Annie Hardy Calais
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Florent and Agnes Angelle Hardy Family Memorial Honoring Annie Hardy Calais Established by Dr. Florent “Pon” Hardy, Jr. “Pon” and Aunt Annie Annie Hardy Calais Memorial Donors Dr. Florent “Pon” Hardy, Jr. Mary Hardy dela Houssaye Belleau Henry Charles Taylor Rod and Betty Roy A Selection of Annie Hardy Calais’ Personal Family Memoires Compiled by Nephew Florent “Pon” Hardy, Jr., Ph.D. September 2016 July 26, 1927 – April 2, 2020 ~~~Contents~~~ Mama’s Family in France Genealogy Summary Written by Annie My mother Adelaide Blasia Pelafigue Hardy, beloved doesn't begin to say it! As Daughter Earliest Remembrances of Child Experiences Growing Up Mai Babelles World’s Fair (1924) Tante La Gross Guerre Social of Sorts Extras Memories of All Saints Day in the 1930s A Selection of Annie Calais’ Personal Family Memoires Compiled by Florent “Pon” Hardy, Jr., Ph.D. September 2016 Mama’s Family in France Notes from Mr. J. P. Nogaret from research conducted by Mr. Guy Cassagnet 65490-Oursbelille, France. Telephone (62) 35-31-23. No date. The origin of your family stems from Beaucens, a village at the foot of the Pyrenees. Your grandmother, Adelaide, was born there on November 22, 1881. Her father, Jean- Marie Pelafigue, was born at St. Pastous; a charming village of the pastoral zone, near Argelez-Gazhoste and Beaucens. He came to Beaucens to marry Melanie Pere, and lived there with his wife in a beautiful home in this beautiful country called Lavedan. This house is still standing. The couple had five children, of which your grandmother, Adelaide, was one. Following misfortune, Jean-Marie left for a new location in close proximity to Argelez-Gazhoste. He and his children then immigrated to the United States in 1886. He lived in Louisiana, but, being nostalgic for his native country, he returned to France in 1920. He died in St. Pastous, his native village, and was buried there. The people of St. Pastous still remember him. Adelaide’s mother, Melanie, had a sister, Irene, who married Mr. Lie. They had a son named Dominique, who is still living. He is 82 years old, and although his physical capabilities are limited, his memory is intact. He still remembers his first cousins’ departure to America, and he awaits the return of his cousins. His son, Regis Lie, is married and has three children (a boy and two girls). He lives in Beaucens, and is 35 years old. His family enjoys a simple lifestyle, but they are very hospitable. He would be delighted to meet you, but as with all modest and reserved rural people, he does not dare take the first step. Here is their address: Monsieur et Madame Regis Lie Hameau de Vielle 65400-Beaucens (France) Genealogy Summary Written by Annie Jean Marie Pelafigue, my Grandpere, crossed the Atlantic with his family to come to America in the late 1880s. I remember Mama telling me that her family, the Pelafigues, left Beaucens France when she was approximately three and a half years old. Grandpere and his wife, Melanie Pere Pelafigue settled in LA because friends and relatives had moved here and the prospect of acquiring land on which to grow sugar cane and join the old friends was what brought them here. The region in France where they lived was mountainous and the family raised sheep; they came to Arnaudville, along the beautiful Bayou Teche. 1 Their five children were Marie, Donatien, Adelaide, Auguste and Emily. Three of the children married; Marie to an Hebert, Donatien to a Miller and Adelaide married my Papa, H. Hardy in 1904. Auguste and Emily were never married. I remember the excitement in the 30’s when the cousins and friends from Lake Charles and surrounding areas would visit. Joseph Pelafigue visited often, and the Laportes, Puegeots and Domecs that I recall. My grandfather received a newspaper, La Beye (Bee) from France regularly. His neighbor Marcelan Domec always came by to read it. Mama talked often of the many stories her father and mother related to her about their native France. Although she was young when she came to America, she related many stories to me. She told me how the Pyrenees were magnificent. The crossing of the Atlantic was traumatic and she recalled a burial at sea. She remembered the body on a board being slid into the sea. Mama’s mother’s maiden name was Pere. Her mother, Melanie Pere Pelafigue died young and is buried n an unmarked tomb in the Arnaudville cemetery. Jean Marie borrowed a wagon from Amilcar R… to bring his wife’s body to the cemetery. He went alone. There were many Peres in Abbeville. Once Grandpere’s family was settled he