I had the whereas so many of our fel- replaced by auto mainte- the rest of the pleasure of having children low citizens suffer deeply nance, the replacement of winter.’’ offer to do errands for us. from the isolation. As my 91 flooring, repairs on the gar- The weekly food order was -year-old good friend, a den shed, a few puzzles, and left in the garage and disin- faithful daily communicator, several games of Freecell. fected before storage. We says, “Good that we have got into the habit of ordering each other!” We take the time to watch medications by phone and of the water flow in the river, greeting delivery persons While it carries a number of the lush greenery along the through the window as they constraints, the stay-at- banks, and sunsets behind left parcels at our door. We home can provide some ad- our house. We delight in didn’t lack anything essential vantages. Since I easily fall sunrises over the vast fields and we even enjoyed some asleep for short naps, I can spread in front of our prop- much appreciated treats. snooze at any time of day or erty. Such beauty to be en- night because nothing or no joyed when we take life We enjoyed frequent and one expects anything from more slowly! sometimes lengthy phone me away from home. I start- conversations with our loved ed doing some house clean- I see that humans have a ones, and our social life took ing, with slow progress. But surprising ability for adapta-

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 13

tion. We grieve certain things to family and friends, to resume spring has passed, summer is in for a time, others permanently. our encounters with coworkers full bloom, and fall will come. We go through phases of and volunteer colleagues. The future waits with no guar- grumpiness and of sadness until antee that we will be able to we get hold of ourselves and We will soon have spent five return to the habits of our for- move on to rebuild a new way months preparing meals three mer life. of living. In spite of the losses, times a day, seven days a week, we dream of being able to move seeking new ways to break the Nevertheless, all is well, and all around in a larger environment, routine, nibbling on comforting will be well! to recover part of our lost effer- snacks, living with rejuvenating vescence, and to savor the prox- technological experiences, and imity of those we love. We long following television series de- to feel the warmth of hugs, to picting the life of our ancestors, return to restaurants with pleas- also confined, but happy in their ant company, to open our doors small world. Winter has ended, ‘’Nevertheless, all is well, and all will be well!’’

Chickens Monnick and Lyndaw Confined to their Mascoutain castle

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 14 A Very busy time of confinement

At the beginning of the peri- Then, my brother François equipment. He didn’t want od of home confinement, my and my sister Jocelyne, from to come near me for fear of sisters and I organized a Granby, left for Quebec City, spreading the virus. communication chain to call brought her to the hospital, my handicapped sister in and after a few days, Then, began a series of com- Quebec City every day. Each brought her back to Granby, munications with family, one of us had a day to share to my sister’s who has both here and in Egypt. My news with the others. And housed her and taken care children’s father is from I’m the one who ordered her of her until now. Egypt. Thank God for Mes- groceries by phone from a senger! And then, that little market in Quebec Outbreak in the CHLSD dreaded call. His respiratory Murielle Tétreault which delivered to her door. I was relieved from this wor- difficulties were too serious; I used my credit card since ry early in May, and then he had to be transferred to she doesn’t have one. another anxiety fell upon us. the hospital. There, my son Until the end of May, the was allowed only one visit A fall and a fractrure Covid 19 tests that Bahgat, for an hour. He went back Everything was going well my children’s father, had home and quarantined him- “Claudette until my sister Sylvie told us, taken, were all negative. We self in his basement. His “Claudette climbed on a hadn’t been able to visit him wife lived upstairs. climbed on a chair chair last night; she fell and since the beginning of last night; she fell the pain in her wrist kept her March. He was alone in his The nurse who cared for and the pain in from sleeping.” Then began room at the Lachine CHLD Bahgat was priceless. She a barrage of phone calls to (nursing home). Being para- brought him a telephone so her wrist kept her give her advice: apply an ice lyzed in his bed, we thought that our daughter could say from sleeping.” pack, take an anti- he was safe. There had been goodbye to her father on inflammatory. After two no cases on his floor. We June 5. The family in Egypt days, it became clear that we saw him occasionally on Face was notified. It was his sis- needed to find a service to time. ter’s birthday. There was a transport her to the hospital. private funeral in Saint-Jean- We made multiple calls to All of a sudden, there was an sur-Richelieu. As if that the CLSC (health services), to outbreak: 10 cases, including weren’t enough, a flat tire the Little Brothers of the the father of my children. complicated our travel. Poor, and other help organi- My daughter couldn’t go This was the final tribute to zations. It was a wasted since she lives with effort. Because of the epi- me. My son, who demic, all services had been lives in Waterloo, suspended. After several Ontario, obtained attempts, I managed to authorization to visit reach her family practitioner his father. He went and got her an appointment to Beaconsfield, for an X-ray in a private clin- settled in a hotel, and ic. Luckily, my sister had went to assist his sent her some masks by father after receiving mail. She put one on, got a training about the taxi, and got to the clinic. necessary precau- The diagnosis came back: a tions and the use of fractured bone in her arm. personal protection For five months, the telephone and the Internet were precious to me in order to stay in contact with members of my family. LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 15 the one who had been my lover, in his last days is so concerned on a trip, on vacation, being my professor, a loving father, a about me that he hasn’t come able to cruise the aisles and generous grandfather. I could- close since the beginning of pick my own items. n’t embrace my children and June. He hasn’t wanted to come grandchildren. It was a cold in my house. I haven’t seen my What kept me going is the funeral. best friend who is in a CHLD in contact with my family and ‘’The nurse Marieville since the beginning of friends on Facetime and Fa- who cared Then, my daughter picked up his March. My children have done cebook on the internet. I for Bahgat personal effects that had been so much to protect me. I don’t continue to study Portu- thrown haphazardly in plastic want to worry them, so I stay guese and to do a little work was bags and stored in the base- home. I fear all those who don’t in my garden. These days, priceless.’’ ment of the CHLD. The bodies wear masks. my tablet is my most pre- of the victims of the epidemic at cious possession. our health services were re- I went to the grocery store for moved in body bags and sent to the first time in three months on Every time I hear about a be cremated. Saturday at 6:00 p.m., because second wave, I panic. This has at that time, there weren’t been a slice of my life which I Living in isolation many people. It felt like being will be happy to leave behind. My son who had seen his father

Confined, the great-granddaughters of Antoine Tétreau created some decorations to give hope to all those whose only leisure activity was walking.

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 16 Surviving Covid 19

Here in Vermont, we feel ing segmented bowls. (See brother on the farm here in fortunate that our governor photos) Some of these have Vermont. It was a fun en- has been proactive from the up to 400 pieces. We have counter, but we were very very beginning of the epi- taken short rides by car to careful to avoid the topic of demic. He has held press explore back roads and have politics! Such is my family! conferences three times a had a few take-out meals. week, has deferred to ex- More recently, we have had perts, and has been very Claire has been disappointed small gatherings of friends cautious about reopening that she could no longer outside in our yard, observ- the economy. In addition, volunteer at the school. ing social distancing. We the population seems to Rather, she has done more have begun to return to our Gérard Tétrault trust his directives and has baking and meal preparation favorite restaurant which is et complied quite well. As a and distributed these meals open by appointment and Claire St-Cyr result, we have had very few to elderly friends. She has with limited seating. In some cases and few deaths. had Zoom meetings with small ways, life is a bit more some of her committees at normal. Claire and I have done well. church and taken on some I have continued to work in additional responsibilities for We have both enjoyed tak- my shop, producing cabinets a number of activities. She ing more time to read. Life is such as bathroom vanities has also spent a lot of time more relaxed. In some ways, for clients. Of course, I have on email with family and this epidemic could turn out ‘’[...] our governor had extra time to reorganize friends. On one occasion, to be a gift. has been my shop and to play with we had a Zoom meeting with some projects I’ve always my sister in Quebec, my oth- proactive from wanted to do, such as turn- er sister in Germany and my the very beginning of the epidemic.’’

