PIQUETTE, MARIE-ANGE (154 ENGLISH -- 153 franc)

PIQUETTE, MARIE-ANGE  (154 ENGLISH)


Marie-Ange - dau of Narcisse Piquette + Angélina Nadeau
                      b.  1897-08-06 Normandin, Lac-St-Jean, QC
                       m. 1913-08-04 Normandin, Lac-St-Jean, QC + Alfred Boivin  (Eugène)
                       d.  2000-05-14 Maillardville (Vancouver) CB
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The population of Normandin, QC  can be proud of their Marie-Ange PIQUETTE
                                                                          --------- 

It was in 1930 when Alfred Boivin lost his employment at Jonquière, QC, that the family which consisted of twelve children arrived in Alberta.  This was at the beginning of the Great Depression so to come to take land in Eaglesham really demanded courage.  Everyone had to pitch-in and help.  The young girls aged 13 and 14 hired out to do housework for local people. One worked for my mother who said "These girls really know how to work."

Eusèbe Boivin, father of Alfred, Marie-Ange and her father Narcisse Piquette
mariage at Normandin, Lac-St-Jean, QC
August 4th, 1913  

                                                                            .......
They had a lot of stamina these Boivin-Piquettes.  Just recently (1995) it wasn't rare to see Maurice, the eldest of the family, shoveling snow off the roof of his house even if he was passed 80 years!

The first house on the homestead in Eaglesham, AB

In the 1940's when there were picnics, and church bazaars (for the Tangent church), it was Marie-Ange who was in charge of the kitchen and when my mother asked her if her daughters and daughters-in-laws would be able to help her; she replied, "My daughters and daughters-in-law have their arms filled with children." Maurice, Cecile and Eugenie, the three eldest had 51 children amongst the three of them.  Some have died by now.  In 2006, there was a numerous group of descendants, some even aged 90, 88 and 87_

In 1938, Alfred and Marie-Ange celebrated 25 years of marriage surrounded by their 16 children.  The last child was born the following year in 1939!

                     
In 1944, Alfred and Marie-Ange moved to Tangent and built a restaurant and hotel.  They remained there until 1956.

In 1956, Marie-Ange and Alfred went to work in McLennan at the hospital.  Marie-Ange was the chief cook, and Alfred was the "flunky".  Then they moved to Girouxville, Alberta.

In 1973, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.  Grand-Dad Alfred was 84 and very able of dancing which surprised many.  On this occasion, someone took a photo of each generation.

In 1983, they celebrated their 70th anniversary at Shaw's point and their extended family still kept growing. They also celebrated Marie-Ange's birthday which was two days later.

Nine nieces and nephrew came for the 70th anniversary
 in Shaw's Point, AB

                                                    In 1985, Alfred died in Vancouver, BC.  He was 96; he had known 71 years of married life, been the father of 17, all living; the grandfather of 123 living grandchildren..more than 300 great-grandchildren and many great, great grandchildren (probably more than 80 at this point.)

Marie-Ange Piquette taken
 in Chilliwack, BC on her 100 th anniversary

                                                                     
 In 1997, Marie-Ange Boivin celebrated her one hundredth birthday.  More than 300 descendants and spouses left northern Alberta to go celebrate great-"grandmammas's" birthday in Vancouver, BC.

Marie-Ange spent a lot of time with the family at the camp-site and she really appreciated the concert which the great-great-grand children made for her. They numbered 90.

In April 2000, a grandson went to visit her and asked her "Do you recognize me?" "Of course" she replied, "but I may not have had I seen you walking on the street. At age 102 she recognized all her grandchildren (123) and  knew their name; (according to the family historian.)

Marie-Ange died suddenly.  She had been well and very alert all day.  She fell that evening and died during the night leaving 97 great, great grandchildren and when we asked if there was a 6th generation they replied, "It's possible  because there were three great, great grandchildren in their twenties."

To have lived 102 years and nine months, to have seen three centuries, to have been alert and in good health up to the last day, is quite simply marvelous!

      She left her family on Sunday night, May 14, 2000 on Mother's Day, to join her husband, Alfred.  She left behind close to 900 descendants and their spouses.  The funeral was held in Maillardville, BC.

                                                                      ---------

Lignée ancestrale de Marie-Ange PIQUETTE:

1 - PIQUETTE, Joseph + Thérèse Mérienne  m. 1706-02-10  Québec

2 - PIQUETTE, Louis + Charlotte Voyne  m. 1764-01-16  Pointe-aux-Trembles,QC

3 - PIQUETTE, Nicolas + Marie Dugas  m. 1799-06-08  Assomption, QC

4 - PIQUETTE, Narcisse + Marguerite Laberge  m. 1830-05-18  St-Jacques. Mtl

5 - PIQUETTE, Narcisse + Angélina Nadeau  m. 1886-01-15  St-Ligori, Mtl.

6 - PIQUETTE, Marie-Ange + Alfred Boivin  m. 1913-08-04  Normandin. QC

written in 1995
redone in 2004 with the help of the historian of the family, Diane Bourassa, daughter of Annette, grand-daughter of Cécile Boivin

NOTE: Maurice, the oldest of the family died on May 23 2014 - aged 99 yrs and 8 mos, father of 19 childrenre, married to Cécile Granger Boivin for 77 years. His spouse Cécile died January 23 2015, aged 99 years old. 
            Cécile Boivin Sylvestre, still living 98 years old
            Eugénie Boivin Bédard died July 29 2014, aged 96 and 8 mos, mother of 20 children
            a family of lots of longevity genes....