Rosa Yvonne Michaud
| Rosa Yvonne Michaud | |
| Nationality: |  American
|
| Born: | February 8, 1900 Lewiston, Maine |
| Died: | August 16, 1985 Livermore Falls, Maine |
| Father: | Eleude James Michaud |
| Mother: | Adelaide Gousse |
| Spouse: | Onesime Gagnon (1892) Donat Labbee |
| Married: | June 26, 1916 (Gagnon) St. Remi RC Church Keegan, Maine Nov 22,1969 (Labbee,childless) St. Rose of Lima RC Church Livermore Falls, Maine |
| Children: | Onesime Wilfred (Bill) Gagnon Cecile Rosa Gagnon Blanche Alice Gagnon Yvonne Jeanette Gagnon Albert Adelard Gagnon Rita Lumina Gagnon Norman Raymond Gagnon Robert Ronald Gagnon |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic (RC) |
| Residence: | Lewiston, Maine Livermore Falls, Maine |
| Profession: | Stay at home mother Shoe shop worker |
Contents
- 1 Rosa's Childhood
- 2 1907 - Jimmy Finds the Cess Pool
- 3 Alfreda is Born, and We Move North Which Changes My Life Forever
- 4 Rosa Meets and Marries Onesime
- 5 After Onesime's Death - Author's Comments
- 6 Rosa Marries Again in Her Own Words
- 7 Author's Note - A Little Background
- 8 Rosa Continues Her Story, Now Twice Widowed
- 9 The Boys Start Moving Back to Maine
- 10 Rosa Passes
- 11 Rosa's Legacy
Rosa's Childhood
The following long account was written by Rosa herself, in response to requests by her children and grandchildren to talk about the "olden days". Only spelling and grammatical changes have been made for clarity. Any other notations have been identified.
"At the age of 22, my father married my mother, who was only 15 years old. My mother and father had twelve children – 5 boys and 7 girls. However, four boys and one girl died as babies before I was born – they were Onesime, Wilfred, Eleude, Adelard and a little girl, Elaine. This must have been very difficult on my parents. I was born on February 8, 1900 in Lewiston, Maine, on a very cold night. I was the first of my parents’ children to live past the age of a baby.
When I was eight months old, my folks moved from Lewiston to Chisholm, where I grew up on Main St. There was a nice young girl who worked in our house: Aldea Beaudette. My mother had her help in the house and care for us children. Later, in 1905, my sister Aldea was born and was named for her. I remember that night. When my sister was baptized, Aldea Beaudette became her godmother, and later entered the convent.
My father was a night watchman for Maine Central Railroad, in the roundhouse right across the street from Chabot’s. There was what they call a round table – my father backed the engine onto it, to turn the engine. I had a good time playing on the train when I was young.
One spring, my father bought a little farm in East Jay, but my mother did not like it there. I went to school in a little schoolhouse that Herbert Fuller later turned into a nice home of his own. I remember my sister Ida and I picking strawberries with an old, gentleman named Parker Smith. He would talk to us in English and we would answer in French. The following fall we moved back to Chisholm, and the following spring we moved back to East Livermore, because my mother said she would try again. Unfortunately, it was no better, because my father was a night watchman. He was gone at night, and would sleep during the day, so we were alone all the time.
The second time we moved back to town, my father bought a house from Pierre Bolduc, which is the house where Altaire Legere lives today. Pierre Bolduc and his wife became my sister Ida’s godparents.
1907 - Jimmy Finds the Cess Pool
When I was 7, I remember Mr. Bolduc had moved his house behind the big house. He had buried the cess pit hole pretty good, but not good enough. My brother, who was 4 years old at the time, and myself, and my sister Ida were playing in the back of the house. The ground sank underneath my brother, and he fell into the hole. I held a stick for him to hold on to, and Ida ran to the house to get my mother. There was my brother, in shit up to his arm pits!
I had a nice childhood. I was the oldest and was allowed to stay up late at night because my father was at work. My mother and I would sing together, and she would play the mouth harp and make me dance. The following year, I started in the French school, in preparation for my communion.
The summer when I was 9, I got on the train all by myself and went to Lewiston to spend the summer with my Godparents, my mother’s uncle and aunt, who met me at the station. They had a nice big farm, where I enjoyed riding on the hay rack. I had a wonderful summer vacation.
