- III -

Margaret VANDERSTEEN

naissance 22 octobre 1925 � Fisher Branch MB,
p/m Eus�be Meilleur & Blanche Meilleur.

P�re :  Jean Nicholas I VANDERSTEEN
M�re : Jos�phine MEILLEUR

Mari�(e) 24 novembre 1943 � Fisher Branch MB, G�rard Ad�lard DANDENEAU, naissance 23 mars 1923, (fils de Louis II DANDENEAU et Fid�lise BENOIT).

12 enfants (4 fils, 8 filles) :

Gerard and Margaret DANDENEAU Family

At the time when Gerard and Margaret grew up, it was very hard for young people to get together. There were very few cars and transportation was mainly by horse or bicycle. Week days were a time to work. Sunday you would meet your friends, so it was a special day for many young and old alike. Oftentimes, young men and women would meet their future partner in church, as was their case. Gerard had an eye on Margaret but didn't know how to get the courage to speak to her.

As many may remember, in 1940 John Vandersteen had built a new home and moved his family in that May. Some young boys, including Gerard, his brothers and their friends noticed that there was a nice big field there which would make a perfect ball diamond. At baseball games it was very easy to meet and get to know other young folks, and, of course, to go to the house for a drink of water for, in those days, good cold well water was the thing.

After some time Gerard finally got the courage to ask Margaret out. In June, 1941, he was invited to Jerry Camire and Rita Champagne's wedding, and with the 1928 Pontiac the family had bought he took Margaret to the wedding.

As time went by it was easier to go out, perhaps to a movie once a month and to a few house parties. They had a lot in common and they both loved music. Gerard could play the guitar and the violin a little too. Margaret loved singing but was never fortunate enough to learn to play the guitar.

Gerard spent some time working out, clearing land for neighbours and earning one dollar per day, for mostly twelve-hour days. In 1941, Margaret also worked out, for a family with seven young children, for seven dollars a month. It was a lot of hard work washing clothes on the scrubbing board, scrubbing wooden floors and hauling water from the well for washing, etc. As neither one of their had anymore than a grade eight education, there was no choice but to get the job that was available and close to home.

The war was on and after Prosper and Conrad had enlisted, Gerard was called up, but because his father was crippled and not able to farm, Gerard was permitted to remain at home. Margaret was working at a place which was half a mile away and took time off in the evening to visit the "neighbour".

On November 24, 1943, Gerard and Margaret exchanged vows in the Immaculate Conception Church in Fisher Branch. A wedding party was field in Joseph and Therese Tougas's house. They have many beautiful memories of that day.

As Gerard had no house, they resided with his parents and sisters, Therese and Lucie, for two and a half years. Meanwhile their son, Edmond, was born in October, 1944, and Ann Janette in 1945. In 1946 Gerard built his own little home in the same yard in which David, Denis, Therese, Roland and Noella were born.

They have many fond and happy memories of raising their family. As there was no entertainment other than home entertainment, many hours were spent singing and listening to music on the radio, observing the little talents the children had and doing the best they could to raise their family to be respectable citizens. It was a real treat for them to be able to go to the movies once a month, even though they sometimes had to count pennies to pay entry.

It was stressed to the children that money was not happiness. Even though times were very hard, Christmas and Easter were always very special holidays as they all got to go to Grandma and Grandpa Vandersteen's place for a family gathering. Whether they went by car, horses or tractor, no one minded. Sunday was also a treat because they were able to dress up in their best clothes and go to church.

In 1954 Gerard's dad passed away so they, then, moved back to the big (twenty-two feet by twenty-two feet) house. There, Emma and Diane were born, and there they also had the misfortune of losing twin daughters.

In 1968, as the month of' November approached, which would mark Gerard and Margaret's twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, the children, without funds of their own, decided to present an evening of musical entertainment in the hope of earning some money which they could then spend to honor their parents on this special occasion. Plans were arcade, a program was prepared and on October 13, 1968, they presented themselves to a crowd of people at the Vidir Hall. The reaction and appreciation by the people surprised and pleased them. The encouragement they received that evening did much to motivate them and was, in reality, the first stepping stone to a musical career that they did not dream of then (see THE FAMILY SIX). In November, a celebration was held and the children were able to present a gift to their parents. Gerard's mother, who was then eighty-five, presented them with a charming silver dollar tree that she had spent many ours painstakingly making.

In addition to working very hard to keep up with the farm work, Gerard took on driving the school bus; he bought his own bus and drove for thirteen years. In this space of time, some of the children were working out and starting their own careers.

At church one Sunday, the priest asked if any family would be willing and able to take a foster child into their home. Margaret and Gerard then got together with their family and talked it over; found room and love in their hearts and home, and applied for a little child. They got their little Nancy, at the age of three and a half years. The many brothers, sisters and relatives soon made her one of their own. She is doing very well in school, is hoping to graduate and make a good life for herself.

Starting in the spring of 1972, they began to build to cozy, modern home they now live in. The entire family pitched in to help, those who were away came home every weekend to assist. They waited until it was completely finished before they moved in. The had their first family meal in their new home on July 7, 1973. Their son, Denis and his wife, moved into the old family home that very day.

As of today (1982), they are both working: Gerard as custodian in the Collegiate, and Margaret, at their son's restaurant. They thank God that they have children who respect and love them. They can not express, in words, their feeling of love and admiration for their children and twenty- tow grandchildren and the joy share in their accomplishments.