longed to go back to France, his homeland. He entrusted his youngest, unmarried daughter Emily to Papa and Mama. Papa told me that he promised him that “Tante” as Emily was called, would not have to work in the field because she had asthma. We were the lucky ones to have Tante in our home. She worked side by side with Mama and Papa to rear 12 children. She was like a second mother to my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and children. She became a friend; Tante was terrific. Final preparations were made for Grandpere to go back to France. The family gathered at the Southern Pacific depot in Arnaudville to bid him farewell. The Southern Pacific train passed parallel to Papa’s property. Mama remembered every detail of that day. He wore a white shirt and black hat. He stood on the caboose waving a white handkerchief and they waved back as long as he was in sight. Finally, the track curved and he disappeared. The family felt the loss and sadness of never seeing him again. Jean Marie never returned to LA again. He died in France. He is buried in St. Pastous, France. We keep in touch with remaining cousins whom some of us have met. It was always Mama’s dream to go back to France, but she never did. Her father told the story of the many times he walked to Lourdes. Mama had a special religious upbringing and she was full of stories of Lourdes. She read every article in the newpaper about France, and during WWII, three of her sons were in France, helping defend her homeland. She had 4 stars in her front door because another son was in the Pacific. Auguste, our uncle, lived in a two room home near ours. Known to all of Arnaudville as Nonco, he spent his life spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All of us made our debut in acting on that stage in reciting a poem, waving a flag, acting out a play and singing. He traveled on foot to Leonville, Bushville, Coteau Rodaire, Huron and Cecilia to round up the children for his plays. On the Feast of the Sacred Heart, everybody showed up. He organized and promoted the League of the Sacred Heart. Every month he hand delivered the leaflets to those who did not pick them up after mass. He went to all the masses on Sundays and walked to all the weekday masses as well. 2 Papa was proud of his family. He was the kind willing to stand in the background and lend a hand whenever we needed one. In the old days he woke at 2 in the morning during the dead of winter, hitched the old horse to the wagon and set out for Opelousas on Friday morning. He always had fresh fish to sell at his fish house. In 1987, my sister, Sister Rita Hardy, a nun with the Marianites of Holy Cross, spent a year at one of their convents in LeMans, France. She wrote to tell how the ride between LeMans and Paris was picturesque. She saw hills and valleys, green and yellow fields. In August she rode to Lourdes and Beaucens. One cousin, Regis Lie’s mother, now nearing 90, embraced her and welcomed her to the old homestead. It was an emotional experience to visit the home where Mama was born. The cousins brought her to visit the grave of our Grandpere, Jean Marie. Her visit to Mama’s homeland was short, but the many letters and photographs and literature she shared with the family during her year’s stay made it possible for us to journey to Mama’s homeland. She always wrote back home to us; I think of you, you would love it here. My mother Adelaide Blasia Pelafigue Hardy, beloved doesn't begin to say it! Mornings we faced the rising sun and said the "morning offering" to God. We were twelve in the family so prayer was said by groups as we readied for school or work. Mama worked hard with a gentle air, helping each as we needed. Big meals were served by Mama and "Tante" an aunt who lived with us, while Papa worked. After school we were welcomed with the smell of fresh homemade baked bread, fresh cream and sugar. Our home had beautiful holy pictures and Catholic magazines throughout. Sunday and weekday masses were our mainstay because God was made real to us by her example. ...I remember her small parterre, flower garden, that smelled of jasmine, soft pink roses trailing over the old bob-wired fence, a grapevine, wisteria, a peach tree, and unkempt grass...today I remember Mama in the blue moonlight as we sat there , watched fireflies and sang together. Annie Hardy Calais. As Daughter My mother, Adelaide Pelafigue, was a French immigrant who came to America from Beaucens, Archelez-Gashoste, a picturesque southern French village located in the slanted green pastures of the Pyrenees Mountains approximately twenty miles from Lourdes.