Courting is one of those 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks prompts that was easy. How could I pass up the opportunity to share this lovely picture of my great-grandparents? I came across it in one of Grampy Phil’s many binders – the one he made of my grandmother Connie’s life and family history. These are her parents – Exalapha Meloche and Laura Laviolette, taken in 1916. My grandfather labeled it, “1916 Courtship of Laura Laviolette and Exalapha Meloche – Rowing Down the River.” I love Laura’s fabulous hat! I wonder who was in the rowboat with them?
I have messages out to a couple of my mom’s cousins in Canada and her two remaining uncles to gather more details of Laura and Exalapha’s courtship and life together. I’ve heard back from one granduncle, but he didn’t know how his parents met (though he told me the most wonderful story of how he met his wife that had me laughing and cheering him on!). Posts can be edited and updated, so as I learn more, I'll add more. For now, I'll share what I know.
Laura Laviolette, as I’ve mentioned before, was born in Westbrook, Maine on July 25, 1894. She was the youngest child of Lazare “Ben” Laviolette Jr. and Marie Louise St. Andre. In 1910 when she was 16, the family moved back to Canada. I imagine the move was somewhat difficult for Laura who had lived her entire life in Maine. My Nana Connie told me that Laura always considered herself an American living in exile. She was educated and worked as a bilingual secretary. Laura began courting the handsome Exalapha Meloche when she was 22.
Exalapha Meloche was born on April 9, 1888, in Montreal, Canada. He was the eldest child of Jean-Baptiste Meloche and Rachel Legault LeClerc. My grandmother told us he was an electrician, though the 1957 voters list says he was a shop clerk, so I’m not sure if we misunderstood Nana, if he changed careers, or if he maybe worked in an electrical shop. He was an outgoing, creative man. An amateur thespian, he enjoyed taking part in theatrical productions in his bachelor days. Most of their children were creative too, which isn’t surprising considering both Exalapha and Laura were creative people. Laura took up painting in her 80s! Exalapha was a good-looking man and a snappy dresser. My mom loves this picture of him by the tree, taken when he was courting Laura. She thinks he looks like a gangster, like he’s out of The Godfather or something.
While I don’t know much about their actual courtship, which I imagine was fairly short (probably about a year or so) their marriage was long and happy. They married on June 25, 1917, which I just realized (if my dates are correct) was Laura’s 23rd birthday. They adored one another, and Laura was open with my grandmother and mom that up until his death in 1967, she and Exalapha had …ummm…. a frequent and enthusiastic love life, to put it delicately. The proof of that can be found in the eleven children they had between 1918 and 1935. The siblings were close. I remember many visits from Nana Connie’s sisters – the “tantes” – and it was always a loud and wild time when they were around, with rapid French and English jumbled together, dirty jokes, teasing, and endless laughter. The large family lived in an apartment building on Brandon Avenue in Montreal, and eventually had a little summer place in Bois-des-Filions. Laura affectionately called him “Pha” (Exalapha – what name!!!!) and he called her “Lou.” When I asked my mother what she remembered about her grandparents’ relationship, she laughed and said they constantly bickered over cards. The entire family enjoyed playing cards, and they argued and fought over them to such an extent that my grandfather refused to play with the Meloches whenever they visited. I’m a pissy loser when I play games too, so maybe that’s where I get it from!
Beyond that, I don’t know much about Exalapha & Laura’s relationship. I’m enjoying the challenge of writing these posts though because even when I think I know exactly what I’m going to write, I end up with a list full of questions. With 11 children, 27 grandchildren, and (at the time of her death in 1989 -- there must be more now) 26 great-grandchildren, Laura and Exalapha left behind quite a legacy. I’m sure other family members have their own memories and stories, so maybe as I connect with more of my Meloche relatives, some of these questions will be answered and I can paint a brighter picture of them as individuals, as a couple, as parents, and as grandparents.
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