Marie's Family Spoke French

Marie Aubin
Age 8

Marie Aubin
Age 5

When Marie was a child she spoke only French because that was the language that was spoken in her home. Her mother and father both were from Canada where French was the common language. Her family went back for generations. I think she told me clear back to the 1600's that she knew of. She has the Family Book or the Generation Book full of pictures and programs and invitations. It has grown in size. The picture of Marie at the age of five is the youngest picture of her that I could find. There were some unmarked photos of babies. She may be one of them, but I actually doubt it. She labeled the majority of her photos.


Her father was a stern man and was the head of the household. He was determined that Marie would speak English and therefore learn her catechism in English. That was very very difficult for her, but by sheer determination she did just that at the age of eight years. I left her writing at the top of the photo of her in her First Communion gown. The Catechism book that she is holding was given to her brother, Charles Aubin shortly before she passed away at the age of 103 years two months and fourteen days.
She had another prayer book that she kept by her side until the last day. It had her son's obituary and picture in it.
Marie is sitting in the back seat of this old car at the age of three.
Her mother's father was a fireman. His name was Joseph Antil. She was very proud of that fact.
Here is a picture of her own writing in her catechism book. It names the church where she received her First Communion.
She was very proud of the fact that she learned English at such a young age. She had every reason to be.