Ann (Annie) Godin is my Great Grandmother on my Mom's side of the family. She was born May 31, 1874 in Petit Rocher, Gloucester county, New Brunswick. Annie was the 7th child of Marcelline Roy and the 2nd child of Joseph Godin.
Annie and her 14 siblings were raised in Beresford, Gloucester county, New Brunswick; just down the road from Petit Rocher. She was raised next door to her future husband and probably had many interactions with his family.
Annie's father earned a living as a labourer and farmer. The farm must have been used to help feed the family. Annie was lucky enough to have been born after the Common School Act which allowed her to attend primary school for free; where she learned to read and write. She would have most likely helped her mother with her 8 younger siblings and did farm chores before and after school.
On June 21, 1892, just after Annie's 18th birthday, she married her recently widowed (6 months) neighbour, Victor Pitre, who was 13 years older than her. I wonder if she helped Victor look after his 4 young children after the death of his wife and maybe even before. Did a romance blossom or was it a marriage of need for Victor? Which ever it was they went on to have 16 more children!
Annie and Victor raised their family of 21 children in Beresford right next door to Victor's family and several household away from Annie's family, until at least 1921. They always had a large number of children at home from just 4 when they were first married to 10 children still living at home in 1921 ranging in age from 3-24 years old.
Annie and Victor continued to live in Beresford until at least 1930 when Victor died. It is quite possible that Annie continued to live there until 1945. Her death certificate states that she lived in West Bathurst for 3 years, prior to that I am guessing that she continued to live in Beresford. Her death was reported by her daughter Delores Pitre (my grandmother). I wonder if she lived her last 3 years with my grandparents? Annie was under a doctors care from May 10 to 24th 1948. She was just shy of her 74th birthday when she died May 24, 1948 from heart problems.
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