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... Containment as experienced by P A G E 17 Jacqueline Tétrault-Canu in France

My name is Jacqueline thankfully - back. All you Also, I had to cancel two Tétrault-Canu. I am retired have to do is put some gel trips: to Montreal and Win- and live in Loire-Atlantique, on your hands and a mask to nipeg in May, then to the France. get out. Yes, really, the days south of France in July. Now were too short to do every- that it's time for "deconfined I'm doing just fine and the thing. holidays", I had the pleasure days of confinement have of receiving several mem- been... too short to do eve- During the lockdown, I lis- bers of the family. Such hap- rything! tened to a lot of TV. All the piness! health specialists came to Before the confinement, I tell us what they knew and, I wish you all good health. used to go out every day on more importantly, what they And I look forward to seeing Jacqueline the market square to go to didn't know... you again when it will be Tétrault-Cannu the café, the Bar Le Bre- possible. tagne. I would do arrow- Since no one came to see me heads for an hour, surround- and I only went out to go ed by people who got to- shopping, I took the oppor- gether to share a drink and tunity to finish the family chat. tree on which I spent nine years. Five families: those of Before the confinement, I my father TÉTRAULT, my liked to go for a walk on the mother ABGRALL, my hus- ‘’I'm doing just beach boardwalk, along the band CANU, a grandmother fine and the days most beautiful bay in Eu- NAULT and a great- rope, and its 8 km long grandmother LANDRY listed of confinement beach of fine sand. There in 38 books. These families have been... too was a kiosk where I could eat were all present in France in short to do a pancake on the waterfront. the 17th century. everything!’’ Before the confinement, I used to come to the Sen- ior Residence to accompa- ny on the piano those who wanted to sing.

Before confinement, a young girl, grade 7, would come to me to help her with her homework.

Before the confinement, I had the opportunity to speak in English with a person who wanted to improve her English. What has changed since then? That was all in the past... which is now - February 2020 June 2020

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 18 I don’t wish this on anybody!

On April 15, I was hospital- ple that I saw were members nent release to the fear that ized in Saint-Hyacinthe for of the staff wearing masks to my confinement would be major surgery. Then, on prevent the spread of the extended again. May 9, as I woke up early in virus. I was cut off from the Finally, on June 18, I was the morning, I noticed a lot news about the situation, released. I returned to my of coming and going in the both in this contained facility residence which I had left 65 room I shared with another and about society on the days earlier. What a joy it person. I soon realized that outside. We were kept in was to be home and to re- my neighbor had passed strict isolation. The food gain all that I had so missed! away. A few hours later, I was decent, but I didn’t have Since I had not suffered any learned that he might have much of an appetite in this of the symptoms of Covid-19 Jean-Louis Savoie been a victim of Covid-19, depressing environment. during my 41 day confine- and they gave me a test for ment, I didn’t receive any the virus. There was no television in treatment. Yet, the head- the room, and no internet. I aches that plague me from Unfortunately, the result had access to a telephone in time to time since my return was positive. I had the virus. the hallway, but it was very are probably linked to the Since I’m 85 years old and difficult for my family to corona virus I had contract- ‘’I found this already in a weakened condi- communicate with me. I ed. waiting period to be tion, my loved ones and I was supposed to be given a were quite concerned as to tablet, but it never came. It They say, “What doesn’t kill the most difficult, what would happen to me in was near impossible to make you makes you stronger.” I shifting back and the coming days. contact with the other pa- suppose, then, that I got tients, since most were not stronger somehow, but I forth from the hope In the afternoon, I was trans- in a condition favorable to assure you that I was pro- of an imminent ferred to a local health facili- conversation. foundly affected by this sad ty and put under quarantine adventure, an ordeal that I release to the fear for fourteen days. My room During my stay, I was given wouldn’t wish on anyone. that my was in a special section des- ten corona virus tests. I confinement would ignated as hot, where pa- waited for two consecutive tients like me were placed. negative tests to be allowed be extended again.’’ to leave. I found this waiting I was not allowed to leave period to be the most diffi- this facility, and visitors were cult, shifting back and forth not allowed. The only peo- from the hope of an immi-

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 19

Life and Death during Covid

Last January, my mother, In early March, we found her we expected another little Rachel Déry, found out that a room in one of these resi- girl to soon become part of she had colorectal cancer. dences, and she moved in on our family. Since it would be She was faced with the deci- March 11. necessary for someone to sion whether or not to un- keep Olivia while her parents dergo surgery. Her second On March 13, the period of went to the hospital to give husband had had the same confinement due to the pan- birth, it would be easier if kind of cancer and had un- demic started in Quebec everybody was already in dergone a colostomy (with a Province. We were no long- one place. Ariane was anx- bag). Her decision was clear: er allowed to visit her. For a ious when she found out this was out of the question. period of time, all the resi- through the media that She said that she had lived a dents were forced to stay in there were hospitals who Pierre Tétreault good life and it was time for their room or apartment. At would not allow the dad to it to end. 86 years of age, my mother be present for the birth be- couldn’t under- cause of Covid-19. All stand why. She through March, we were at had to be hospital- my daughter’s and did ized twice. Each “Facetime” with my mother. time, she had to She didn’t understand this pass a Covid test confinement and why we both upon entering couldn’t go visit her in Sher- the hospital and brooke. Sometimes, she ‘’She said that she again in order to asked my sister to kiss her return to the resi- grandchildren for her. My had lived a good dence. In spite of sister would respond that life and it was the negative re- they weren’t allowed to visit sults, and even them either. “But Pierre, he time for it to though the other is allowed. He is at home end.’’ Rachel Déry before she relocated to the residents were now with Olivia.” My sister Maison Murray. allowed to gather would explain that it was in the dining room because Ariane was about to Waiting for assisted suicide in small groups, she had to give birth and that she need- She had asked her doctor quarantine in her room ed someone to be with Oliv- about the possibility of being while attendants would ia while they went to the helped along to die since she bring her meals and check hospital. did not want to undergo that everything was going long months of suffering. well. We were still forbid- A new baby comes into the The doctor answered that it den to visit her. world would be possible to help On April 6, Ariane started death along, but that she Intergenerational family having more frequent con- should ask about it later confinement tractions; these had actually when there was nothing left On March 15, my wife and I started happening, but with- that could be done. He also decided to set up our own out regularity since her last suggested that she move to confinement with our pregnancy visit on April 1. a residence where she could daughter Ariane, our son-in- As the contractions had be- receive nursing care if it was law Patrick, and our grand- come more and more fre- necessary. daughter Olivia, age 2, since quent that day, Ariane and

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 20

Patrick headed for the hospi- not allowed to visit her. We tal after supper, and around could call on the phone, but 9:30, they were admitted. she slept much of the time. Little Alexia was born at 53 minutes after midnight on On May 6, the hospital per- April 7. She weighed 3.7 kg sonnel where Rachel was, and measured 49 cm. Since reached my sister Sylvie to everything had gone well for tell her that visits would be the mother as well as for the permitted, one person at a child, and considering the time, and only by her chil- exceptional circumstances dren. That’s the point when due to the epidemic, they strong conflicting emotions were given the choice to go hit me like lightning: the joy home rather than staying in of staying in confinement the hospital. So, they left with my new granddaughter the maternity ward the same already one month old, with day around 2:30 p.m., less my daughter’s family, versus Alexia one day after her birth. than 12 hours after the birth, not knowing if I would have with the understanding that the opportunity to see them they would report to the if I went to see my mother in clinic the next morning for pregnancy, since the mother the hospital because I would the baby’s checkup after 24 had developed some anti-A have to quarantine for four- ‘’Even though hours of life. On April 8, a while the baby was a group teen days after the visit. she didn’t suffer few hours after their visit to A (the baby was fighting the clinic, Ariane got a call to against its own blood). After I arrived at the hospital with too much, her return to the hospital be- 24 hours of treatment, Alex- my brother for the first time last wish was cause Alexia had icterus ia was finally discharged to see our mother, but no never (jaundice). Alexia had to from the hospital, and the sooner had we arrived we receive U.V. treatments in family could go home. had to leave. They told us, respected.’’ the nursery, since the par- “We don’t understand who ents were no longer techni- The circle of life cally under their care, and As soon as they got they had no available hospi- back home, we did a tal rooms. Patrick then “Facetime” with my found out that he couldn’t mother to show her stay at the hospital with Ari- her new great grand- ane and Alexia because they daughter, Alexia. allowed only one parent to She looked very hap- be present under the new py. She was smiling. procedures implemented There were more during the pandemic. There- “Facetimes,” since fore, it should be the mother this was the best to allow for nursing the way to see her. child. Ultimately, he was My mother then able to return and spend the went through a diffi- night of the 8 to 9 of April cult period. She was because Ariane was able to hardly eating and get a room to accompany she was getting pro- Alexia. It was explained that gressively weaker. Alexia’s jaundice was caused She was sent back to by a mixing of the blood of the hospital on April On May 6, when permission was mother and child during 28. We were still granted for me to visit my dying mother for her last days.

