Dear Cousin,
You are receiving this invitation because your relative provided me with your name and address. You are a direct descendent of Dominique and Louisa Thomasine Peterson-Monlezun. They settled in Lake Arthur, LA in 1873 after emigrating from southern France in 1866. You and your family are cordially invited to attend the First Monlezun Family Reunion in Lake Arthur, LA. It is 10 miles south of Jennings, LA, off of I-10.
It is our hope that you can attend this special day of food, visiting, sharing of mementos, memories, and music.
Date: Saturday, April 23, 2005
Place: Lake Arthur, LA, the home of Lee Joseph and Anna ‘Gertrude’ Hensgens- Monlezun.
Hosted by: Their children!
Cost: Donations to be collected at the reunion to cover a portion of the cost of the event.
What to bring: Special mementos of your Monlezun family tree for the “Memory Table” such as photos, old letters, special mementos you feel you would like to share (i.e. tools, garments, hats, religious articles, handmade items, favorite recipes, etc). Bring cameras!
Activities:
* Gather at 10:00 AM at the sign-in area to pick up your name tag and special ribbon identifying your branch of the Monlezun family (Pascal, Joachin, Josephine, Antoine, Emile, or Theodore)\
* Sign in with name and address. Pick up “The Monlezun Family” booklet of all family names and addresses (one per family). Special gift of Grandpa Dominique will be given at this time.
* Visit under the large tent where food will be served and Memory Tables will be set up.
* 12:00 noon -Blessing of food and family; catered food and drink. Home open for use.
* 1:30 p.m. - Music provided by ‘Then and Now’…a band made up of relatives from Lake
Arthur!
* More visiting, singing, dancing!
* Maps available to visit the graves of ancestors (less than one mile away) if you so wish.
Please spread the word of this Reunion reminding family members of the date and time.
Another letter will be sent closer to the time of April 23, 2005. It is our hope that this day will be memorable for all who attend. Feel free to pass this invitation on to any family we may have missed. We are indeed a big family! Grandpa Dominique’s decision to come to America has borne much good fruit. So gather around the fruit trees in Lake Arthur and meet your cousins!
Sincerely,
Constance Victoria Monlezun Darbonne and Siblings, Lee Joseph., Robert Joseph, Charles Joseph, Anna Bernadette, Malcolm Joseph, Ione Marie, and Dominique Joseph
***(Please send me full & complete names, birth date, wedding anniversary date, death date and updated addresses to be included in the “Monlezun Family Booklet”)
The First Monlezun Family Reunion, 23 April 23 2005 in Lake Arthur, LA
Home place of the late Lee Joseph and Anna Gertrude Hensgens-Monlezun
Descendants of Dominique and Louisa Thomasine Peterson-Monlezun and
Pascal Monlezun
Host family for the Dominique and Louisa Thomasine Peterson-Monlezun and
Pascal Monlezun Family Reunion 23 April 2005!
Children of Lee Joseph and Anna ‘Gertrude’ Hensgens-Monlezun,
Left to Right:
#10 Dominique Joseph Monlezun, #6 Malcolm Joseph Monlezun, #2 Robert Joseph Monlezun, #1 Lee Joseph Monlezun Jr. & #3 Charles Joseph Monlezun
Bottom Row: left to right:
#8 Ione Marie Monlezun-Broussard, #5 Constance Victoria Monlezun Darbonne, and
#4 Anna Bernadette Monlezun-Pontón
(#7 Alvin Joseph Monlezun 1954 – 1965 and #9 Veronica Gertrude Monlezun 1959 – 1965)
Ten Questions for Recorded Family Interviews
in the ‘Front Porch Room!’
