2009 Descendants of David Cyr reunion
Replies: 2
2009 Descendants of David Cyr reunion
 penniwinkleb
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Posted: 23 Jun 2009 7:52AM GMT |
Classification: Query
Surnames: Cyr, Cyre, St Cyr, Burgess, Bourgeois, Wells
Our reunion was a great success: about 75 individuals over the 3 days. Representatives of his sons Zephyren, Jean Baptiste, Narcisse (Nelson) and Ferdinand all attended. Even some that wound up related through 2 of them. (They all died about a century ago . . . plenty of time to be past incest).
The Catholic Church at St. Joseph, Cloud Co., Kansas was opened for us. Unfortunately, the diocese is selling the property and "recycling" the holy furnishings to other congregations. We were related by blood or marriage to nearly everyone buried there.
We visited cemetaries in Concordia, Cloud, Ames, St Joseph, Miltonvale and several in areas that the church or village is long forgotten. There were two cemetaries that had been plowed under. (Since a tornado visited about 25 miles south of us, we chose to not wade through the mud.)
John Cyr spoke with us about the history of why and how the French Canadians emigrated from New Brunswick to Quebec to Illinois to Kansas.
Many, many thanks to Vicki Cyr-Katz for doing the legwork to set it all up and fronting the money to pay for everything.
Many, many thanks to Theresa Ashcroft and her daughters for crafting all the decorations we used at the Miltonvale Community Center.
Many, many thanks to Rob Katz and sons for doing our cooking. And great cooks they are.
Many, many thanks to Rex Bavousett for going above-and-beyond preparing photos on cds for us. (Even though it cut into his time visiting with his parents, who also attended.)
And mustn't forget Jan Cyr--she set up the visit to St. Joseph's Catholic Church. She brought the original photos, framed of several members of Zephyren Cyr's line. And amazing, hand lettered charts going back to the 1600 that she has worked on for decades.
Several Cyr families opened their homes to us. Thank you all very much.
The Miltonvale Wesleyan Church welcomed us to their service and enough of us came to fill just over a row. Their minister is a very passionate preacher.
We had 2 main goals:
1) Meet our family members we have "met" on-line as well as the folks who still live in the area.
2) Heal a century old division over faith.
We are one family, one blood. There is only one Jesus. We must love each other enough to accept that we must each find our own way to Him. (Or at least love them ANY WAY.)
The Catholic Church at St. Joseph, Cloud Co., Kansas was opened for us. Unfortunately, the diocese is selling the property and "recycling" the holy furnishings to other congregations. We were related by blood or marriage to nearly everyone buried there.
We visited cemetaries in Concordia, Cloud, Ames, St Joseph, Miltonvale and several in areas that the church or village is long forgotten. There were two cemetaries that had been plowed under. (Since a tornado visited about 25 miles south of us, we chose to not wade through the mud.)
John Cyr spoke with us about the history of why and how the French Canadians emigrated from New Brunswick to Quebec to Illinois to Kansas.
Many, many thanks to Vicki Cyr-Katz for doing the legwork to set it all up and fronting the money to pay for everything.
Many, many thanks to Theresa Ashcroft and her daughters for crafting all the decorations we used at the Miltonvale Community Center.
Many, many thanks to Rob Katz and sons for doing our cooking. And great cooks they are.
Many, many thanks to Rex Bavousett for going above-and-beyond preparing photos on cds for us. (Even though it cut into his time visiting with his parents, who also attended.)
And mustn't forget Jan Cyr--she set up the visit to St. Joseph's Catholic Church. She brought the original photos, framed of several members of Zephyren Cyr's line. And amazing, hand lettered charts going back to the 1600 that she has worked on for decades.
Several Cyr families opened their homes to us. Thank you all very much.
The Miltonvale Wesleyan Church welcomed us to their service and enough of us came to fill just over a row. Their minister is a very passionate preacher.
We had 2 main goals:
1) Meet our family members we have "met" on-line as well as the folks who still live in the area.
2) Heal a century old division over faith.
We are one family, one blood. There is only one Jesus. We must love each other enough to accept that we must each find our own way to Him. (Or at least love them ANY WAY.)