The 6th Guédry and Petitpas Reunion Recap

Van Buren, Maine (Acadian Village) Saturday, 16 August 2014

Surrounded by the Acadian buildings of the 1700s and 1800s, the Guédry and Petitpas families met on Saturday, August 16, 2014 for their sixth North American Reunion in historic Van Buren, Maine. With the beautiful Acadian Village hosting us, over 75 family members gathered to meet new cousins, renew old acquaintances and enjoy the day's program.

As folks entered the Reunion hall, they began enjoying the several poster and video displays including Origins of the Labine Family, Historic Louisiana Towns Named Guidry, Lest We Forget Our Military Family, Occupations of the Guédry and Petitpas Families, Interesting Road Signs Bearing Our Names and others. Of course, familiar faces were recognized and conversations began.

As 9 am approached, Marty Guidry, master of ceremonies, announced that Les Guédry d'Asteur was changing our association's name to Les Guédry et Petitpas d'Asteur in recognition of the significant contributions and participation from Petitpas members over the years. The spellings Guédry and Petitpas were chosen as these are believed to be the historic surnames of our founding families in early Acadia.

Marty also announced that the Board of Directors has obtained for each member of our honorary Circle of Distinction a 4-inch gold medal with our family crest imbedded on the front. The medal hangs from a wide red, white and blue ribbon and has the member's name and year of induction printed on the back. He then presented a gold medal to each past Circle of Distinction member present. Those not present have received their medals through the postal service.

During a short break attendees located new and old cousins, mingled at the Sales booth and visited the displays surrounding the room. We were especially happy to have a number of local Grivois and Petitpas members attend the Reunion - coming from nearby towns of northeastern Maine and northwestern New Brunswick. In the mid-1800s the Guédry name in northeastern Maine slowly transitioned to today's spelling of Grivois - a name derived from their ancestors Augustin Guédry dit Grivois and his son Romain Guédry dit Grivois of St. Alphonse, Nova Scotia.

As mid-morning approached, Marty presented an audiovisual presentation "The Acadians of Madawaska - A Long and Difficult Journey". He discussed how these Acadians that eventually settled in the Madawaska region straddling the St. John River of today's northeastern Maine and northwestern New Brunswick began their epic journey to avoid being deported by the British. First moving from their Acadian homesteads in Nova Scotia to new lands in lower New Brunswick, they eventually migrated toward the lower St. John River. Gradually through British harassment and English settlers fleeing the new United States, they had to move further and further north on the St. John River. Finally, obtaining promises of land grants on the upper St. John River in the Madawaska region, they relocated to the beautiful Aroostook Valley. At almost the same time several French Canadian families from lower Québec also moved to Madawaska. With persistence, hard work and assisting each other, the two groups survived several very difficult winters in their initial settlement years and then thrived to build the Acadian-French Canadian community that we find today. They are a vibrant, friendly community in which French is spoken by almost everyone.

As 11 am approached we all enjoyed the short walk to the replica of the historic Notre-Dame de l'Assomption Chapel in the Acadian Village where Ms. Charline Petitpas-Bossé and Rémy Fritzgerald sang several beautiful French hymns and led us in the French rosary. As we filled the small chapel, Father Jacques Lapointe celebrated a lovely French mass - much as our ancestors would have experienced in these historic surroundings. His sermon on the often-overlooked role of the strong and nurturing Acadian wives and mothers, who throughout our history have held our families together, touched everyone.

It was especially appropriate immediately after the holy day for the Assumption of Mary - the patron saint of the Acadians.

Returning to our hall, we enjoyed a very tasty local Acadian meal of chicken, local vegetables, fresh-baked bread and a variety of sweets for dessert. The noise level was high as everyone visited while eating and during the break afterwards.

Reconvening, Marty announced the new 2014 inductees into the Les Guédry et Petitpas d'Asteur Circle of Distinction. Each new inductee received a certificate of induction and a gold medal. Those honored were Dr. Leo Joseph Guedry Jr., an educator from Baton Rouge, LA; Ms. Allison Lynn Guidry, a genealogist and Editor of Les Guédry et Petitpas d'Asteur's newsletter, GENERATIONS, from Springfield, VA; Dr. Michael Wayne Guidry, a scientist from Knoxville, TN; Mr. Daryl LaBine, a genealogist and author from Port Orange, FL and St. Catherines, Ontario; Mr. Roland Arthur "Clem" Labine Jr., a home preservationist and author from Brooklyn, NY and Archbisop Gérard Pettipas C.Ss.R. from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. Congratulations to our newest class of inductees. (You can read a summary of their accomplishments elsewhere in this issue of "Generations".)

After another energizing break, Marty presented a brief audiovisual talk on the "Origins of the Guédry Family in North America, 1764-1900". During this discussion he traced the Guédry family emerging from end of the deportations to 1900 - noting the various surname changes and relocations of the family. Areas with identifiable Guédry family communities today include south Louisiana (Guidry, Guedry, Gaidry), southeast Texas (Guedry, Guidry), Michigan (LaBean, Grevious), Minnesota (Labine), lower Québec and Ontario (Labine, Guildry), northeastern Maine (Grivois), eastern New Brunwick (Guidry) and southeastern Nova Scotia (Geddry, Gedry, Jeddry, Jedry, Gidry, Guidry). As the original Guédry settlers in each area were discussed, a picture emerged of how broadly the Guédry family has expanded across eastern North America.

As the day ended, Marty announced that we would have afternoon refreshments and could visit for a couple of hours exploring our genealogies, talking with friends and relatives and relaxing. Most participants stayed an extra hour or two and enjoyed the relaxing conclusion to the Reunion. 

GUÉDRY & PETITPAS REUNION PHOTO GALLERY - OUR VENUE AT THE ACADIAN VILLAGE

 








Circle of Distinction Recipients - Left: Sandra Pettipas Perro Center: Albert Geddry Right: Mark Labine

Clem Labine

Allie Guidry

Marty Guidry, our host, and family members chatting between presentations




Father Jacques Lapointe and Ms. Charline Petitpas-Bossé




Pierre Guidry (aka Marty Guidry)