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 21 told you that you could to the hospital, but she was for two months at her resi- come.” A short time later, no longer conscious. She dence under palliative care. on May 14, my sister Sylvie was never able to receive Even though she didn’t got a call from the hospital the assistance she wanted to suffer too much, her last to say that we could go see die. She passed on May 16. wish was never respected. her and that she didn’t have She never did receive the much time left. We rushed assistance to die and lived

A meeting of the ADLT’s administration council … socially distanced!

On September 7th a pre- son of Joseph Tetro and Ma- what would they say? Would autumn wind blows and a few rie Vigeant, married Floren- they tell us that on that day clouds float quickly over the tine Tomas in Varennes on the pre-autumn wind also meeting of the administrators September 7, 1897. blew Mélodie’s bridal veil as of the Association des De- she exited the Verchères scendants de Louis Tetreau. If we could tell the unusual church on the arm of Nonetheless it is a joyous oc- and historic circumstances of François-Xavier Girard? casion. We are so happy to our meeting to Nicolas finally see each other again, to Tetreau and Marie-Anne Unlike them, we have a photo- resume our discussions re- Monastesse who, 179 years graph that captured our event. garding our projects. ago on another September Murielle Tétreault 7th, gave their daughter Mé- In order to respect the health lodie away in marriage a few and safety guidelines im- kilometers from Varennes, posed by the public safety officials, and above all to pro- tect me, the eldest and most vulnerable to contamination, we met outdoors in a local park in Varennes, Québec.

123 years ago in Varennes, our ancestors were celebrat- ing a wedding on this same date, September 7th. Were they also searching the sky just like we were, hoping that rain would not put a damper on their celebration? Al- phonse Théberge, the grand-

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 2 2 P A G E 2 3

A big thank you to Jean-Yves Boislard who took most of the photos of our activities that can be 25 YEARS OF MEMORIES seen on our website and in our bulletin!

In the spring of 2013, a commemorative plaque In 2013, we also honored Noëlle, born in is unveiled in Tessonière, France. It was all Jauzé, France. made possible by the tenacious work of Josée Tétreault who discovered Louis's baptism re- cord after many years of research.

Jacqueline Canu regularly travels from France to parti- cipate in our activities 25 years of gatherings, conferences, exchanges, laughter and fellowship Gene Tatro, a great contributor to LES TÉTREAU DISENT... our database, and André Tétreault V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 2 2 P A G E 2 3

A big thank you to Jean-Yves Boislard who took most of the photos of our activities that can be 25 YEARS OF MEMORIES seen on our website and in our bulletin!

In the spring of 2013, a commemorative plaque In 2013, we also honored Noëlle, born in is unveiled in Tessonière, France. It was all Jauzé, France. made possible by the tenacious work of Josée Tétreault who discovered Louis's baptism re- cord after many years of research.

Jacqueline Canu regularly travels from France to parti- cipate in our activities 25 years of gatherings, conferences, exchanges, laughter and fellowship Gene Tatro, a great contributor to LES TÉTREAU DISENT... our database, and André Tétreault V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 24 Obituaries

Ginette Tétrault (1948-2020) Mrs. Ginette Tétrault died in Saint-Hyacinthe on April 10, 2020, at the age of 71. She was born in 1948 to Luc Tétrault and Thérèse Galarneau. She is mourned by numerous friends and fami- ly, and is survived by her children, Martin, Brigitte and Luc, as well as her brother Georges Tétrault, a member of our Association.

Roland Tetreault (1931-2020) Mr. Roland Tetreault died in Springfield, Massachusetts on April 19, 2020. He was born in 1931 to Louis Tetreault and Irene Tougas. He is survived by his wife Judy, his son Alan, and numerous other family members and friends. Roland was a pillar of our Association for many years. Among other things, his contributions included the data base for the ADLT and the publication of his book about our ancestor, Louis Tetreau.

Yves Guérin (1942-2020) Yves Guérin died on April 21, 2020, at the age of 77 at the hospital in Granby. He was born to Alice Tétreault and Laurent Guérin. In addition to many relatives and friends, he leaves behind his children, Étienne and Isabelle, as well as his sister Pierrette Guérin, a long-time member of our Association.

Bahgat Choucri Francis (1933-2020) Mr. Bahgat Choucri Francis died in Lachine on June 5, 2020. Along with numerous family members and friends, he is survived by his children, Frédéric, Alexandre, and Clotilde, as well as their mother Murielle Tétreault, the secretary of our Association for many years.

Jeanne d’Arc Tétreault (1924-2020) Mrs. Jeanne d’Arc Tétreault died at the age of 95 at the Hôtel-Dieu of Saint-Hyacinthe. She was born on October 12, 1924, to the late Jérémie Tétreault and the late Alfreda Jeannotte. She is survived by her nieces and nephews and other family members and friends. She was the aunt of André Tétreault, the president of our Association.

Georges-Aimé Tétreault (1926-2020) Mr. Georges-Aimé Tétreault died on August 3, 2020. He was born to the late Eugène Tétreault and the late Alida Dion. He is survived by his wife, Paulette Thiffault, his son, Jean-Luc, his daughter, Isabelle, and numerous family members and friends. Mr. Tétreault had been a member of our Association for many hears.

Rachel Déry (1935-2020) On August 16, 2020, Mrs. Rachel Déry passed away at age 85. She was the wife of the late Jean Tétreault and partner of the late Jean-Marie Dallaire. She will be sadly missed by her many children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents and friends. She was the mother of Pierre Tétreault, treasurer of our Association.

Our sincere condolences to their grieving families.

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 25 Roland Tétreault has left us.

Even though we were aware data on the Tétreau Women His obituary, for those who that Roland Tétreault from that my spouse and I had would like to learn more, can Springfield had been ill for a acquired from the National be found at the following few years, the notice of his Archives. This involved over link: https:// death sent us by Josée has 500 emails. He kindly gave www.legacy.com/obituaries/ profoundly saddened us. He me his Family Tree Maker name/roland-tetreault- passed away on April 19, program and all his data. obituary?pid=196119995 2020 at his home. Roland was a member of our Associ- Roland had invited us to his Roland, you will always be in ation. home twice. My spouse and our memories and in our I got to know Roland as an hearts. Roland had undertaken the attentive host and generous writing of a book concerning with his time as he guided us all the generations of his in exploring his little corner Tétreault family. During the of the world. whole time of this gigantic work, we collaborated with Roland was a wine lover. He him both with the research made his own wine in his and with the meaning of basement. He participated words or expressions taken in numerous competitions from these documents. and took home a number of trophies. He was proud of Roland has donated the these and loved to display book about his Tétreault them. Danielle Tétreault ancestry to our Association. and Out of this work, he came up with another book about our Marcel Bouthillier ancestor, Louis. He gave permission to the ADLT to translate the book in French, to print it, sell it, and keep the profits. In addition, he gave us all the documents and transcriptions he had ‘’Roland, you will used to write his book. We always be in our had to move these in three memories and in large boxes. our hearts.’’ The database on our website comes, in great part, from Gene Tatro. He had his own system which was not com- patible with new information technology. Roland is the one who copied all the data into a compatible system. In addition, he entered all the

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 26 Death of Georges-Aimé Tétreault, an artist at heart

rd On August 3 , we lost Mister He later married Berthe would sign his artwork using Georges-Aimé Tétreault, a Courville in 1959 and they the pseudonym TETRO. In member of our association settled on rue Mullin, in 1998, he married Paulette for many years. Granby. They would have Thiffaut, also an artist. To- two children. Georges-Aimé gether they will settle down An artist at heart, Georges- continued his career of in Sainte-Rose. He will have Aimé had lived three lives. teaching arts in high school, a prolific artistic career and As a member of the congre- specifically at École Sacré- will participate in many art ‘’Georges-Aimé gation of the Brothers of the Cœur and at Polyvalente J.- exhibits. Sacred Heart in Granby, he H. Leclerc. During this time, continued his started his fifteen year he established a painting The above text, published on career of teaching teaching career. He left the class in his home where the Guay funeral home site, community in 1958. He then many talented individuals arts in high is reproduced with the kind worked two years in his first took up the art. approval of Jean-Luc school, specifically brother Jean-Louis’s compa- Tétreault, son of Georges- at École Sacré- ny, St-Onge Néons in Gran- Widowed and retired, he Aimé. by, where he developed his started the third chapter of Cœur and at artistic talent. his life as a painter specializ- Polyvalente J.-H. ing in water colours. He Leclerc.’’

