Joseph Albany (Alby) Gaudet, the seventh child born of John Peter and Sophie (Bernard) Gaudet, was born in Bath, Maine on March 29, 1906. His father was working in the U.S. at the time. Alby was considered a British subject, American Born. Alby was about a year and a half when his family returned to Prince Edward Island. They settled on a farm in St. Edwards, known as Smith Road.
Alby met the love of his life, Mary Catherine Chaisson, right there in St. Edwards. They met at a house party. They were married on August 12th 1930. They lived in St. Edwards for twenty years. Alby made a living by fishing. He and his brother Arthur owned fishing gear. They fished lobster, cod, mackerel and herring. Alby was also a horse trader. This was very popular in those days because horses were used for travel, racing and work.
There was no TV and very few radios in the thirties and forties, so on the long winter evenings, family, friends and neighbors would gather at Alby's home to listen to his stories. Alby told ghost stories, real life stories and sometimes fiction stories which might continue on to the following night or even the next week.
The winter of 1944 was a difficult year for the Gaudet family and many families in St. Edwards. A disease know by the name of diphtheria spread throughout the community. Many lives were lost. Alby and Catherine lost their baby girl, Julia, the youngest of their ten children (six girls and four boys).
In 1950 Alby gave up fishing and moved to Montreal, where he found work in the construction business. He bought a house in Boucherville. In 1953, another child was born to Alby and Catherine. They named him Richard. Now their family was complete. Five girls and five boys. Alby worked in Montreal until 1976, and then he decided to move back to P.E.I. This proves the saying, "You can take the man out of P.E.I., but you can't take the P.E.I. out of the man." He built a nice cozy retirement home in St. Edwards where he and Catherine lived until the time of his death on June 30th, 1979. Alby loved trout fishing and he was always talking about the big trout that got away. I am not sure if anyone believed his trout stories, but on the day that Alby died, he had gone trout fishing and he did catch two very large trout. He arrived home and said to Catherine, "I don't feel well. I will lie down for a bit, but there are two large trout in my car. Will you take them into the house for me?" Then he went into the washroom and Catherine heard him fall. She called for help but it was too late. Alby died of a massive heart attack.
Alby was a good husband. He was loved by all his children. They all have fond memories of him, his story telling and wonderful memories of all the card games they played together. His grandchildren also loved him dearly and they have many good stories and memories of him, too.
Joseph Albany (Alby) and Catherine Gaudet's Children
Isadore born March 5th , 1928 - Died
Nelson born March 26th, 1931 - Died
Therese born April 30th, 1932
Reggie born December 24th, 1935
Freda born July 23rd, 1937
Olive born January 6th, 1939
Julia born June 10th, 1943 - Died in 1944 of diphtheria
Alma born September 27th, 1940
Victor born October 4th, 1945
Johanna born July 21st, 1947
Richard born March 7th, 1953
Joseph Albany (Alby) Gaudet, the seventh child born of John Peter and Sophie (Bernard) Gaudet, was born in Bath, Maine on March 29, 1906. His father was working in the U.S. at the time. Alby was considered a British subject, American Born. Alby was about a year and a half when his family returned to Prince Edward Island. They settled on a farm in St. Edwards, known as Smith Road.
Alby met the love of his life, Mary Catherine Chaisson, right there in St. Edwards. They met at a house party. They were married on August 12th 1930. They lived in St. Edwards for twenty years. Alby made a living by fishing. He and his brother Arthur owned fishing gear. They fished lobster, cod, mackerel and herring. Alby was also a horse trader. This was very popular in those days because horses were used for travel, racing and work.
There was no TV and very few radios in the thirties and forties, so on the long winter evenings, family, friends and neighbors would gather at Alby's home to listen to his stories. Alby told ghost stories, real life stories and sometimes fiction stories which might continue on to the following night or even the next week.
The winter of 1944 was a difficult year for the Gaudet family and many families in St. Edwards. A disease know by the name of diphtheria spread throughout the community. Many lives were lost. Alby and Catherine lost their baby girl, Julia, the youngest of their ten children (six girls and four boys).
In 1950 Alby gave up fishing and moved to Montreal, where he found work in the construction business. He bought a house in Boucherville. In 1953, another child was born to Alby and Catherine. They named him Richard. Now their family was complete. Five girls and five boys. Alby worked in Montreal until 1976, and then he decided to move back to P.E.I. This proves the saying, "You can take the man out of P.E.I., but you can't take the P.E.I. out of the man." He built a nice cozy retirement home in St. Edwards where he and Catherine lived until the time of his death on June 30th, 1979. Alby loved trout fishing and he was always talking about the big trout that got away. I am not sure if anyone believed his trout stories, but on the day that Alby died, he had gone trout fishing and he did catch two very large trout. He arrived home and said to Catherine, "I don't feel well. I will lie down for a bit, but there are two large trout in my car. Will you take them into the house for me?" Then he went into the washroom and Catherine heard him fall. She called for help but it was too late. Alby died of a massive heart attack.
Alby was a good husband. He was loved by all his children. They all have fond memories of him, his story telling and wonderful memories of all the card games they played together. His grandchildren also loved him dearly and they have many good stories and memories of him, too.
Joseph Albany (Alby) and Catherine Gaudet's Children
Isadore born March 5th , 1928 - Died
Nelson born March 26th, 1931 - Died
Therese born April 30th, 1932
Reggie born December 24th, 1935
Freda born July 23rd, 1937
Olive born January 6th, 1939
Julia born June 10th, 1943 - Died in 1944 of diphtheria
Alma born September 27th, 1940
Victor born October 4th, 1945
Johanna born July 21st, 1947
Richard born March 7th, 1953
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