I remember there was a livery stable in Chisholm, and every Sunday afternoon my father would rent a horse and two-seat buggy, and we would take a ride to visit our friends on their farms. We had lots of friends: the Nadeau’s, Bergeron’s, Labbee’s, Turcott’s. We were not rich, but very happy.
In May 29, 1910, I made my first communion. I remember how happy I was, dressed in white with a white veil, and how proud I was to receive Christ in my heart. It was the happiest day of my life. Then June 11, 1910, which was my mother’s birthday, I made my confirmation. I felt more grown-up and confused, because I knew the next big event in my life would be marriage.
My mother was a very pretty woman, tall and slim. I am glad she lived as long as she did, but I miss her terribly.
Alfreda is Born, and We Move North Which Changes My Life Forever
In the winter of 1912, we were sent to a neighbor’s house to spend the night. I was upset to go because my mother was crying, and I always hated to see my mother cry. The next morning, my father came to get us, and when we got home, we saw my mother sick in bed. She had had a baby girl in the night – what a doll she was! I asked my mother if I could be her godmother, and she said yes. How I loved that little girl, my sister Alfreda.
In December of 1912, my sister Ida took sick with a ruptured appendix at the age of eleven years old. She was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, and died four days later. She is buried in Holy Cross cemetery in Livermore Falls. Out of twelve children, only five were left: myself, Alcide (Jim), Aldea, Lumina and Alfreda. Another baby, Rosime, who was born between Aldea and Lumina, was stillborn.
In February of 1913, when I was thirteen, a group of us were sliding down Jewel St one afternoon, on our way home to dinner. The driver of a double-runner lost control. We were lucky, Joe Fournier and I were able to pull ourselves out of the middle of the road in time. The rest of them hit the train at Chisholm crossing. However, Joseph Pomerleau and Bernadette Charest were killed, and Albert Pomerleau and Kate Herbert were badly hurt.
In March of 1914, my folks moved to a small town in the Northern part of Maine, called Keegan, along the St. John river. I went back to school there. In the fall of that year, my mother had to go to the hospital. The nearest one was in Bangor. As the oldest living child, I had to quit school to take care of the family and do the housework, because the youngest child was only 3 years old. I never returned to school."
Rosa Meets and Marries Onesime
It was presumably while living in Keegan that she came to meet her future husband, Onesime. Please click on this link to follow the next portion of her life Onesime Gagnon (1892).
- Click on the photos below to view a larger image:
Rosa at 15 with Miss/Mrs Dumont.
Onesime and Rosa with the Dumonts.
Michaud siblings as adults in 1932. Back row from left: Mina, Mother Sophie, Freda, Jim; from row from left: unknown (Ida?), Aldea, Rosa.
After Onesime's Death - Author's Comments
Thankfully, Rosa left her large family a gift - quite a bit of documentation, complete with dates and anecdotes. Without these notes, it is unlikely that we would have so much rich detail to share. Rosa’s story continues, mostly in her own words, with several additions and topic headings as were necessary to organize thoughts, or to correct and/or clarify discrepancies.
Rosa Marries Again in Her Own Words
"Onesime always said that he would watch over me. Two years after he died, he sent me in the direction of a friend - a man that had worked together with him in the mill over forty years – Donat Labbee. Donat was as nice a man as Onesime had been. We were married on November 22, 1969.
We were very happy together, had a good time, took many trips, even a cross country trip on a jet. He was so happy living here with me. Every night he would tell me over and over how much he loved me and how happy I made him. Our marriage didn’t last too long – only a little over 6 years." In February, 1970, we went to Connecticut to attend a surprise 20th anniversary party for my son Albert and his wife Irene, given by their children. Later that year, "my baby sister Alfreda, my godchild, died on July 30, 1970 at the age of 58, too young.
In March of 1975, Donat and I were crowned the King and Queen of Nutrition at the Senior’s Group we belonged to.
Then, on February 25, 1976, Donat and I came home from spending the afternoon playing cards with the senior citizens at Murray Hall. He died at 5 o’clock right before my eyes. Once again, I was alone, and this time it was worse, as I was older and not as healthy."