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 27 What the ADLT has brought me - and still brings me

I met the Association of the French-Canadian Catholics. tis, married Geneviève descendants of Louis At the age of 12, Freedom Beignoit (Chippewa Métis Tetreau in 2013 in Trois- was baptized on April 6, from Green Lake, Saskatche- Rivières. Since then, I've 1706 as Marie-Françoise in wan). They had a daughter, been addicted. From day Montreal. She married Jean Nancy Dease, who is the one, Murielle Tétreault took Daveluy dit Larose on Febru- mother of my great- me under her wing. She in- ary 6, 1713 in Montreal and grandmother Nancy Gladu, troduced me to my Tetreau had 11 children. wife of Joseph Charles ancestors and, one thing Tétrault. Hence the cross- leading to another, I not only As for Martha French, 9 breeding of the Tétrault fam- Jaqueline wrote the tree of my years old, her identity was ily in Manitoba and the Pem- Tétrault-Canu Tetreau/Tétrault family, but I changed several times. Ma- bina region. continued with the family of rie Marthe Marguerite my maternal grandmother Franche/Frinche. At 16 years Deportation of the Acadians Nau/Nault, my great- old, she married Jacques Roy Landry and Mélanson in grandmother Landry- and had 11 children. She 1755 Melanson, my mother became a widow, married The Jean Landry and Made- Abgrall, and then my hus- Jean Louis Ménard and had 5 leine Mélanson siblings band Canu. children, including 3 daugh- suffered the full force of the ters. The eldest had 11 chil- Deportation of the Acadians All these families were in dren, all of whom died with- and ended up in England, France in the 17th century. out descendants. The second the United States, Louisiana, As a result, I learned about had 18 children, of which Miquelon, Haiti and Santo ‘’I met the my family's dramatic history only one survived. Finally, Domingo. Those who ended through the history of Cana- the third had 7 children, of up in France wandered for Association of da. Here are some of the which only one survived. 30 years, finally finding ships the descendants highlights. The father Thomas and his to take them to Louisiana. Of of Louis Tetreau son Thomas (17 years old) the hundreds of people from in 2013 in Trois- The Deerfield Raid, Massa- were taken prisoner by the the Landry family who sailed Rivières. Since chusetts in 1704… Mohawks of Kahnawake across to France (Saint- In the last issue of the news- near Montreal. Both men Servan, Saint-Malo, Châtel- then, I've been letter, Robert Tétreault gave were ransomed in 1704 and lerault, the Acadian line, addicted.’’ a wonderful account of the 1706. Also at Kahnawake, Nantes, Paimbœuf, Belle-Île- raid. On page 18, he states the other daughter, 6-year- en-Mer, Cherbourg), only that the French family was old Abigail French, remained two cousins managed to also attacked. The family at Kahnawake all her life. As leave Acadia and arrive in consisted of the parents, a result, the French family Louisiana 30 years later. Oth- three daughters and two continued to have contacts ers were on ships that sank sons. The mother, Mary Cat- with the Mohawks. and drowned hundreds of lin, died en route to Canada, people. On the ships, the while the newborn John was In 1759, a daughter, Jane mortality was very high. killed in Deerfield. Two of French, was born in the (Anglo-Protestant) Kahnawake. She is my ances- My ancestor Antoine Landry daughters, Freedom and tor. She married John Rich- came to Quebec from Con- Martha, were raised in Que- ard Dease. Their son John necticut in 1763. Two gener- bec families to become Warren Dease, Mohawk Mé- ations later, Joseph Denis

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 28 Landry, a voyageur, found him- met Geneviève Lalonde, who the St. Boniface Museum). self at the centre of the deadly had just arrived in the West with Gabriel Dumont, leader of the competition between the North her parents. They had 14 chil- rebellion at Batoche in 1885. West Company and the Hud- dren, 9 of whom were girls. His father had married Angel- son's Bay Company in western Three of the Landry girls mar- ique Landry, sister of my great- Canada in 1815. On this occa- ried three Nault brothers (also grandmother, in his second mar- sion, Joseph Denis, who had my ancestors). Many of their riage. Many metis died in been taken prisoner, met Jean- children married Métis, hence Batoche, including Damase Car- Baptiste Lagimodière, who was the tragedies of the Métis. Louis rière, the cousin of my grand- returning home, but who had Riel, grandson of Jean-Baptiste mother Éléonore Nault, leaving been taken prisoner after carry- Lagimodière, was the first dozens of orphans. ing a message to Lord Selkirk by cousin of my great-grandfather walking from St. Boniface, Mani- Boniface Nault. Hanging of patriots in Montreal toba to Montreal and back. Jean in 1838 -Baptiste had married Marie- Hanging of Louis Riel by the Previously, in 1838 in Montreal, Anne Gaboury in 1807 (my an- English in Regina in 1885. 12 patriots were hanged, includ- cestors). During Jean-Baptiste's The Métis leader was buried in ing Pierre Théophile Decoigne absence, Marie-Anne Gaboury February 1886. His coffin was (generation 6), a descendant of was in great danger and had carried over a long, rugged path Joseph Marie Tétreau. Murielle been saved by the Amerindian for nearly six miles in the snow led me to Au pied du courant, chief Péguy. by several people: 8 Nault, 2 where the patriots were hanged Lagimodière, 1 Landry and 7 on the prison pediment, five at a others. They were followed by time, because there was no six or seven hundred Métis room for more. There is a me- dressed in buffalo robes, beaver morial at 901-905 de Lorimier helmets and moccasins. A red Street, at the corner of Notre- arrow sash around their waist. Dame East in Montreal. They wore a wide white ribbon around their shoulders and on My Journeys in Canada their chest. There were 75 sleds Every time I attend ADLT general in the procession, which was meetings, I make new discover- nearly a mile long. The proces- ies. It's a real journey from the sion left the Riel house in St. Loire-Atlantique in France to Vital to go to the St. Boniface come to Montreal. To see a sug- Cathedral (I had the opportunity ar shack, the house of the King's to see Louis Riel's arrow belt at Daughters, Verchères, Maski-

Marie Anne Gaboury (1780-1875), born in Maskinongé, Québec. Grand- mother of Louis Riel, mother of 8 chil- dren, including Josette and Julie Lagi- modière. 75 grandchildren and 344 great-grandchildren.

Lord Selkirk proposed to Joseph Denis to come and settle at the André Nault (1830-1924), his wife Anastasie Landry (1832- Red River Settlement. There he 1914) and his mother Josette Lagimodière (1810-1897).

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 29

‘’So many travels Eulalie (1853-1931) and Henriette Riel (1861- 1898), sisters of Louis Riel. Eulalie marries Wil- and so many liam Gladu, brother of Nancy Gladu Tétrault. encounters! Many thanks to nongé, Quebec, the Mont- The Tétraults are in Halifax, three different copies of the the Association morency Falls or Saint-Jean- Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancou- Tétreau men's tree, in a Baptiste de Rouville, from ver and North Carolina. In computer format that no as well as to where Joseph Charles addition, I prepared several longer exists (punching sys- Murielle and Tétreau left to go West, copies for my 6 children and tem). I now have these ar- Josée Tétreault.’’ where Tétreau became 17 grandchildren - and later chives, which date from be- Tétrault. for my 24 great- grandchildren. A story that is passed on Once I wrote the story of I found the Canu ancestors each family, I wanted to in 7 town halls in the sub- share it with the family. So I urbs of Rouen, in Seine- made thousands of photo- Maritime. copies. I went door-to-door with my 38 books: So many travels and so many encounters! Many thanks to The Abgralls are in Brittany the Association as well as to in several villages (Ploudiry, Murielle and Josée Tétreault. Commana, Bodilis) and (And I have only told a very scattered across Canada: small part of what happened Saint-Laurent in Manitoba; to me with Murielle!). Nanaimo, Youbou and Victo- ria on Vancouver Island; P. S. At a general meeting of Langley and Richmond in the ADLT, I met Gene Tatro. Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière British Columbia. He was the one who had (1778-1855), husband of given my parents, in 1977, Marie-Anne Gaboury.

