Orena Adrianne Potvin

Orena Adrianne Potvin
Nationality:	American
Born:	September 1, 1920 Rochester, New Hampshire
Died:	December 24, 1984 Canoga Park, California
Father:	Adolph A Potvin
Mother:	Antonia M Dubois
Spouse:	Onesime Wilfred (Bill) Gagnon
Married:	September 28, 1946 Rochester, New Hampshire
Children:	Jeanne Gagnon Lorraine T Gagnon Richard Gagnon
Religion:	Roman Catholic
Residence:	Rochester, NH East Hartford, CT Newington, CT Simi Valley, CA Canoga Park, CA
Profession:	C&W Radio Singer Assembler Stay at Home Mother

Her Parents

Adolph Adrian Potvin, born in Suncook, New Hampshire on February 12, 1891. He was the son of Daniel and Emona Potvin. Adolph served in the Army during World War I as a private in Battery F of the 20th Field Artillery, and received a Victory medalter for his service. After he was honorably discharged in 1918, he made his living as a farmer and box maker.

Antonia Mary (Dubois) Potvin, born in Quebec, Canada on October 27, 1900. She was the daughter of Pierre and Caroline Dubois.

• Click on the photos to view a larger image:
• 

  Adolph in the WWI army in 1915.

• 

  Adolph and Antonia on their wedding day.

• 

  Rena's grandmother Caroline Dubois.

Rena's Childhood

Orena (Rena) Adrianne Potvin was born on September 1, 1920 in Rochester, New Hampshire to Adolph Adrian Potvin and Antonia Mary (Dubois) Potvin.

Rena with Firmin and Pete - 1935.

She has three younger brothers: Oliver Maurice (Pete), Daniel Firmin (Dan) and Gerard Raymond (Jerry), and no sisters. Her parents separated when she was a young girl and, consequently, her family was extremely poor. Despite the fact that Antonia took in business doing sewing alterations on the side, she, Rena and her brothers were on welfare. Too often, supper only consisted of baked potatoes. Sometimes Rena would have to walk to the butcher’s and ask for bones to take home for her mother to make soup. Rena grew up quickly due to the stresses of poverty.

Rena as a marchette in the 1930's.

After she completed eighth grade, she felt compelled to quit school and go to work to help support the household.

A Star is Born

When Rena was in her early twenties, she began singing with her brother, Pete.

Rena somewhere between 1940 and 1942 when she was singing on the radio as a country and western act with her brother Pete.

She had learned to play the guitar by ear and was blessed with a beautiful voice and the ability to yodel. Pete and Rena were known as the “Rambling Twins” and sang on the radio. During her radio career, Rena was known as “Rambling Rena”. It is unknown as to why she ended her singing career a few years later.

Rena and Pete, early 1940's.

Rena and Bill

In her late twenties, she moved to Connecticut where she shared an apartment with friend, Paulette Blois (who eventually became Godmother to Rena’s oldest child, Jeanne). While living in Connecticut, Rena met Onesime Wilfred (Bill) Gagnon. She admitted that she didn’t like him very much at their initial meeting, but once they began dating, they fell in love. Rena and Bill were married on September 28, 1946, not long after her 26th birthday.

Rena and Bill on their wedding day.

Rena and Bill had two daughters: Jeanne and Lorraine. Rena loved being a mother. In 1949, Rena's father suffered a skull fracture and died at the age of 58. in that same year, her mother died at the age of 50 from cancer of the kidney.

A few years later, Rena and Bill added one more time to their family, and their son, Richard was born. Their family was now complete: two beautiful daughters and a handsome son. In 1956, the family moved to California because of a better job opportunity for Bill. However, once she'd arrived there, Rena didn’t really like California and often spoke of wanting to return to Connecticut.

Bill and Rena spent lots of time with their children on camping trips and other adventures as they were growing up. Some of Rena’s interests were her love of old, black and white classic movies, bowling with a local bowling team, and taking trips to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Rena selected Queen of TOPS.

In the early 70’s, Rena joined a weight-loss support group called Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS). She seriously applied herself to the weight loss program, and lost 50 pounds. Because of her achievement, and she was crowned queen of the year at TOPS.

A Separation, and New Adventure

As the children grew and eventually began moving out of the house, Bill and Rena's marriage began to crumble. They were legally separated after 26 years of marriage. For the new chapter in her life, Rena felt the need to return to the East coast. She packed up her car and began the long drive across the United States. She spent a month on the East coast, staying with various family members.

Once she returned to California, she got an apartment and began looking for work. Over the next ten years, Rena moved a few times and worked at various companies as an Assembler. It was during this time that she became a grandmother several times as her daughter Jeanne, daughter Lorraine and son Richard began their families. She loved her children and grandchildren.

Like Her Parents, an Early Death

On December 24, 1984, at the age of 64, Rena passed away. She had had a difficult life at times, with numerous ups and downs, but she still left her family with wonderful memories of the good times.