Orena Adrianne Potvin - Revision history

Louise: /* Like Her Parents, an Early Death */

2015-07-28T08:00:50Z

‎Like Her Parents, an Early Death

Louise: /* Rena and Bill */

2015-07-28T07:59:40Z

‎Rena and Bill

Louise: /* Rena and Bill */

2015-07-28T07:56:34Z

‎Rena and Bill

Louise: /* Rena and Bill */

2015-07-28T07:54:31Z

‎Rena and Bill

Louise: /* Rena and Bill */

2015-07-28T07:53:42Z

‎Rena and Bill

Louise at 07:52, 28 July 2015

2015-07-28T07:52:51Z

Louise at 07:49, 28 July 2015

2015-07-28T07:49:29Z

Louise: /* Rena and Bill */

2015-07-28T07:44:10Z

‎Rena and Bill

Louise at 07:41, 28 July 2015

2015-07-28T07:41:17Z

Louise: /* A Star is Born */

2015-07-23T17:09:38Z

‎A Star is Born

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:00, 28 July 2015
Line 48:		Line 48:

	==Like Her Parents, an Early Death==		==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.	+	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.

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 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.
-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. [[File:Rena-queen.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Rena, selected Queen of TOPS.]]
+[[File:Rena-queen.jpg|right|thumb|250px|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==

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 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.
-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.
+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. [[File:Rena-queen.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Rena, selected Queen of TOPS.]]
 ==A Separation, and New Adventure==

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 ==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. [[File:BillRena-wedding-formal.jpg|Left|thumb|250px|Rena and Bill on their wedding day.]]
+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. [[File:BillRena-wedding-formal.jpg|left|thumb|250px|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.

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 ==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. [[File:BillRena-wedding-formal.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Rena and Bill on their wedding day.]]
+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. [[File:BillRena-wedding-formal.jpg|Left|thumb|250px|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.

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 ==A Star is Born==
-Shortly after her mother's death, when Rena was in her early twenties, she began singing with her brother, Pete.  [[File:RamblinRena-c4042.jpg|left|thumb|150px|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.[[File:rena-pete.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Rena and Pete, early 1940's.]]
+When Rena was in her early twenties, she began singing with her brother, Pete.  [[File:RamblinRena-c4042.jpg|left|thumb|150px|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.[[File:Rena-pete.jpg|right|thumb|250px|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.
+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. [[File:Rena-pete.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Rena and Pete, early 1940's.]]
 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.

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 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 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.
+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.
-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.
+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.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 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, 1890.  She was the daughter of Pierre and Caroline Dubois.
+Antonia Mary (Dubois) Potvin, born in Quebec, Canada on October 27, 1900.  She was the daughter of Pierre and Caroline Dubois.
 <gallery widths=180px heights=180px perrow=3 caption="Click on the photos to view a larger image:">
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 ==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.  [[File:r-bros-1935.jpg|left|thumb|350px|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.  [[File:rena-marchette.jpg|right|thumb|350px|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. When Rena was 20 in 1940, her mother died at the age of 50 from cancer of the kidney.
+Orena (Rena) Adrianne Potvin was born on September 1, 1920 in Rochester, New Hampshire to Adolph Adrian Potvin and Antonia Mary (Dubois) Potvin.  [[File:r-bros-1935.jpg|left|thumb|350px|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.  [[File:rena-marchette.jpg|right|thumb|350px|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==
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 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 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.  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.
+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.