Sidonie Marchand 1891-1977 Paris and Northern France
Sidonie Marchand was born on November 23, 1891 in Northern France. She is the youngest child, of unknown parents. Her sister Leone was born in 1886, and brother Eugene in 1889. The Marchand children were orphaned early on, as Mr. Marchand died when Sidonie was just three (1894). Mrs. Marchand, soon remarried, to an abusive drunk who beat her regularly. According to Sidonie, one day her mother became sick of the beatings and hid behind a door as her husband came home. When he entered the room, she struck him with a broom, detaching his ear. That was the last time she was ever beaten. At any rate she didn't live very long past, as she died when Sidonie was nine (1900).
Sidonie was then separated from her siblings. It is unknown what happened to Leone and Eugene, but Sidonie was sent to live with an Aunt and eight cousins. Sidonie was soon sent out to work, traveling from farm to farm where she was treated horridly and underfed, until the age of 14 when she moved to a town in northern France, to be a domestic to a doctor. In reality Sidonie spent most of her time as playmate to the doctor's daughter, who was about her age. She was also fortunate to be able to take part in the girl's lessons, which made up a large part of Sidonie's education.
In 1908, Sidonie got in touch with her sister, Leone, who was then living in Paris. Sidonie secured a job as a domestic to a furrier, through her sister. She would keep this job until she married Georges LeBas on April 12, 1913.After a short honeymoon in Northern France, the couple set sail for Canada, where they lived in Ste. Rose du Lac.
Any information on these people would be wonderful! Thank you.
Robin Dudgeon
Manitoba, Canada