Alice Laura Hemestretch Nicholls

"Auntie Laurie" as she was so fondly known by her family in Australia was born 2 July 1900 in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, England. She was the daughter of Arthur Edward Hemestretch and Alica Charlotte Holes. She was the first of three children, Ethel May and Arthur Edward were her siblings. Unfortunately, her mother died when she was 5 years old. In the 1911 census her father and her sister, Ethel, are living with her father's brother James and her younger brother is living with her father's sister Laura Sims and her husband Stephen.

During her remarkable lifetime, Laurie prepared meals for many distinguished individuals, including Queen Elizabeth II as a child. She started working when she was 14 years old, and worked in mulitple homes of the well-off. While working for Sir Cecil Boydrochford, she had met William while he was a butler and she was the cook. On July 2nd, 1945—her 45th birthday—she married William David Nicholls as a proud war bride, a moment beautifully captured in the accompanying photograph. With William still serving in the military, he soon returned to his unit while Laurie continued to work as a cook while awaiting her journey to New South Wales. In 1946, she traveled aboard a "War Bride Ship," joining scores of young women reunited with their husbands. One can only imagine the joyful anticipation as the vessel, carrying its precious cargo of hopeful new brides, was welcomed by soldiers longing for the embrace of love and home.

Though they never had children of their own, Auntie Laurie and Uncle Bill made their home in Ashfield, NSW, Australia to stay close to family. Over the years, their apartment became a cherished gathering place—a haven of stories, laughter, and unforgettable meals. Uncle Bill, with his spirited war tales, captivated listeners, while Auntie Laurie charmed everyone with memories of cooking for the Queen during her youth. Her culinary talents were legendary—every dish she served truly was “fit for a queen.” She held fast to her English heritage, with grace and propriety woven into everything she did.

Auntie Laurie’s presence was a treasure at every family gathering. She always made time to cook, to chat, and to share in the joy of togetherness—never arriving empty-handed, always bearing some delectable creation that reflected her generous heart and culinary finesse. Our young children formed a special bond with her and Uncle Bill, and we often had them over for dinner. Their visits were filled with laughter, storytelling, and a comforting sense of tradition that made every meal feel like home.

This cherished photograph was taken in our home in Tregear, NSW, on Christmas Day, 1981. Auntie Laurie sits gracefully on the left, with Dawn and Jessica sitting on her lap. Beside her, Grandma Gimson gently holds baby Theresa, while Uncle John Nicholls—Laurie’s brother-in-law—smiles warmly, holding onto active John. Angela is there too, lovingly embracing Phillip. All of our children were together, wrapped in the warmth of family. It was one of those unforgettable days filled with laughter, stories, and love—a moment in time we’ve carried in our hearts ever since.

In 1982, Auntie Laurie fell gravely ill with lung cancer—a cruel irony, as she had never smoked, though her husband had. Despite receiving the best care available, she passed away peacefully on October 29th of that year. I was blessed to visit her before she left us. It was a solemn, reflective time. In the quiet of our final conversations, she shared heartfelt recollections of her parents, siblings, and cherished memories—entrusting me with the legacy of her family’s story so it might live on through our written history. 

Auntie Laurie’s life was a tapestry woven with grace, resilience, and devotion—each thread telling a story of love, service, and togetherness. Her legacy lives on not only through the memories she created but through the lives she touched, and the traditions she inspired. Though time may pass, the warmth of her spirit lingers in every shared recipe, every fond recollection, and every family gathering. She taught us how to cherish the everyday and celebrate the extraordinary, and for that, we will always remember her.

2 July 1900 - 29 October 1982

Updated 3 July 2025

Florence Desneiges Bergeron Lee Riley 1910-2010

 

    Florence was born on 5 February 1919 to Henry Louie Bergeron and  Annetta (Anita) Theroux, she was the second of four children and their only daughter. Her mother, Anita was a twin with Henrietta (Rita) and eight other children. Her life was filled with many cousins in her growing up years, however, later on  they were on the east coast and she was off to school. Uncle Armand nicknamed her "Little Miss Muffet" and it stuck, over the years she was know as "Muff."

    She spent her childhood on a farm in New England and graduated from High Schoool. She married in South Attleboro, Massachusetts, on 11 June 1942 to Norman Melvin Lee, a was a pilot serving in World War II. Unfortunately, he was killed on 25 August 1943 during this war. They had been married just after barely a year, it was a difficult time for her. 