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 30 Jérémie Tétreault and Alfréda Jeannotte

Jérémie, son of Louis while also tending to his 25, 1958, at his home on rue Tétreault and Delphine farm. Alfréda, a trained Anger, in the village of Sainte Blanchette, was born Sep- schoolteacher, takes on a -Madeleine. The burial takes tember 6, 1882 and was bap- management position at a place at the parish cemetery. tized the following day in local sand-pit operated by Sainte-Madeleine, Québec. their neighbours, the Jérémie loved to receive his Alfréda, daughter of Joseph Beauchemin family. In order family and friends at his sug- Jeannotte and Marcelline to help out Alfréda, a servant ar shack located on the oth- Gagnon, was born April girl is taken on to take care er side of the railway tracks. 12, 1885 and was baptized of the family. The couple The farm was divided by the same day in Saint- was ahead of the times. route 9 (116 today) and the André Tétreault Charles-sur-Richelieu, Qué- tracks of the the Grand bec. Early on March 18, 1933, Trunk Railway. Friends were Alfréda died of a pulmonary always welcome for an On June 20, disease, possibly due to the outing at the sugar shack. 1907, they working conditions that kept both appear her very busy. Her burial I have so many fond memo- before notary took place on March 21, ries of that sugar shack. I Me J.-L. Cormi- 1933, at Sainte-Madeleine remember when Jérémie er in order to cemetery. Now a widower, came to boil the syrup, while draw up their Jérémie single-handedly my father collected the ma- marriage con- takes on the care of his chil- ple sap water. When it was tract. The mar- dren who are often left to time to put the syrup in cans riage takes fend for themselves. (tomato cans), he would call place on the my father. I also remember nd Jérémie Tétreault and Aldréda Jeannotte 2 of July of Jérémie dies on September that he was often present to the same year perform various tasks in the Saint- around the farm. He Charles-sur-Richelieu church. would come from the village on foot along ‘’Alfréda, a The couple establishes their the railway tracks. trained home in Sainte-Madeleine, And what can I say in the Petit Rang, on a farm about those visits to schoolteacher, that Jérémie had obtained his home after high takes on a from his father November 3, mass! We would al- 1905. This farm had previ- ways stop by to catch management ously been acquired in a sale up on the latest news. position at a local that took place on the front steps of the church following Jérémie was a hunter. sand-pit operated high mass. In the fall, the call of by their This union will produce five the hunt was very neighbours, the children: Roland, Lomer, strong. His favorite Gérard, Jeanne-d’Arc and hunting area was the Beauchemin Lucrèce. mountain of Saint- family. ‘’ Hilaire, where he To support his family, liked to hunt with his Jérémie works multiple jobs, friend Prosper Poirier

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 31

‘’I have so A close friend of Jérémie, J.-Omer Dansereau (left), a businessman, baker, general salesman and developer of rue Sainte-Anne in the same many fond village. On the right, Prosper Poirier, one of Jérémie’s hunting buddies. memories of that sugar shack. I remember

when Jérémie came to boil the syrup, while my

father collected the maple sap water.’’

Jérémie’s brothers and sisters, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law (Photo taken following the death of Louis, Jérémie’s father)

Seated : Clara Tétreault, Noé Tétreault, Imelda Tétreault, Delphine Blanchette (mother), Alma Tétreault, Jérémie Tétreault and Antoinette Tétreault. Standing : Joseph Messier, Louisa Murphy, Stanislas Janson, Thomas Murphy, Alfréda Jeannotte and John Bernier.

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 32

The child is Gérard, my father, and the man seated is J.-Omer Dansereau. 2nd row: Two strangers, followed by Jérémie and Alfréda. The others are strangers to me.

who, according to my father, (Hurons river), that passed my desire to ever want to try was also a great marksman. along a plot of land that my it again. We see him here with his father owned near the bay last unlucky victim. Accord- of Sainte-Madeleine. One My grandfather also loved to ing to my aunt Jeanne-d’Arc, day my grandfather, who play cards with his friends at Jérémie’s eyesight wasn’t chewed tobacco, allowed me the “Petit Canot”, a local too good anymore. to try some after a comment gathering place for the vil- I had made. I was only 8 lage’s old-timers. I remember a fishing trip to years old and the result was the rivière des Hurons pretty awful. It took away

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 33

Family farm in Sainte-Madeleine

Roland, Lomer and Gérard Tétreault

Lucrèce, Alfréda, Jérémie and Jeanne-D’Arc Tétreault

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 34 Tetreaus in Montana

When I finally started to re- bec, the big annual celebra- Joseph Nadeau. Needless to search my family tree less tion in Frenchtown was June say there is no need to fur- than five years ago, I was 24th, St. John the Baptist day, ther describe the type of really unprepared for all the the patron saint of all French services rendered at Mad- discoveries that I would Canadians. They even had ame Délia’s! come upon. One that sur- their own French Catholic prized me was the fact that church, appropriately named But on a more serious note, in the late 1800s many St. John the Baptist. Accord- what brought all these peo- French Canadians, including ing to the 1900 census the ple to Montana? Why would some descendants of our vast majority of men were men uproot their families ancestor Louis Tétreau, had farmers, day labourers, and travel almost 2,000 Robert Tétreault decided to leave the Mon- butchers, blacksmiths, min- miles across a vast continent térégie region of Québec ers, lumberjacks and sawmill to face an uncertain future? and establish new homes in workers. Surprisingly, or Why were they leaving the the American far western maybe not, a few were even relative stability of what they state of Montana. Why Mon- listed as saloon keepers! already had? In order to an- tana? I could just imagine swer some of these ques- ‘’One that the wife’s reaction when her In the bigger towns like Mis- tions, let’s take a quick look surprized me was husband came to her and soula and Butte², men would at how Montana came into said: “Dear, pack up the kids, congregate in saloons and being. the fact that in we’re moving to Montana!” the late 1800s She probably responded: Early history of “What’s Montana? Where’s Montana many French Montana?” Until 1800 the area Canadians, that would become including some French Canadians in Montana had been Montana visited by few Euro- descendants of So many French Canadians peans. It was the our ancestor Louis came to Montana that they northwestern region became the majority in some of a vast territory Tétreau, had towns. Nowhere was this obtained by the decided to leave more evident than in the United States from aptly-named village of France in 1803 as the Montérégie Frenchtown¹. The 1900 Fed- part of the region of Québec eral census for Frenchtown St. John the Baptist church “Louisiana Pur- and establish new showed that over half of the chase”³. That trans- residents were French- hotels after a hard week of action meant that all land homes in the speaking. With family names work. One of Butte’s star west of the Mississippi River American far like Gauthier, Cousineau, attractions in the town cen- (828,000 square miles) all Turmelle, Labrie, Gagnon, ter was the Dumas Hotel. It the way to the Rocky Moun- western state of Plouffe, Dumouchel, Hamel, was established by two tains suddenly became Montana.’’ Cyr, Longpré, and of course brothers from Québec, Jo- American territory and it Tétreault, among many oth- seph and Arthur Nadeau. But effectively doubled the size ers, evidently the language the person that ran the day- of the United States. While spoken on the street and in to-day business of the hotel Spain still controlled the commerce was French. was the infamous “Madame” southwestern part of the Just like back home in Qué- Délia Dumas, the wife of North American continent,