Author's Note - A Little Background
In the mid-seventies, when Donat died, Bill and Bobby were still living in California, and Albert still lived in Connecticut. Norman, who had always lived next door up the hill, had separated from Yolande and left home to live in another town. Cecile had never learned to drive and lived in a nearby town with no transportation, Blanche was 60 miles away and didn't drive either, and Rita, who also lived up the hill (but across the street), was getting re-married and moving to East Livermore, about 5-10 miles away. Rosa was feeling very lonely, vulnerable and abandoned at this point.
Rosa Continues Her Story, Now Twice Widowed
"Rita is getting married again, on April 19, 1976, and is moving to East Livermore. God only knows who can help me. Norman has left his home and family. Yolande is always ready to help me, but can she? Nancy is often helpful, but I am sitting here with 2 feet of snow on my back porch, and water came in the shed. Luckily Maurice Fuller who is marrying Rita opened my driveway and he never wants to be paid.
Today, Bud and Blanche were here, and cleaned my porch, so now I am good for the winter. Wilfred was here from California for Rita’s wedding, and he took my storm windows down, washed my windows from the outside, put my screens on, and put up the screen door. Buddy, Norman’s oldest son cuts my grass, but after he graduates, he is leaving for the marines. Patty helped me with my spring cleaning.
I bought some new curtains for my bedroom and a new bedspread. I am trying to change the look a little because it is so lonesome, you die by inches and inches.
Wilfred and Robert want me to spend the winter in California, but I don’t know. At least I wouldn’t have to be buried in snow, but it’s lonesome there, I don’t know anyone. They are gone all day at work. I was in the hospital two weeks ago for a week – the doctor called it depression and a weeping heart. Mina and I were going out to dinner sometimes, it helps to pass the time away, but last Monday she was taken to Maine Medical hospital in Portland for a serious operation. If she died, then I will be like a lost sheep.
Yesterday, Aldea and I went to visit her with Yolande, Rita and Maurice. Mina looks much better. We can’t go too often because we don’t know the way. It looks as if she will come out of it OK, but all of our plans for this summer are cancelled.
On June 23, we put on our senior citizen play at Norland's, it was done outdoors.
Albert called on Sunday night to tell me that Irene was in the hospital, gall bladder operation. Mina came out of her operation good, and came to stay with me for 4 weeks while she recovered. I felt safer when she was here, and felt very alone again when she left.
I have lots of friends and play cards every week, it tires me terribly, but it helps to pass the time. We take turns having it at our houses and we call it the widow’s club, because we are all widows living alone.
Two weeks ago, I went to spend the weekend with Onesime’s cousin in Waterville, she was very pleased. She will come to visit me in August. Mina and I took a bus trip to visit her son Roland and his family. We had a nice visit there for a week. We had only bought one-way tickets, so Roland drove us to my son Albert’s house in Connecticut, where we stayed another week. Then Albert and Irene drove us home, and stayed for a few days before driving back home themselves.
Wilfred, his daughter Lorraine, and her 2 daughters arrived on October 2, 1976. I went back to California with them, but planned a long stay, because I don’t have a return ticket, maybe a month.
When we arrived in California, Robert was there to meet us. So, the next day, we drove to Robert’s house in Benicia and I stayed with them for 2 weeks. Wilfred came to pick me up, and I stayed with him for 2 weeks and visited everyone, Richard and his wife Chris, they had a second child a boy named Adam. On the way home from California, I stopped in Connecticut and visited 2 weeks with Albert’s family. I had a nice vacation.
Wilfred wanted me to stay all winter in California. I should have, for I was buried in snow, we had a hard winter that year. I will not stay another winter (in Maine) if I am still alive.
Now snow is all gone and spring is here. I had planned to go to Canada to a sugar cabin but changed my mind. I am going to go to Connecticut with Rita and Maurice and stay over at Albert’s for the weekend. He called last night about bringing some buckwheat flour so I can make him some ployes.
Wilfred, Jeannie and Shawn arrived in Portland on June 18 for a visit this summer. On July 23, 1977, I went to a wedding in Canada with Rene & Emile Labbee and his wife. Had a nice time there. In August, I went back with Rene to a funeral for Donat’s brother, Wilfred.
