Born a Petitpas, Raised a Vetter... Again a Petitpas

Marie Lillian Petitpas

Marie Lillian Petitpas was born on 10 March 1922 at Richibouctou Village, New Brunswick to Dominque Petitpas and Précille Baleineau. Shortly after her birth, her parents gave her up for adoption to the Vetter family. She eventually moved with her new family to Fitchburg, Massachusetts where the Vetters raised her. Reaching adulthood, Lillian married, but had no children and at age seventy was widowed.

Alone in the United States, Lillian wondered about her origin. Fortunately, she had a copy of her baptismal certificate. Urged by others in her quest to find her Petitpas family, Lillian attended the Congrès Mondial Acadien in 1994 at Moncton and struck gold. After much searching during the Congrès, she found her sister. Then she learned she had another sister and a brother and a slew of nieces, nephews and cousins. What a grand reunion it became for Lillian and her Petitpas family.

Immediately, she returned to Fitchburg, sold her home and moved permanently to New Brunswick to reunite with her biological family. At age 97 she now lives in a seniors home in Moncton with her sister just down the hall.

Read her fascinating account below.