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 35

Ever since the initial contacts by Lewis and Clark, relations be- tween Native Americans and the white population in that region had been cordial for the most part. But with the arrival of steamboats up the Missouri River followed by the advent in that region of the railroad in the 1870s, men were now arriving from everywhere in search of a quick fortune. Native Americans were upset to find prospectors and speculators intruding throughout their traditional hunting grounds. Whereas The Louisiana Purchase by the United States previous territorial treaties between the U.S. govern- ‘’Men only the invisible 49th parallel⁴ tion by sailing up the Missouri ment and the First Nations gripped by to the north separated this es- River and traveling northwest had been respected, now gold fever sentially unpopulated American into uncharted lands. Having speculators were either igno- territory from its equivalent crossed the Rocky Mountains rant of the boundaries set by flocked to Canadian plains territory. From and ventured all the way to the these treaties, or they delib- the west, the plains of the Dakotas to the Pacific Ocean in November erately ignored them alto- first to east, all the way to the foothills 1805, they then returned by a gether. This lack of control California, of the Rocky Mountains to the northern route passing through by the U.S. Federal govern- west, the land that would be- Montana and safely completed ment over the exuberant and then to come Montana was largely pop- their amazing 8,000 mile jour- speculators would eventually the ulated by Native Americans, ney. In September of 1806 they lead to serious conflicts with northwest.’’ mainly the Lakota Sioux, the received a hero’s welcome upon the region’s indigenous pop- Northern Cheyenne, the Arapa- their return to Saint-Louis. ulation. ho and the Nez Perce. But soon all of that was about to change. Influx of speculators and War with Native Americans In 1804 American President settlers Several tribes had had enough Thomas Jefferson approved a Initially the development of this of the violation of their territory two-year exploration of the vast unpopulated territory was and decided to attack individual American west. Two very capa- slow. Trappers established trad- settlements in Montana. In turn ble men were appointed by the ing posts and missionaries the U.S. government responded President to carry out this mis- quickly followed by instituting by sending many cavalry units to sion: Meriwether Lewis and Wil- missions. But then came the the northwest in order to stamp liam Clark. The “Lewis and Clark discovery of gold in California in out what they perceived as iso- Expedition”⁵ was mandated to 1848! Men gripped by gold fe- lated native uprisings. In June of find a route to the Pacific Ocean ver flocked to the west, first to 1876 Lieutenant Colonel George and, in doing so, to document California, and then to the Armstrong Custer led his cavalry the geography, the animals and northwest. Once the initial gold in an attack against a large gath- vegetation encountered during rush had petered out in Califor- ering of Lakota Sioux, Northern the trip, as well as to interact nia, prospectors then discov- Cheyenne and Arapaho near the peacefully with the Native ered gold in the Montana area Little Bighorn River located in Americans that they encoun- in 1858. This was quickly fol- the southern part of the Mon- tered in the territory. Leaving lowed by significant discoveries tana territory. Unfortunately for from Saint-Louis In the spring of of silver and copper. them, the U.S. Cavalry had 1805 they began their expedi- grossly underestimated the size

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 36 of the enemy force. Under Bighorn, a peace treaty was timber were needed to sup- the combined leadership of signed and Native Americans port the mine shafts, thus Sioux chiefs Sitting Bull and were forced onto reserva- creating a need for lumber- Crazy Horse, not only did the tions throughout the plains jacks and sawmill workers. natives withstand the full and the northwest of the Others saw their future in assault of the cavalry, they United-States, including raising cattle and farming. decimated the entire invad- Montana. ing force. Within a few Montana becomes the 41st The vast majority of men hours, all 262 cavalrymen state coming to this new territory died that day, including Cus- With the effective elimination were from the Midwestern ter. Native losses totaled less of the native threat and with and eastern parts of the than 50. a strong military presence United States. They were providing some semblance of also joined by others coming stability and order in the re- from Great Britain, Europe, gion, the railway finally Canada (Ontario and Qué- reached Butte by the end of bec) and even Japan! 1881. The U.S. government granted statehood to Mon- French Canadian exodus tana on November 8, 1889. from Québec As early as the mid-1800s, The main activities in the French Canadians had begun new 41st state could now to seek out greener pastures proceed unhindered. The in New England and in the previous discovery of large American Midwest (Illinois, quantities of copper ore led Nebraska, etc.). As was well ‘’They were also to the need for men to enter described by our colleague joined by others the mines and also build Geneviève Tétrault in her coming from smelters and refineries in article⁷ in the ADLT news- order to satisfy the ever- letter of April 2015, ever- Custer Great Britain, growing demand for copper growing French Canadian Europe, Canada But that would be the last wire, essential for electrical, families were running out of great victory for Native telegraph and telephone available tillable farmland, (Ontario and Americans. The outraged cables. Large quantities of especially in the valleys of Québec) and even U.S. government quickly sent the Saint-Laurent and Riche- lieu rivers. Japan! ‘’ massive reinforcements un- der the command of Civil War hero General William By the 1870s and 1880s the Tecumseh Sherman. The railroad now made it easier fate of a proud native popu- for American labor recruiters lation is ultimately sealed. to entice French Canadians to relocate to New England Chief Crazy Horse was cap- and take up jobs in the grow- tured one year later and ing textile mills of Massachu- reportedly died trying to setts and Rhode Island. escape. Meanwhile Sitting Some took up logging in Bull and 400 of his followers Maine, while others moved fled to the Canadian North- their families to southwest- west Territory⁶, in an area ern Ontario where farmland today called Saskatchewan. was still available and the He returned a few years lat- climate was more favorable er to participate in peace for growing vegetable crops. negotiations. Less than five Sitting Bull And some French Canadians years after the battle at Little made the longest trek of all

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 37 by relocating their entire family Napoléon, died as teenagers dren. The 1920 census for right across the continent to the and were buried in Farnham. As Frenchtown states that he is a new territory of Montana. They for the fourth, Édouard, the farm laborer. put down roots in Huson, Mis- 1901 Canadian census listed him soula, Anaconda, Deer Lodge, as single and living with his 77- The most mysterious of all the Great Falls, Kalispell and, espe- year-old widowed mother siblings had to be Gédéon Jr. cially, Frenchtown. How had Louise Trahan in Saint-Jean- (1851-?). In 1875 he married they known about Montana? d’Iberville. He died in 1903 at Rosalie Poirier (1860-?) in Saint- Was it a recruitment drive? Or the age of 39 and was buried in Alexandre, Québec. The couple was it word of mouth? Whatev- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. had two sons in Québec before er the means used, a significant moving to Chatham, Ontario number of French Canadians Onto Montana where a daughter was born in had moved to Montana, begin- The first of Gédéon and Louise’s 1880. They then moved to Mon- ning in the late 1860s, and until children to venture to Montana tana where two more sons were the end of the century. With was the eldest son Moïse (1847- born by 1884. After that eve- few exceptions the overwhelm- 1920). At the age of 21 he ar- rything about the couple is ing majority would never to re- rived in 1868 and became a pure conjecture! There are turn to Québec. farm labourer. He worked there no further records regarding until the winter of 1885-1886 Rosalie. As for Gédéon, The family of Gédéon Tétrault when, surprisingly, he returns to there exist 1927 and 1929 ‘’The most and Louise Trahan Farnham, Québec to marry Jo- Missoula city directory Most likely no single family séphine Chevalier (1850-1942). listings for a Gideon Tetrault. mysterious among the large Tétreau clan In the church’s marriage register Also there was talk in the of all the exemplified the move to Mon- on 8 Mar 1886, the priest rec- backwoods of Montana of siblings had tana like that of Gédéon ords that Moïse is a “farmer an old trapper named “Jed” to be Gédéon Tétrault (1817-1899). He was living in Frenchtown, Montana Tetrault⁸ rumoured to be the son of Pierre Tétreau (1789- in the United States”. He and his involved in the production of Jr. (1851-?).’’ 1855) and Josephte Beausoleil new bride return to Frenchtown moonshine! (1792-1849). In 1843 Gédéon that same year, where they will married Marie-Louise Trahan later have two children, a boy Also in 1875 younger sister (1824- ?), the daughter of Jean- and a girl. For the rest of his life Élodie (1853-1936) married Baptiste Trahan (1779-1872) Moïse would commonly be Alexis Jetté (1854-1907) in and Marie-Josephe Therrien known as “Mose” Tetrault. By Farnham. Two sons were born (1785-1861). They settled down 1910 the census for Frenchtown in Québec before they moved to in the Richelieu valley area and stated that he had now become Frenchtown around 1882. from 1846 to 1870 they had 11 a carpenter. There, two girls and a boy were children, 6 boys and 5 girls. born, followed by two more Eight of the children would get The next to go out west is Rosa- boys born in Missoula. Alexis is married, all in the Montérégie lie (Marie Rose) (1849-?). She recorded as a cattle farmer. region of Québec. married Jean-Baptiste Lebert (1854-1933) in Farnham in 1873. In 1883 Delphis (1860-1953) In total seven of Gédéon’s elev- After having two children in married Émérite Gense (1868- en children eventually heeded Farnham, the family moved to 1932) in Farnham. Three chil- the call to Montana. Of the oth- Tilbury in southwestern Ontario dren were born there before the er four children, only where a son was born in 1879. family arrived in Frenchtown Domithilde, the eldest child, But by 1882 they were all in around 1889. Four more chil- married and remained in Qué- Huson, Montana where two dren were born in Frenchtown. bec for the rest of her life. She more sons were born. The date “Dolphis”, as he became known wed Moyse Thibodeau in 1865 and place of Rosalie’s death are to family and friends, was a and together they raised a fami- unknown. All that is known is farm laborer and reputed to be ly of ten children. Two of her that Jean-Baptiste remarried in a practical joker well into his younger brothers, Joseph and 1898 and had three more chil- advanced age.