    She graduated from Clincal Laboratory Technique from Northwest Institute of Medical Technology in Minneapolis, MN with diplomas in clinical laboratory, X-ray and electrocardiograph techniques in 1945. She worked as a lab attendant in Boston, Mass. Despite the hardships she faced early on, Muff remained determined to carve out a meaningful life for herself. Her dedication to clinical laboratory work reflected her sharp intellect and perseverance, helping her contribute to medical advancements during a transformative era in healthcare.

    She married Leo Alfred Riley on 19 April 1947 in South Attleboro, Mass. Coming from the east coast and having a love for the water, settling in Redondo Beach, California, in 1955, offered a fresh start. where she was a stay at home mother with the responsibilities and the joys and challenges of raising five children. Her home became a hub of warmth and activity, filled with laughter, lessons, and the occasional chaos of a bustling household. 

    She returned to the workforce in 1971 as a nurse's aide at Los Angeles County's Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center in Downey, Calif. She retired from the county in 1981, and moved to Prescott in 1987 with her husband.  Florence, known as "Muff" to her siblings as stated above, and "Mil" to her close family members, enjoyed people. She was devoted to her family and kept in close contact with her relatives, near and far. She was undaunted by the computer world, which she viewed as another opportunity to keep in touch with her relatives. Whether old acquaintances or new, she invariably impressed all she met with her vivid recollection of a lifetime of memories.

    This author had the pleasure of spending a few days with her and her husband and the sheer delight of meeting another "cousin" was amazing as she shared stories from the past and all of our relations. She would have been my mother's first cousin making this author a first cousin once removed. Her husband passed away in 2005 and she passed away 11 February 2010. She surely will be missed by her family and friend all over.

Florence Desneiges Bergeron Lee Riley "Muff" - 1910-2010

    

Antoine Cyrille Theodore Marotte

More known as "Theodore Marotte" in his life, he was born on 1 February, 1854 in Richelieu, Quebec, Canada to Isaie-Gedeon Marotte and Josephte Bourgeois. Eight children were born to this couple, the first seven were born in Canada and Theodore was the seventh, with the eigth child, a sister, being born in Burlington, Vermont in 1860.

The first US Census we find Theodore was taken on 18 July 1860 and he is living with his family in Burlington, Vermont. This fits right in with the immigration information listed on his application; it states he immigrated in November, 1855 through St. Albans, Vermont which was the port of entry from Quebec into the United States at this time. He was naturalized on 2 November 1888.

The census records states his father was a tin smith. He is listed as a 'car builder' in the 1880 census but other censuses list him as a carpenter. He was someone who had multiple talents with his hands. His family stayed in Burlington, Vermont for the 1870 census also, but by the 1880 census he was in Pawtucket, Rhode Island living with his wife, Eliza Audette and their first child, Albena F. Marotte. Cora Anne, Alphonse, Alma and Alfred Eugene came along quickly and by 1885 they were expecting their sixth child.

Henry was born on 13 Feb 1888 and lived for 15 days, however, his mother died 8 days after his birth which was devasting to Theodore. It was a very difficult time in his life as he had five children to take care of and yet he had to work to support them. Family members helped out during this diffcult time and he remarried on 30 Jan 1889 to Adeline Ratte.

The family moved to Central Falls where he stayed for a number of years and changed his trade to being a carpenter as listed in the 1900 US Census. He had two more children with Adeline, George and Flora Bell. Eventually he moved back to Burlington, Vermont with his family and stayed there till his death on 31 March 1921. He continued his carpentry work in Burlington designing all different types of kitchen cabinets and any other household item made of wood. He built a large clientele and was very successful in his trade. He is buried in Vermont with Adeline.

His remaining five children with Eliza all migrated back to Pawtucket, Rhode Island where they stayed, married and had their families. The two children he had with Adeline stayed in Burlington, Vermont. George never married but Flora Bell did and her descendants are scattered throughout New England as have the descendants of the other five children. Each of them have varying talents and if he were to look down he would be pleased at the many accomplishment of them all.

His grave and photo are posted at FindAGrave: http://tinyurl.com/4fcsul2


Theodore Marotte: 1854-1921

Picture was updated and colorized from tools available at MyHeritage.com

Updated 1 Feb. 2025