…Name, ancestor, family members, reside…
St. Anthony Cemetery, Lake Arthur, LA
…those who have gone before and
May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
First row, north to south:
Blanche B. Monlezun Sept. 21, 1879 Dec. 15, 1977
Theodore Monlezun Nov. 29, 1879 Aug. 14, 1966
Milton A. Monlezun Sept. 14, 1911 Nov. 22. 1952
Alvin J. Monlezun Aug. 7, 1954 May 25, 1965
Veronica G. Monlezun Feb. 7, 1959 May 25, 1965
Antoine Monlezun Mar. 31, 1882 Mar. 29, 1971
1st Lt. Alvin J. Monlezun Feb. 1, 1920 Oct. 10, 1044
Victoria B. Monlezun Feb. 10, 1884 June 12, 1989
Adeline Monlezun June 12, 1871 Mar. 11. 1950
Emile Monlezun Nov. 3, 1877 Apr. 27, 1965
Louise M. Bertrand Nov. 20, 1903 May 21, 2005
Freeman R. Bertrand Aug. 28, 1903 Feb. 5, 1963
Rita M. Broussard Feb. 21, 1906 May 5, 2001
Eldess J. Broussard Jan. 25, 1904 Nov. 3, 1973
Adelle B. Monlezun July 12, 1877 May 21, 1968
Joachim E. Monlezun Jan. 28, 1876 Nov. 4, 1960
William Monlezun July 22, 1910 Dec. 14, 1944
D. (Dominique) Monlezun Born 1845 Died June 29, 1928
Second Row, north to south:
J.T. (Junior) Monlezun June 29, 1919 Jan. 30, 2004
Margaret G. Monlezun Aug. 18, 1920
Lee J. Monlezun, Sr. April 24, 1917 July 31, 1985
Gertrude Hensgens-Monlezun Dec. 27, 1921 Nov. 28, 2000
Claude I. Monlezun Mar. 3, 1902 July 6, 1964
Geraldine M. Gaithe June 18, 1950 Nov. 14, 1974
Louis Marcel Gaithe May 10, 1906 Apr. 26, 1979
Alice M. Gaithe Dec. 1, 1904 Nov. 8, 1980
PASSPORT OF DOMINIQUE MONLEZUN
TRANSLATION (French < > English)
I love these words…original passport is framed and has a place of honor in the
“Living Room”in our home of origin in Lake Arthur, LA…
translation generously transcribed by Danielle Miller.
General Administration (Seal of the General Police) French Empire
Passport to go Abroad Valid for one year
PROVINCE of High Pyrenees
Registration No. 231
Passport to go Abroad Valid for one year IN THE NAME OF THE EMPEROR
The Prefect of the High Pyrenees Request the military and Civilian authorities of the French Empire and ask the Civilian and Military authorities of countries who are friends or allies of France allow free movement of the name Monlezun
born in Lalanne residing in Lalanne going to New Orleans and to give him help and protection in case of need This passport is valid for three months to leave France. Made in Tarbes, the first of October 1866 for the prefect for the Lieutenant General The advisor Prefecture M Baily
Description Age 21 Height 5 feet 4 inches Hair Chestnut
Forehead Forward Eyebrows Chestnut Eyes Grey
Nose Mouth Medium Beard None
Chin Round Face ? Complexion ?
Particular Signs that are Noteworthy Scar on Right Cheek
Signature of the bearer Monlezun Dominique
Price of the passport: 10 Francs
…sailed from Marsaille, France arriving in New Orleans, LA 1 October 1866…
GRATEFUL HEARTS
This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad!
In gratitude,
I have seen and experienced Your love ignited to
connect us all…You from whence we come.
Created in His image and likeness and down
through the ages, we were begotten.
It is now our turn to
be most grateful and celebrate in the footsteps of
those who have gone before.
Our steps intertwine with our ancestors
whom we can now call by name,
centering back to the palm of His hand Who,
counted every hair on our head before
we were formed in our mother’s womb!
They have prayed us forward since 1300!
We now become the pray-ers for our own yet to be born.
Family is a gift to be
nurtured by work, good example and unceasing prayer,
becoming good and wise stewards of that which has been entrusted to us;
by communicating and protecting,
by study of the steps taken by the ‘grands’
to insure our freedom, education and faith foundation
and lived in the daily, day by day, in trust, love and toil.
God of our ancestors, help us cling to You.
LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT!
Anna ‘Bernadette’ Monlezun-Pontón