My Paternal Grandmother .... Alexina Hebert (Matteau) was the wife of Thomas J. Hebert. She was the daughter of Vital Francois Matteau and Georgianna Matteau (Gonthier). Alexina and Thomas had six children, Joseph,Yvonne,Gertrude, Rita, Raymond and Leon. Alexina was born in St-Cajetan,Armagh,Bellechasse,Quebec,Canada and came to the US in 1907 at the age of 11. She LOVED to play cards (pitch)and enjoyed collecting beautiful glassware. It always seemed she had a houseful of grandchildren and we loved going through her jewelry drawer! Her favorite television show was "Perry Mason" and when he came on - we had to be quiet!! At Christmas my grandmother always put candles in ALL her windows,including the back windows that no one would see.I asked her as a younger child why she put those candles where no one would see them. She smiled and said Jesus would see the candlelight and that we needed to light a dark world...even back windows. Well,if you come to my home ,you will notice candles in EVERY window....so Jesus can see the light and my tiny corner of this world is helping to stop the darkness. My grandparents would speak in French most of the time as did my father when he was with them. I have truly come to appreciate my French Heritage. We descend directly from Louis and Marie (Rollet) Hebert,two of the first settlers in New France.
My Paternal Grandmother .... Alexina Hebert (Matteau) was the wife of Thomas J. Hebert. She was the daughter of Vital Francois Matteau and Georgianna Matteau (Gonthier). Alexina and Thomas had six children, Joseph,Yvonne,Gertrude, Rita, Raymond and Leon. Alexina was born in St-Cajetan,Armagh,Bellechasse,Quebec,Canada and came to the US in 1907 at the age of 11. She LOVED to play cards (pitch)and enjoyed collecting beautiful glassware. It always seemed she had a houseful of grandchildren and we loved going through her jewelry drawer! Her favorite television show was "Perry Mason" and when he came on - we had to be quiet!! At Christmas my grandmother always put candles in ALL her windows,including the back windows that no one would see.I asked her as a younger child why she put those candles where no one would see them. She smiled and said Jesus would see the candlelight and that we needed to light a dark world...even back windows. Well,if you come to my home ,you will notice candles in EVERY window....so Jesus can see the light and my tiny corner of this world is helping to stop the darkness. My grandparents would speak in French most of the time as did my father when he was with them. I have truly come to appreciate my French Heritage. We descend directly from Louis and Marie (Rollet) Hebert,two of the first settlers in New France.
