Marguerite Marie Vadnais and Robert Earl Parker (Part 1 of 3)

Marguerite, the 10th child born to Ellen and Adlore, was born on October 17, 1926 at White Bear Lake, Ramsey County, Minnesota.  Marguerite was welcomed by her brothers: George, Charles, Richard and Jack and her sisters: Florence, Mona and Leona.  Two of her brothers, Lawrence and Henry, had already passed away.

Marguerite Mary Vadnais in the Minnesota Index of Births for 19261
Original record of birth for Marguerite Marie Vadnais, October 17, 19262

On November 14, 1926, Marguerite was baptized by Father John Fahey at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in White Bear Lake.3  Here godparents were her uncle and aunt, Edmund and Excellina Peltier.  Edmund is Ellen (Peltier) Vadnais’ brother.

November 14, 1926 St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church baptism record for Margaret Mary [Marguerite Marie] Vadnais

Marguerite had built-in playmates with her brother John (Jack), who was born 20 months before her and her sister Leona who was 3.5 years older than her.4, 5  Also, just over 2 years after her birth she welcomed her brother Gordon (Gordy) and when Marguerite was about 3.5 years old, Anna Mae the last member of the family was born.6, 7

Circa 1927 – (left to right) Jack, Marguerite and Leona in front of their home at 1309 Fourth Street
Circa 1929 – (left to right) Jack, Leona and Marguerite on the tricycle on the sidewalk in front of 1309 Fourth Street
Circa 1929 – Leona (left) and Marguerite (right) playing with their younger brother Gordy in the field behind their home
Circa 1929 – Marguerite on rocking horse, her sister Leona in the background

Marguerite started first grade at St. Mary’s School in White Bear Lake in the early 1930s.

1933-34, First grade, St Mary’s School, Marguerite is on the left seated at the front
Circa 1935 grade school picture of Marguerite
Circa 1935 – St. Mary’s School, Marguerite is in the front on the right and her brother Jack is in the top row, third from the left
I suspect that the picture is of the 2nd and 3rd grade students that year.  Marguerite would have been a year behind her brother Jack.
Circa 1934 – Marguerite, Gordy and their little sister, Anna Mae
It looks like they are happily enjoying their ice cream cones, or what is left of them.
Circa 1936 – (left to right) Anna Mae, Gordy and Marguerite
They look like they are the best of friends!

On May 17, 1936, at 9 years old, Marguerite celebrated her first Holy Communion with Father John Fahey at St. Mary of the Lake Church and she was confirmed on May 14, 1936 when she was 12 years old.

Remembrance document from Marguerite’s first holy Communion
May 17, 1936 – Marguerite with her brother Gordy on her first Communion day

Marguerite graduated from the 8th grade at St. Mary’s School in 1941.

1941 – St. Mary’s School 8th grade graduation class
Marguerite is in the third row back, the 2nd woman from the right.

Marguerite’s future husband, Robert (Bob) Earl Parker was born on June 7, 1924 in White Bear Lake, Ramsey County, Minnesota.8, 9  His mother Reina Elsie (Malzahn) was 30 years old and his father Horatio Earl Parker was 29 years old (Reina’s age on Bob’s birth certificate and the birth index are wrong).   Bob was the second of 3 children born to the couple.  His older sister Betty was born in 1918 and the youngest, Lorraine, was born in 1926.9, 10

Robert Earl Parker in the Minnesota Index of Births for 1924
Minnesota birth certificate for Robert Earl Parker

Bob attended Washington School on Fourth Street in White Bear Lake throughout his grade school years.

Washington School
1935 – Washington School 4th Grade
Bob is on the far right in the fourth row.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for visiting, come back soon,
Cynthia

© 2024 Copyright by Cynthia Vadnais, All Rights Reserved


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