Husband Leonard Patrick Roach
Born: 28 Dec 1895 - Kouchibougouac, Kent, Nouveau Brunswick, Canada
Christened:
Died: 1 May 1977 - Penetanguishene, , Ontario, Canada
Buried: - Victoria Harbor, , Ontario, Canada
Father: William Roach
Mother: Margaret Harnett
Marriage: Est 1918 - Suppo, Victoria Harbour, Can, , ,
Wife Albina Bourgeois
Born: 1900
Christened:
Died: 1929 - Détroit, , Michigan, U.S.A.
Buried:
Research Notes (Husband)
December 28th, 1895 in Kouchibougouac, New Brunswick. The doctor came by horse and sled to deliver the twins. Leonard and Albina (twins) were born prematurely. They were put in a homemade incubator heated with bricks, stones and blankets.
Leonard grew up on the old homestead, which was a farm, with a large family. Leonard attended St Thomas College and studied law but then switched to Commerce. He worked in Moncton for the Canadian Pacific Railway (C.P.R) and then transferred to Port McNicol C.P.R. grain elevator. There he was a police officer.
He then met Albina Bourgeois, and they got married. At first the Roach family was not pleased because she was French but then they got to know and love her. Leonard and Albina cut a beautiful figure skating across the Georgian Bay.
Leonard and Albina lived in Port McNicol where Doris, Ronald and Eileen were born. Eileen died at 4 months with pneumonia. Leonard, who had been called to visit in New Brunswick his mom who was not expected to live due to sugar diabetes, rushed back home to see Eileen die in his arms hours later.
In 1923 they moved to Windsor, on California Street north of Wyandotte. Leonard opened a grocery store on University (formerly London St.) Later Leonard opened a grocery store on Tecumseh Rd., East near Goyeau and Windsor St. area. They then moved to Goyeau St. across from St Mary’s academy (which is now the Windsor/Detroit Tunnel).
While in Windsor, Leo, Leona and Allan were born. While they lived on Goyeau, many relatives came and stayed at the Roaches and many found work in Windsor and Detroit. In 1927, they moved to Detroit in an area called Indian Village. Leonard was the manager of a Red and White grocery store. Wilfred was born and when he was fourteen months old, mother Albina died (1929) out of childbirth and double pneumonia.
Until then, life was good, -a nice house, car, domestic help- and Leonard had help in the store. It all came to an end. Leonard drank, gave up his job, house and citizen papers to move back to Victoria Harbour. He tried to take care of the children but depression set in and he couldn’t find work. The Bourgeois family took in the children until they were old enough to continue high school.
He had trouble getting his birth certificate for his Old Age Pensions and retirement for when he worked he for Fords of Canada. His twin sister Beenie had the same problem. He said the certificates had been lost due to a fire and he had to go around the area getting as much facts as possible of their birth from local people. He retired in Windsor.
Towards the end of his life, he lived for six years with his son's Allan's family in Midland, Ontario. He had become diabetic. When he needed nursing care, he moved into a nursing home in nearby Penetanguishene.
Most of his grandchildren are settled in Ontario. A few are living in British Columbia, California, Florida and the U.K.
From Leonard and Albina's daughter, Leona Roach Fathers with additions by their granddaughter Cheryl Roach Lattimer.