I just discovered the burial register for my grandfather's second wife. She was buried in Illinois, but she died in "Grass Iles Can" in 1919. She was my mother's stepmother. My mother told me that she and her brother lived in a children's home in Canada while their father went to work some place else. I thought she told me it was Saskatchewan, but I looked in that province as well as Manitoba and could not find a Grass Iles. Also looked for Isles. I found a prayer book of my mom's from that time, all in French with an inscription by one of the nuns at the home. But, the location is not given. I suppose it could be from any province. Can anyone give me a clue as to where Grass Iles might be? Thanks very much!

Hi Perhaps?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grosse_Isle,_Quebec
If you do a Google search - You will find a history for GROSSE ISLE, QUEBEC
Cheers, Stella

Thanks very much! That would fit with the French nuns and the fact that my grandfather was from upstate New York, actually not far from Montreal.

There is also a Grosse Isle in Manitoba. It is northwest of Winnipeg.

gg

Thanks!

Grosse Isles is in the province of Quebec, near Quebec City. It is a national heritage site. Many of the "famine ships" from Ireland landed here. Many of the ill passengers died and are buried there. Tours to the island (isle)are readily available.

Thank you! I think that is the place, because my mother was boarded in a French convent school in Quebec while my grandfather and her stepmother were working in Grosse Isles.