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 38

‘’What a difficult time it must have been for parents Gédéon and Jed's cabin Louise to see

seven of their Éléa (1867-1917) married retired carpenter. But for their children and children leave Alexandre Samoisette (1865- subsequent generations of The empty nest these descendants of Louis with their young 1945) in Sainte-Sabine on 21 Mar 1889. They had two What a difficult time it must Tetreau in the far west of families, one after daughters in Québec before have been for parents America, the ambitious the other, and go they moved to Butte in 1896. Gédéon and Louise to see move to Montana would be The family later relocated to seven of their children leave the beginning of a whole off to the other Great Falls, Montana. Alex- with their young families, new opportunity to lay down side of the andre was a carpenter. one after the other, and go roots in the vast open plains off to the other side of the that would forever be known continent.’’ And finally the youngest Jo- continent. They never saw as “Big Sky Country”¹⁰. séphine (1870-1953) mar- them again. Surely they must ried Joseph Lagüe (1868- have hoped that they would 1939), also in Sainte-Sabine, have a better life as home- on 19 Feb 1889, just four steaders in Montana than weeks before the wedding of what they could have had her older sister Éléa. Be- back home with them in the tween 1890 and 1912 they Montérégie region. Gédéon had 8 children, four boys and passed away on 21 Nov 1899 four girls. They arrived in in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Montana in 1893 and settled and presumably Louise Tra- in Frenchtown. By 1910 they han would follow soon after, had moved to Missoula and although there is no record by 1920 they lived in Ana- of the exact date or place of conda. Joseph Lagüe’s death her death⁹. certificate dated 14 Nov 1939 stated that he was a

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 39

Photos (credits) Louisiana Purchase = Natural Earth and Portland State University. Custer = Bettman Archives Sitting Bull = Wikimedia Commons St. John the Baptist church = clarkforkcatholic.com Jed Tetrault’s cabin = Frenchtown Valley Footprints (Frenchtown Historic Society - 1976)

Notes 1. Frenchtown was first established around 1858 when two French Canadians, Jean-Baptiste Ducharme and Louis Brown (his father was an English Québecer and his mother was a French Québecer), relocated their Métis families into the Montana territory in order to avoid further turmoil with American authorities on the Pacific coast. As more French Canadians arrived in Frenchtown eventually a small church (Saint-Louis) was built in 1864 and a post office was established in 1868. Over the next three decades hundreds of French Canadians, some single and others with their families, would move to Frenchtown and other towns in Montana. A larger church, St. John the Baptist, was erected in 1884. Frenchtown is located approxi- mately 20 miles northwest of Missoula. 2. The town of Butte was located on a hill. In fact, “butte” means mound or hillock in French. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Butte was known as“ The Richest Hill on Earth” because of the vast mineral depos- its discovered in the area. Hundreds of men became very wealthy as a result of the mining industry in the Butte area. 3. The history leading up to the Louisiana Purchase is a bit confusing. Initially France controlled the Louisiana territory from 1699 until 1762 when it was ceded to Spain following France’s loss of its North American colony of Nouvelle-France to the British. In 1800 Napoleon regained Louisiana from Spain, but then had to quickly sell it to the United States in 1803 for 15 million dollars in order to help fund his war against Great Britain. 4. With the signing of the Treaty of Oregon in June of 1846, the governments of Great Britain and the United States of America finally come to a mutual agreement and formally recognize the 49th parallel as the offi- cial border between Canada and the USA west of the Great Lakes. That line stretches west all the way to the Pacific Ocean. 5. Lewis and Clark had amassed a strong team (45 persons in total) consisting of 27 soldiers, plus a dedicated crew to row their boats, a French Canadian guide and interpreter named Toussaint Charbonneau, and Sacagawea, Charbonneau’s Shoshone wife who could speak at least two native languages. She became the team’s main interpreter as they ventured deep into unknown territories. Surprisingly, during the entire 8,000-mile expedition, the team would suffer only one fatality, a crew member who died of an infection near the beginning of the journey. 6. Sitting Bull and his followers had fled north across the 49th parallel into the southern part of the vast Cana- dian Northwest Territory. In 1905 that area was subdivided by Canada to create the new provinces of Al- berta and Saskatchewan. 7. “Our Patriote Ancestors”, ADLT newsletter Vol. 17 no. 1 (April 2015). 8. In Frenchtown Valley Footprints (Frenchtown Historic Society - Mountain Press Printing - 1976) there is a photograph of three men standing in front of a cabin reputedly owned by an old trapper named “Jed” Tetrault. Two of the men are identified as Fred and Alex Lebert, sons of Jean-Baptiste Lebert and Rosalie Tétrault. Rosalie just happens to be Gédéon Tétrault’s older sister. Consequently it would not be unusual for the two nephews to be posing in front of their “uncle Jed’s” cabin. This would seem to indicate that the mysterious “Jed” Tetrault is indeed Gédéon Tétrault Jr (1851-?). 9. The last available record for Marie Louise Trahan is the 1901 Canadian census. There, aged 77, she is listed as widowed and living with her son Édouard in Saint-Jean-d’Iberville, Québec. 10. The nickname Big Sky Country first appeared in 1962 as part of a publicity campaign by the Montana State Highway Department. It referred to the vast unobstructed view of the sky that seems to overwhelm the landscape in that region. Montana license plates later displayed that expression starting in 1967.

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 40

ANCESTRY TITLE GÉDÉON TÉTRAULT

Mathurin Tetreau and Marie Bernard Tessonnière, département Deux-Sèvres, France, January 29, 1620 Louis Tetreau Noëlle Landeau (Jean and Marie Aubert) Trois-Rivières, June 9, 1663

Joseph-Marie Tetreau dit Ducharme Anne Jarret dit Beauregard (André and Marguerite Anthiaume) Notre-Dame de Montréal, June 12, 1700

Louis Tetreau dit Ducharme Anne-Marguerite Fontaine dit Bienvenu (Pierre and Marguerite Gentes) Contrecoeur, February 23, 1721

Joseph Tetreau dit Ducharme Marie-Catherine Lussier (Christophe and Élisabeth Guyon) Verchères, June 20, 1757

Louis-Gabriel Tetreau Charlotte Paquet dit Larivière (Louis and Élisabeth Piedalue) Chambly, August 23, 1785

Pierre Tetreau Josephte Beausoleil (Joseph and Rose Gaudreau) L’Acadie, August 3, 1812

Gédéon Tétrault

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... Tétrault family tragedy P A G E 41 in Sainte-Sabine in 1891

