Grandma's First Boyfriend

 

Bluie LaFee was my grandma's first boyfriend. He's pictured above, to the right. His sister's name was Midlred and she was the same age as Grandma's sister, Monica. Mildred and Monica would have to push Gram and Bluie in buggies and the older sisters hated it. Grandma told me that Bluie, "...was a nice boy but was full of the devil." Apparently, he had a bad mouth. 

George Fredette, my great-grandfather

My great-grandparents' wedding certificate - George Fredette and Alice Argle - February 27, 1906

Newspaper obituaries for George Fredette's death (sorry they're so small)

Pamphlet for George Fredette's death

My grandma, Edith Yops

My grandma, Edith Fredette Yops, as a child, in River Rouge MI

Grandma at 16/17 yrs old at Jean Bradley's house, on James St. in River Rouge. Jean's dad ran a "blind big" saloon in the basement. No one knew as this was in the bootlegging days.

 

 

 

(L to R) Uncle Bernard (Gram's brother), Grandma, and Grandpa August Yops at the Elm St. apartment

Grandma with her sister, Madeline, just after Gram and Grandpa were married

Grandma when she was pregnant with Jackie

With the Goniea's - (L to R) Bob, Grandma, Phillip, and Aunt Madeline Goniea with Uncle Howard in the back

Grandma with her brother, Frank Fredette

Grandma with my dad, Richard, and aunt, Jackie

Grandma (R) with Great-grandma Alice Argle Fredette (L), in what looks like the Cicotte St. house in Rouge

Yops

Grandpa August Yops and my Grandma with their son, my dad

My grandpa, in the right, holding my dad

My handsome grandpa with my aunt (on the left)

My grandpa and my dad

My dad :)

George and Alice Fredette

My great-grandparents were George and Alice Fredette (parents of my grandmother, Edith Marie Fredette Yops). They met for the first time in Bay City, Michigan, which was the location of their first home.

Before they were married, George was an ice man. He sold ice that was cut off from Saginaw Bay. He'd sell the ice off the ice wagon that would go around the community. Alice worked at a laundry doing ironing in Bay City, MI at a hotel.

For Thanksgivings, the family would have goose instead of turkey because "Dad (George) didn't like it".

George made a homemade radio for the household. It was a chest out of wood, with dials, and included electricity. George would try to pick up stations. My grandma (a young girl then) said that it would squeak a lot, but it would work...sometimes.

Yops Kids

At Grandma Yops' apartment - Oct 1984

In Uncle Billy's pool - Wyandotte MI - with Uncle Garry Copado

Remembering

Remember that a world can close
Today, or next week
and become a memory.

A warm life suddenly shut
Still loved, smelled, felt
Sneaking thoughts unexpectedly.

Common routines afterward enhanced
Brewing coffee, cooking food
First outside light streaming through the front door.

Thoughts hopping around
Like the shoes of young
A batch of goodness to indulge in daily and forever more.

- Alison Sayers
10 July 2011