I was born the thirteenth child in a French Canadian family of fourteen children in Elie, Manitoba. Our mother would often tell us about being left in an orphanage as a child. She would end her absorbing tales by saying, “My life story would make a good book. I hope some day one of you children writes it.”
So, one summer I went west (St. Boniface) looking for a writer to write maman’s book and began interviewing people while doing some research there.
I found myself being led by an older Grey nun, very friendly but not encouraging. “Hummmm. 1904, that’s a long time ago but let’s see what we can find.”
Ninety years, that is a long time ago.
In St. Boniface, the next morning, back to the archives of Les Soeurs Grises. The same helpful nun met me. “Is this what you are looking for?”
![](images/textpanels/E 6-1_opt.jpeg)
Orphanage document: Eugenie was Marie Louise’s
middle name,
and was also her Godmother’s name.
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“Merci, ma souer.” This was my mother! There were spelling mistakes but there it was. I felt a chill run through me on the hot July day. I read and re-read the document watching the paper shake in my hand. I knew I had to do something with this. Somebody had to.
It took maman years - I found a writer – me!
Finally. I have finished the book of stories and wrote a play of the experiences of the family.
Voila maman! Ton livre est fini.
The works are a creative, non-fiction interpretation of the lives of the members of this French Canadian family.
Denyse is a bi-lingual, retired school teacher now living in London, Ontario. She and her husband, Larry, have three daughters and five grandchildren.
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