On October 7, 1977, I went to Madawaska with Rita and Maurice. I had the pleasure of going to mass in the church I was married the first time, to Onesime, the father of all my children. I could picture myself going down the aisle as a bride when I walked down the aisle to receive communion. On the way home, going through Presque Isle, some young kid ran into our car and it was demolished. Thank God we were safe, no broken bones.
On October 11, 1977 Cecile had her foot amputated, due to the complications of diabetes. I have always pitied people who have their foot cut off, I never thought it would happen in my family. There is always a good side to look at – it could have happened when her children were all small.
On October 25, Norman paid me a visit for the first time since he left his family. I was so very pleased. In November, I am going with Rita and Maurice to see Juanita and her family in Dover, Delaware. Then we will go to the northern part of Maine.
Wilfred arrived on November 17 to take me to California to spend the winter there, but I have not decided yet. I bought cheap tickets today at the senior citizen center. Four of us sang French songs, and I sang a solo all by myself, you should have heard the applause.
Alphonse and Aldea celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary – they made it longer than we did. On November 4, I was admitted to the hospital for several days. Wilfred and Grace arrived on the 17th, and I was still in the hospital, but I was discharged the next day. Robert remarried Diann Smith on Nov 19, 1977. Then Wilfred, Grace and I left Portland for Los Angeles on November 28th, and I stayed all winter with Wilfred alone. He looks so much like his father when he was in his sixties, it seemed like I was living with Onesime again. I spent a very nice, quiet winter there.
In January, 1978, I heard that my son Albert had a very bad heart attack. He has lost a lot of weight, that is good for him, but he doesn’t seem like he feels too good.
On February 12, my sister Lumina came to join me in California, and we flew back together to Connecticut to my son Albert’s house. They were at the airport to greet us, and we stayed a few days there. Bud and Blanche came down from Maine to visit and drive us home.
I have been in the senior citizen plays ever since it started six years ago. When we put on the play on May 8-9, the director surveyed the group to see who had been married the longest with the same husband. Mrs. Grua was first, 53 years, then me. Then he asked who had the most children? Blanche Poulin won with 15. Then how many grandchildren and great grandchildren? Well, Blanche had 84 grand and great-grand but she counted her step children, but I didn’t. But here comes the king, Rosa, your turn. I stood up proudly and said I have 5 generations in all, 92, and they are all ours, I didn’t count the step children, because if I had it would have been 140. Then he asked me to tell a joke. Well, I said that Blanche always blamed the freight that always woke them up in the morning. Well, I didn’t blame nobody, it all started with one, and still going strong. You should have heard the applause.
The Boys Start Moving Back to Maine
The summer of the year 1979, I had a pretty nice summer, and felt pretty well. My oldest son Wilfred has come back to Maine to live, and has bought cousin Flossie Bilodeau’s house on Beaulieu Rd. He had a lot of work to do in the house to make it to his taste. He has a very nice lady friend, a lady named Grace who is originally from Oklahoma. Robert and Diann spent a month with me, it was so nice to have my baby back home again. He painted all my ceilings and two rooms, and she did my spring cleaning. Gee, that was a great help. Then Robert, Diann, Blanche, Rita and I took a trip to the northern part of Maine, and went to the church where I was married in Keegan again. The we traveled across Canada to St Ann de Beaupre – what a beautiful trip. We had such a nice time, visiting all of my friends in Keegan, whoever was still alive.
Well after all of my heart attacks and operations, I have finally reached my 80th birthday. We all had dinner over at Wilfred’s house, had a nice day. I received nice gifts and many cards. I spent a week over at Blanche’s, had a nice time and rested from making all my quilts. Rita told me that she would take me to Canada this summer, so I should write to Donat’s relatives. I would like that very much.
Well, now spring has arrived and we had a nice winter, I was not sick once. So now I am in the plays again at the senior center. I always say it’s my last year but I enjoy it so much. We practice in the forenoon, and then we all bring our lunch. It’s just like one family. Rita has promised me that she would do my blinds and woodwork, which is a big help. I have a hard time to reach over my head. I also get depressed at times, the evenings are so lonesome, and then I thank God I am able to do what I do. Mina and I used to go out together, but now she has found a man friend, and of course I am in the back seat. I can’t go out with her anymore, he’s always around.