This year the Covid-19 pan- many other families world- and Marie welcomed their demic has gripped the entire wide. Unlike today’s Covid- first-born, a son, Zéphirin world, ravaging nation after 19 virus that tends to mainly Théophile, presumably nation. Canada and the Unit- target the elderly, the Span- named after his paternal ed States have not been im- ish flu surprisingly attacked grandfather. The next year a mune to the devastation many younger, seemingly daughter, Marie Médérise, that the coronavirus has healthy, adults. was born. And in June 1883, brought to countless families they had a second son, Jo- throughout the globe. A few months ago I was re- seph Stanislas. Unfortunate- searching the Tétreau family ly, as was all too common in The coronavirus has been tree for the article that I those days, their daughter particularly fatal for so many wrote regarding the many Médérise died just months of the elderly among us. At descendants who made the after Joseph’s birth. The par- the time of writing this arti- long move to the state of ents were unaware that this Robert Tétreault cle, well over 80% of the Montana in the late 1800s. would only be the beginning fatalities to Covid-19 in Can- Then I accidentally came of the family’s suffering. ada were the elderly in sen- across a tragic story involv- iors’ homes or in extended ing the children from one Next came Marie Rosalie care facilities. We hope and family. What happened in born on 2 Feb 1885. Then pray that our readers in the Sainte-Sabine in May 1891, two more boys followed: ADLT have been spared the just a few miles from where Louis in 1887 and Joseph loss of a loved one at this my father would grow up? In Delphis in December 1888. difficult time in our history. less than a week, one According to Delphis’s bap- A century ago a pandemic Tétrault family would lose all tismal record, the godpar- ‘’What happened played a direct part in my their children! ents were none other than in Sainte-Sabine in family’s history. My father Delphis Tétreault and Éméri- Pierre Tétreault (1918-1994) But first let’s look at the te Gince, his uncle and aunt May 1891, just a never knew his father Raoul young couple who would who moved to Montana the few miles from (1888-1918). Growing up in eventually have to bear the following year. Sadly, baby where my father Farnham, Québec, he and his burden of this heart- Delphis would live only four two older siblings were de- breaking loss. Jean-Baptiste weeks. He passed away on would grow up? ‘’ prived of the love of a father Tétrault (1854-1917) mar- 19 Jan 1889. Again, the due to the outbreak of the ried Marie Gince (1856-?) on Tétrault family had to bury a Spanish flu. Raoul Tétreault 21 Oct 1879 in Sainte-Angèle young child. was a healthy 30-year-old -de-Monnoir. Jean-Baptiste when he suddenly passed was the son of Zéphirin A year later, in July 1890 a away on 29 Oct 1918¹, a vic- Tétreau (1813-1878) and son, Eugène Amédée, was tim of the pandemic of that Euphrosine Bédard (1817- born. Now there was rejoic- era. 1879). Marie was the daugh- ing again in the Tétrault fam- ter of Michel Gince and ily. There were now five At that time my dad was 4 Onésime Gervais, and was seemingly healthy children months old, my aunt Nancy also the older sister of Émé- that Jean-Baptiste and Marie was 16 months old and my rite Gince/Gence (1868- could raise in their Sainte- uncle Hubert was 2½ years 1932) who married Delphis Sabine home. The census of old. The pandemic that coin- Tétreault² (1860-1953). Canada taken on 25 Apr cided with the end of World 1891 for “Farnham War One had also affected On 1 Sep 1880 Jean-Baptiste West” (see Fig. 1) listed the

V O L 2 2 , N O 2 P A G E 42

names and ages of all five Rose (Rosalie): died 10 May burial records, a whole new children as follows: Zéphirin 1891; buried 11 May; wit- picture appears: 21 of the 22 (10), Joseph (7), Rosalie (5), nesses: Jean-Baptiste individuals buried in Sainte- Louis (4) and Amédée (1). Tétrault (father), Amédée Sabine in 1891 are children Bessette. 10 years of age or under! And then, less than two Table 1 summarizes each of weeks after the census, What happened? Was it a the burials. By comparison, something went horribly house fire? Was it an epi- in the previous year this wrong! All five children are demic? Did they all succumb same register contained the dead! Their burial records to a childhood illness easily records of only 7 burials: 4 are recorded one after the preventable with today’s adults and 3 children. modern vaccines? The parish register is silent on the cause What a tragedy for a small of death for each of these village of a few hundred in- young ones. What a tragedy habitants! We may assume for parents Jean-Baptiste that the majority of the 21 and Marie who were not children were victims of a numbered among the fatali- childhood disease epidemic ties. Between September that spared the lives of the 1883 and May 1891 they had adult population. From the lost all seven of their chil- table we also notice that dren! To lose one child is three other families (Brault, devastating! To lose five Campbell and Rainville) each within one week is unimagi- suffered the loss of two chil- Figure 1 - 1891 census nable! And to lose all seven, dren. However, the family there are no words… that suffered the greatest other in the Sainte-Sabine loss in 1891 was obviously parish register. Here is a Despite this horrendous that of Jean-Baptiste Tétrault ‘’What summary of the entries: tragedy Jean-Baptiste and and Marie Gince. Marie would have three happened? Was Joseph: died 7 May 1891; more children in subsequent Finally, if any of our readers it a house fire? buried 8 May; witnesses: years: Henri (1892), Napolé- in the ADLT have any infor- Was it an Jean-Baptiste Tétrault on Édouard (1894) and Al- mation (documents, old (father), Amédée Bessette. fred Philias (1895), with the newspapers, oral history, epidemic? Did last two living into their etc.) regarding this event, we they all Louis: died 7 May 1891; bur- eighties. would be happy to hear from ied 8 May; witnesses: Jean- you and publish an update. succumb to a Baptiste Tétrault (father), We may never know the Until then, the circumstanc- childhood illness Amédée Bessette. exact reasons for the loss of es surrounding this tragedy the five children in May in Sainte-Sabine will remain easily Eugène Amédée: died 9 May 1891. However, in order to a mystery. preventable 1891; buried 10 May; wit- better understand this series with today’s nesses: Jean-Baptiste of unfortunate events, I de- Tétrault (father), Amédée cided to do a complete re- modern Bessette, Henri Masse. view of the parish register of vaccines?’’ Sainte-Sabine for that spe- Zéphirin: died 10 May 1891; cific year. In 1891 the regis- buried 10 May; witnesses: ter contained the records of Jean-Baptiste Tétrault 21 baptisms, 4 marriages (father), Amédée Bessette, and 22 burials. Henri Masse. After reviewing each of the

LES TÉTREAU DISENT... P A G E 43 TABLE 1

Name Death Burial Age Age group S1 Léopold Brault 7 Jan 1891 8 Jan 1891 22 months child S2 Anna Exilda Brault 18 Jan 1891 19 Jan 1891 4½ years child S3 Hormidas Campbell 14 Feb 1891 15 Feb 1891 18 months child S4 Moïse Houle 15 Feb 1891 17 Feb 1891 2½ months child S5 Louise Campbell 19 Feb 1891 21 Feb 1891 3 years child S6 Victoria Joséphine Bonin 27 Feb 1891 28 Feb 1891 1 month child S7 Léonie Émond 19 Mar 1891 21 Mar 1891 15 days newborn child (*) S8 Pierre Rainville 27 Apr 1891 28 Apr 1891 8 months child S9 Léona Rainville 30 Apr 1891 1 May 1891 2 years child

S10 Joseph Stanislas Tétrault 7 May 1891 8 May 1891 8 years child

S11 Louis Tétrault 7 May 1891 8 May 1891 4 years child

S12 Zéphirin Théophile Tétrault 10 May 1891 10 May 1891 10 years child

S13 Eugène Amédée Tétrault 9 May 1891 10 May 1891 10 months child

S14 Rose Tétrault 10 May 1891 11 May 1891 6 years child

S15 Pierre Dufresne 24 May 1891 25 May 1891 ? child (**)

S16 Anonyme Masse 13 Jun 1891 13 Jun 1891 1 day newborn child

S17 Ernest Omer Boucher 26 Jun 1891 27 Jun 1891 2 months child

S18 Amanda Émond 19 Sep 1891 21 Sep 1891 4 months child (*)

S19 Anonyme Martin 28 Sep 1891 29 Sep 1891 1 day newborn child

S20 Napoléon Omer Santerre 29 Sep 1891 30 Sep 1891 1 month child

S21 Antoine Bricault 30 Oct 1891 1 Nov 1891 77 years adult

S22 Laura Charpentier 6 Nov 1891 8 Nov 1891 6 years child

* Léonie Émond and Amanda Émond come from two different families. ** No age is recorded. However the record states that Pierre Dufresne is a child.

Notes 1. The parish burial record in Farnham states that Raoul died on 29 Oct 1918, whereas the date of death on the monument is 27 Oct 1918. 2. Delphis Tétreault and Émérite Gince would relocate their young family to Montana in 1889 and become pioneers in the mainly French-speaking village of Frenchtown.

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Person in charge Contributors Josée Tétreault Marcel Bouthillier Pierrette Brière Layout and Graphics Anne-Charlotte Éthier To reach us Geneviève Tétrault Maéva Karivélil Jean-Louis Savoie « Les Tétreau disent… » Translation Claire St-Cyr 1862, boul. René-Gaultier, app. 5 Jacqueline Canu Geneviève Tétrault Varennes, QC J3X 1N7 Claire St-Cyr Gérard Tétrault 450 985-1319 Gérard Tétrault André Tétreault [email protected] Robert Tétreault Jacqueline Tétrault-Canu Danielle Tétreault Language revision Murielle Tétreault Gérard Tétrault Pierre Tétreault Robert Tétreault Robert Tétreault Postes Canada Stéphanie Tétreault Stéphanie Tétreault No de convention de la poste-publication : 40069967 Claire St-Cyr Retourner les blocs-adresses à l’adresse suivante : Josée Tétreault, 1862, boul. René-Gaultier, app. 5 Varennes, QC J3X 1N7 IMPRIMÉ - PRINTED PAPER SURFACE MEMBERSHIP FORM

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