Edward Frances Brisson

Edward was born 22 Dec 1922 to Omer J Brisson and Julia Anne Plante. While he was their 2nd son, he already had 5 sisters born before him. As both his parents were born in Canada, all their children were first generation Americans.

By the 1930 US Census there were 11 children in this large family that was still growing. His father is listed as a clerk in a market while 3 of his older sisters were working in the mills to help support the family. By the 1940 census 3 more children were born to this family and Eddie was also working along with the older children, the census states he was a road builder, from an early age, a solid work ethic was part of this family and most families during this time period. This work ethic was carried over in my own family as Eddie's brother, Omer, is my dad, and we all had jobs early in our lives, mine being a paper route at 11 along with my brother Paul who was 10. As we grew the paper route was handed down to other members of the family instilling in us a solid work ethic that has sustained us thus far throughout our lives.

When WWII came along, Eddie did his part and joined the Army, he was a WWII veteran and a member of the American Legion Post as it states in his obituary. He married in 1958 to Helen A Gannon and together they raised a house full of boys and lived in West Warwick, RI. He enjoyed sports and played minor league baseball when younger and was an avid Yankee fan. He was the owner of the Brisson Claim service but worked for various other claim services as well as being part of the RI State Jury Commissioners Office.

Family was very important to Eddie and he was always interested in all the genealogical information I would share with him over time and would attend as many family functions as physically possible. He enjoyed all the information gleaned over the years on the Brisson family and how they had come from LaRochelle, Aunis, France in the 1600s with the first one being Rene Brisson.

He was always welcoming to all who visited his home and enjoyed lots of company. He would reminisce about times gone by when his sisters and family were there and did his best to look on the positive side whenever possible to most situations.

On August 30th, 2013, he passed away and surely was greeted by his wife, Helen who passed away in 2001 and his son Kevin who passed away in 1997 along with many other family members who have passed on. He will be missed but be remembered for the happiness he brought to all wherever and whenever possible.

Edward Francis Brisson: 1922-2013

Eliza Audette Marotte

Eliza Audette was born in Rouville, Quebec, Canada on 16 April 1856 to Magloire Audette and Marceline Mace. Her baptism record lists her name as "Azilda Arsarine Audet", however, in each record where her name is listed, it is always mispelled somewhere! According to her granddaughter, Ozina Cora Marotte, she was always mentioned as "Grandma Eliza" in conversations with her grandfather Theodore Marotte as Eliza passed away before Ozina was born, in fact, her grandfather passed away when she was still young child herself.

We first find Eliza listed with her parents and brother Joseph in the 1861 Canadian Census where they are living in Rouville, Quebec.

She was the first of nine children. Her father, Magloire, was listed as a saddler on her baptismal record. A saddler was an individual who worked with leather. 

Their whole family immigrated to the United States sometime around 1866. While we located her family in the 1870 US Census she is not living with them and we don't locate her until the 1880 US Census where she is married to Theodore Marotte with their first child Albina. They were married on 9 Sep 1877 at Notre Dame Church, Central Falls, Rhode Island.

Together they had six children, Albena, Cora Anne, Alphonse, Alma, Alfred and Henry. Unfortunately, Henry died 15 days after his birth on 28 Feb 1888 however, she had died seven days earlier on the Feb 21st leaving her husband a widow with five children.

Sadly, there is no picture of her to date. While she died young, her skills and talents were passed onto her five children as they matured into individuals with many talents of their own. She immigrated to a new country, learned a new language and different customs and was able to be a good wife and mother until she died soon after the birth of her sixth child.

While these five children and her husband have long passed on, her talents and love of life have been passed on to her descendants who are scattered throughout the United States. As with all of our ancestors she is missed and we look forward to the day when we will be reunited in eternity.

Eliza Audette Marotte: 1856-1888

Laurent Plante

Laurent Plante was born 6 Aug 1856 in St. Lazare (Bellechasse), Quebec, Canada to Francios David Plante and Marie Henriette Trahan. He was the fourth child of seven children and spent most of his life living in Canada.

In the 1871 Canadian census he is living with his family in Levis, Notre Dame de la Victoire and working as a cultivator. On 26 Nov., 1877, he married Marie Ruel in St. Charles (Bellechasse), Quebec, Canada.

The 1881 and 1891 Canadian Censuses have them living in Sherbrook, this is where all their children were born. Together they had seven children: Joseph, Peter Honore, Jean Baptiste, Louis D., Julia Anne, Emile J.,  and Joseph Oliva.

The 1901 census states they were living in Acton Vale where Laurent was a foreman on a farm. Joseph is listed as an electrician, Jean Baptiste is listed as a 'cordonnier' which is a cobbler (a shoe repair person) while Louis is going to school.

According to the 1910 US Census, the whole family moved and settled in Providence, Rhode Island sometime during 1904, however, on 24 December 1908, Marie Plante, his wife passed away leaving hin a widower. He worked on the railway as a laborer to keep his remaining family of four children together. By 1920 he is living by himself and working in the cotton mills for support.

His daughter Julia Anne, the young girl in the front on the right married Omer Joseph Brisson, Sr. on October 31, 1910 and are my grandparents. Family legend states that Laurent was quite tall and one can see from this family photo that he seems to be so even in his arkward sitting position for this picture.

Laurent Plante passed away on 31 July 1928 and is buried with his wife Marie in St. Ann's Cemetery, Cranston, RI. He was a hard worker who was there for his family every step of the way.

Laurent Plante: 1856-1928

Rose DeLima Limoges Theroux Paquin

          Rose DeLima Limoges and her six daughters

Rose DeLima Limoges was born  3 Nov 1859 in Lake Champlain Valley, Quebec, Canada to Benjamin Limoges and Catherine Aubin (Lambert).  She was the 3rd child in a family of 8 children and loved the water.

She married Alberic Theroux on 16 Apr 1882. Alberic was very athletic and for the first few years of their marriage they lived aboard a friend's yacht as he was employed as the captain of the yacht.

After the loss of her first child, they settled in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and had nine additional children; 6 girls and 3 boys with 2 of the girls being a set of twins, Annetta and Henrietta, known as Anita and Rita.

Rose was a very intelligent woman and became a midwife delivering many of her own grandchildren. She was considered to be a healer and would often be sent for in an emergency rather than a doctor.

She believed in education and snet her children to "french" and "public" schools to make sure all of her them knew both languages fluently. In addition she loved music and made sure they all had music lessons. This love of music has passed down through to the current generations and will surely continue with many who play various instruments as well as participate in various types of choruses.

Her last pregnancy was overshadowed by the untimely early death of her husband who use to fix the looms in the cotton mills. He suffered a heart attach on his way home from work and remained unconscious for several days before passing away on 26 Jan 1902. A couple of months later, her last child was born on 14 March 1902 but only lived till 24 Aug 1902. It was a difficult time for her as she was now responsible for the remaining 8 children, no husband and having to deal with the loss of another child.

She was an excellent seamstress and would do all she could to make ends meet. Many of the children got odd jobs to contribute to the family's survival and survive they did. Many of her children went on to become successful in a variety of fields and all had many children. She remarried later in life to Alcide Paquin who also preceeded her in death.

After living a life of service to all she passed away on 7 Jun 1942 and is buried with her daughter Lovina Theroux and her husband Alphonse Marotte along with four of their children in Pawtucket, RI.