On Dec 14, 1980, Wilfred married Grace, whom he had been seeing for some time.
I have not gone to California for sometime, as we have been having mild winters, and when the wind blows hard I stay in the house. I always have something to do, I am still making quilts, which passes my time very well. OK, it’s very lonesome, but I have lots to be thankful for. I passed my road test and I have my driver’s license for two more years. I have my car and go to senior citizen’s, where I am in the play every year, and have joined the singing group. I enjoy it very much. Wilfred and Grace left Monday for Oklahoma to visit her father. They wanted me to go too, but I couldn’t because we have rehearsals on Wednesdays for the senior citizen’s play, which they put on every year in May.
This year, it was the best play we ever put on. I was represented by all my family. Out of seven children, I had six there. Only Robert from California couldn’t come. They came from Connecticut, Brunswick, Lewiston, and three from Livermore Falls. How pleased I was, people told me I looked so happy on stage. Who wouldn’t? Grandmother of 5 generations, have almost 100 descendents, top lady in town.
My sister Mina got married and will move to Green, Maine. Gee, I am going to miss her. She had quite a nice wedding, her son Roland and his wife stood up for her (as best man and matron of honor). We all went to Happy Jack’s for a wedding supper, and then went to Jacques Cartier club to dance. We had a nice time.
Robert was here for 2 weeks with his wife, and we had a nice visit. Albert came, and again, I was with my whole family. But there is always one missing – the most important one of all, the father. He has left us for a better place, but I miss him so. That wound will never heal, but I am sure he looks in on us from heaven.
This summer I had planned to go to Canada, but with one thing after another, the summer went by. Rita gave me a nice trip to visit her daughter Juanita and family in South Dakota. We had beautiful weather, and visited a few places. Juanita has a nice husband, two cute little boys, and smart. I enjoyed my visit, but came home tired and such. For a poor woman, I surely get around. I have been sick for quite a while, my food is not digesting properly, it just sits in my stomach like lead.
My trips to the northern part of Maine are pretty much over now. Rita’s son Kenny and his wife don’t live there anymore, they have moved to a town near Bangor, called Brewer.
In November, Wilfred and Grace are going to California. I will go to Connecticut to see Albert and Irene for a couple of months while Bill and Grace are in California”.
This is where Rosa's narrative ends.
Rosa Passes
In 1984, she had developed cancer again, and became very ill. Despite her children taking turns caring for her, she was too ill to stay at home. Many of her children had health issues of their own to care for. On Friday afternoon, August 16, 1985, Rosa died at the Pomeroy Hill nursing home, losing her final battle to this cancer.
Rosa's Legacy
She wrote a family history in her own words and in her own distinctive handwriting about her childhood, Onesime's childhood, their married life and the tragedies. She even had copies made and bound for each of her children before she passed. (This was the primary material used to create her and Onesime's pages for this site). She hand wrote a codicil to her will to designate who should get which objects so there would be no arguing. In short, she was successfully able to exert control even from the grave, and anticipate where problems could arise after she departed.
Although she was widowed twice and lost an infant, she was lucky enough not to have to suffer the loss of an adult child or grandchild. She was a tough mother, and a critical grandmother to those who were not her favorites. Many would agree that she could have done a much better job of praising and encouraging her children and grandchildren. But, in spite of her mothering style, (or maybe because of it as a defense mechanism), she raised children who bonded with each other. Who, for the most part, got along with each other. Who helped each other when they could, who got together often, and who teased each other with love, and in good fun. Despite their individual challenges, they all lived good lives, raised good children, and had grandchildren.
As of this writing, we have said goodbye to almost all of Rosa's children now, with the exception of Rita, who, at 91 is marvelously healthy and going strong - God Bless her!
- Bill, Bob and Norm helped Al build his garage on Beaulieu Rd in 1985. Click on the photos below to view a larger image:
Albert on the ladder (left); Bill standing, talking to Bob who is seated watching over his son Matthew behind the post.
Al on the roof, Bill sitting, of trouble (left); Bill's truck camper stored at Al's house.
Completed garage on the left, Irene in the new garage on the right.
