Pages

The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Obituaries -- Lowell, Massachusetts

The below listed names were taken from The Lowell Sun newspaper's obituary section. The names are often printed on two days, I am only listing them once.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 2011

CHRISTOPHER D. DUTILE, FORMER BILLERICA,  MA RESIDENT; 55
ANNE T. PETERSON, LOVING AUNT; WELL KNOWN SKIP'S RESTAURANT WAITRESS; 87
DON A. MacP0HAIL, LIVED IN CHELMSFORD, DECORATED ARMY VET; 63
DORIS (STEEVER) SANTAGUIDA, WESTFORD SCHOOL DEPT. RETIREE; 87
HELEN (WONG) CHIN, LOWELL NATIVE, OF OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA; 85
ATHENA (TSOHONIS) HOUPIS OF LOWELL; HOLY TRINITY CHURCH MEMBER; 95
MARIA CRISTINA ARIS IBARGUEN, BORN GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
R WARD HEALY, PRESIDENT OF J.A. HEALY SON FUNERAL HOME, OF WESTFORD; 47
MITCHELL GINSBURG, NAVY VETERAN, NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE; 91
NANCY J. (RICHARDS) HOGAN OF LOWELL; FORMERLY OF CHELMSFORD; 64


WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011
DANIEL P. GUERINO, JR., LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BURLINGTON, MA; 63
KENNETH C. HUGHES, SR., OF LOWELL, LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, AND GRANDFATHER; 74
STELLA F. (STRYKOWSKI) DIAMANTOPOULOS, DRACUT RESIDENT, VOLUNTEER; 82
KAREN (RICHARDS) ROBERTS, OF LOWELL, LOVING WIFE, MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER; 54
LILLIAN Y. (LABONTE) WOESSNER, OF HUDSON, NH; FORMERLY OF CHELMSFORD; 88
FRANCES M. (RAYMOND) FALL, OF CHELMSFORD, AGE 100
CATHERINE M. HURLEY OF TYNGSBORO, 76
JOHN C. DAVID OF LOWELL; 51
RICHARD B. BLAKE OF CHELMSFORD; FORMERLY OF BILLERICA; 74
EMMA L. (JOHNSON) (GAGNON) BAKER, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF CHELMSFORD; 99
LADISIAU B. COSTA, OF DRACUT, RETIRED FROM BRADFORD INDUSTRIES; 67


THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011
JOANNE M. (DEANE) KELLY, LOVING WIFE, DEDICATED MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER; 76
KENNETH CHANDLER BOURNE OF FITCHBURG, MA; 72
EDITH M. (DAVIDSON) PREVITE, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF CHELMSFORD; 90
ROBERTA "ALLISON" JOYCE, AGE 59, DENTAL ASSISTANT FOR DRS. COOPER AND SPILLER
ROGER F. CONANT FORMERLY OF LITTLETON, DIED IN TAUNTON, MA
BETTY G. (REYNOLDS, COTE) JEFFREY, OF DRACUT; FORMERLY OF LOWELL AND DUNSTABLE; 82
FLORENCE M. BAGROWSKI, TEWKSBURY RESIDENT FOR 52 YEARS; 81
JOHN F. HORN RETIRED FROM GENERAL DYNAMICS; 90
ANNA M. (CORMIER) WALTERS OF LOWELL, MA; 79
JOANNE L. (COLLINS) VENTOLA, LIFELONG BILLERICA RESIDENT, AGE 65
MARK A. RICHARD OF METHUEN, FORMERLY OF TEWKSBURY AND WILMINGTON; 53


FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
MARGARET M. (GRIFFIN) FARLEY, LOVING WIFE AND MOTHER; 85
KARLA GRIFFIN FORGIEL OF PEPPERELL, MA; 56
PATRICIA A. (COOKE) FORAN, LONGTIME TEWKSBURY RESIDENT, AGE 68
RAYMOND L. RACETTE, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DRACUT; 69
DAWN M. DYLESKI FORMERLY OF LAWRENCE, MA; 51


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2011
JUDITH A. 'JUDY' (McCARTHY) OLSSON, ACTIVE IN THE CHELMSFORD COMMUNITY; 68
RAYMOND L. RACETTE, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DRACUT; 69
RAYMOND E. LaROCHELLE JR. OF LOWELL, NAVY VET; 64
MICHAEL D. 'MIKE' DAWSON, FORMERLY OF WESTFORD, MA, AVID GOLFER; 65
BARBARA J.  (NEWMAN) CURRIER, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF FORGE VILLAGE SECTION OF WESTFORD; 76
GISELE M. 'LOU' (BOUCHER) BRULE OF WESTFORD, ST. CATHERINE MEMBER; 93
MARY E. (MARSHALL) KUTCHER, RETIRED TEWKSBURY LIBRARIAN; 74
ROBERT M. QUALTIERI, KOREAN WAR VETERAN, BUNTING CLUB BARTENDER; 72
KEVIN J. GIRARD, LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER, ARBORIST AND OWNER OF KEVIN GIRARD TREE CARE; 43
RICHARD P. JAMES, SR., FORMERLY OF LOWELL, MA, WWII VET; 87
JUDITH A. McDEVITT, LOVING WIFE, MOTHER, AND GRANDMOTHER, OF MELROSE AND BILLERICA; 67


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2011

IRENE V. GAUDETTE, OF LOWELL, LOVING MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER; 82
MARY CROFT, OF LITTLETON, LOVING MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER; 93
JOHN A. CRONIN, FORMERLY OF LOWELL, MA; WWII VET; RETIRED BARTLETT JR. HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL; 90
ESTHER J. (RICHARDS) O'NEILL FORMERLY OF LOWELL, MA, OF ESCONDIDO, CA; 73
IRENE M. (COOK) SEARS, LIFELONG LOWELL RESIDENT, ST. RITA MEMBER; 89
ALICE W. "MICKEY" (WAKEFIELD) O'CONNOR, RETIRED ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE MANAGER; 80

Why Did They Want to Be Found? Sentimental Sunday

Did my grandmothers decide it was time they wanted to be found? It seems unbelievable that I received photos of their final resting places in the same week, after 21 years for grandmother Poole and 19 years for step-grandmother Edna! It's been a very sentimental week, I couldn't be happier.


It's strange how things turn out, last summer I wrote two posts about my grandmothers, one "A Step-grandmother Connection" and "What Would You Do?" (as a follow up to my "Request for Help") in which I asked for help in getting photos of my grandparent's graves.


Happy ending and Happy dance, thanks to two wonderful women.


Why didn't I know where my step-grandmother was buried? Rather simple, she died 11 years after my grandfather, and moved in with her son, then moved to Florida. I simply lost contact with her, and assumed she was buried where she died...in Florida. My new found friend, Claudia, who is related to Edna was determined to find the location, and with the help of a Find-A-Grave volunteer, was able to locate her grave.


As for my grandparents, I have known since 1999 where they were buried, but there was no way to get a photo. They are in Illinois, I am in Massachusetts, quite a distance away. A few months ago, I called the cemetery to relinquish my rights to two available burial spots in their lot, and expressed my desire for a photo. Fortunately, employee, Jeanne Brunette, Planning Advisor, listened and within a few days, I had the photo!


It was quite a week of celebrating my grandmothers (and one grandfather). I look forward to Tombstone Tuesday, where I will be posting both of their tombstones.