Continuation of tree (8th child of Paul 'Leon'/Mathilde Dagenais); all known surname descendants:
8 Joseph George Didier 'Cannonball' Pitre b: 1 September 1883 Ste. Cecile, Valleyfield, QUE; d: 29 July 1934 Sault Sainte Marie, Chippewa, MI
+Cecilia Chartrand b: 27 March 1882 Alpena, MI; m: 20 February 1908 Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma, ONT [Alfred/Philomene Viau]; d: 8 October 1976 Sault Sainte Marie, Chippewa, MI
9 Infelice Mary Philomene 'Vivian' Pitre b: 22 February 1910 St. Louis de France, Montreal, QUE; d: 15 October 1981 Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, MI
+Paul Barras b: 1 May 1908 Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, MI; m: 6 February 1932 Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, MI [Moses/Minnie Paris]; d: 22 March 1978 Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, MI
Notes for Joseph George Didier 'Cannonball' Pitre:
Census
- 1910 Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, Michigan: Alfred Chartrand 76 proprietor/hotel, wife Philomene 66; son-in-law Damera Burnett 36 clerk/hotel, wife Emily 30, son-in-law Didier Pitrie 26 proprietor/bicycle shop, wife Cecilia 27, Infelice 2 months; 5 others.
- 1911 Montreal, Maisonneuve, Quebec: Didier Pitre 26 athlete, wife Celia 28, Infelice 1; widowed mother Mathilde 68; brother Napoleon 43 shoemaker.
- 1921 St. Jean Baptiste, Montreal, Hochelaga, QUE: Didier Pitre 38 hotelier/tavern, wife Cecile 35, Devanne 11, lodger Emile Vezina 45 artist/paint.
- 1930 Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, MI: Dier J. Petrie 46 truck driver/dray line, wife Cecilia 46, Vivian C. 20 seamstress/dry goods store, widowed sister Emily G. Breunett 48 housekeeper/private home; 4 roomers. [Ridge Street]
- 1940 Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, MI: Widow Cecelia Petrie 56 lodging house keeper, son-in-law Paul Barras 32 packer/carbides, wife Vivian 30, Lillian 4; 6 lodgers. [Ridge Street]
(gleaned from various online bios):
- Didier Pitre was the idol of
French-Canadian hockey followers in the early days of the game. He weighed about
200 pounds, had a shot 'like a cannonball', and could skate with tremendous
speed for a big man. He entered pro hockey as a defenseman with the
Nationals of the Federal Amateur Hockey League. In 1906 and 1907 he
was the IHL's First Team All Star. He
played in the International Pro League with Jack Laviolette and they returned to
Canada to team up on the Shamrocks' defense in 1908. The following year,
Pitre
played for Lester Patrick's Edmonton team. When Laviolette formed the
Canadiens in 1909, Pitre was the first player signed, and he was to remain with
the team until retirement in 1923, except for the 1913-14 season when he played
for Vancouver. It was the style of Laviolette and Pitre, both very fast, that
caused sportswriters to designate the team as the Flying Frenchmen. After two
seasons, Pitre was moved to right wing to utilize his speed, and his goal
production jumped. His biggest scoring year was 1915 when he registered 30
goals, about half the team's total. Laviolette moved up to left wing on the line
with Pitre and Newsy Lalonde and the trio led the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup
in 1915-16. The veteran of 19 seasons (1903-23) played in 282 games and
scored 240 goals. His playoff record read 14 goals in 27 games. Didier was
inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.
Teams: Montreal Nationals (1903-05), Michigan Soo Indians (1904-07),
Montreal Shamrocks (1907-08), Edmonton Eskimos (1907-08), Renfrew Millionaires
(1908-09), Vancouver Millionaires (1913-14), and the Montreal Canadiens
(1909-23).
Obituary: The Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, ONT), Monday, 30 July 1934: Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., July 29 - Didier Pitre, noted figure in the hockey world more than a decade ago, died here today following an attack of acute indigestion. He was 50 years of age and had been a member of several professional hockey teams. He was one of the few remaining figures of the hectic pro hockey days of 1904, 1905 and 1906 and was considered one of the great stars of the sport. He entered pro hockey when it was launched by Pittsburgh, Calumet, Houghton and Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Pitre did not end his professional career until 1923 when he completed his services as a member of Montreal Canadiens with which club he had been associated since 1910. Before joining Canadiens he played with Renfrew Millionaires. When his hockey days were ended Pitre returned here where he had lived prior to joining Canadiens. He had been a member of Michigan Soo's International Professional League team for several seasons during the league's early days. He was born in Valleyfield, Que., and played amateur hockey in Montreal before coming to the Sault. In 1928 Pitre competed in a series between teams from the two Saults for the championship of the respective cities. He led his team to victory over the Ontario aggregation. Last year the veteran of the ice participated in an exhibition match and showed he still possessed considerable of his old speed. While in the N.H.L. with Canadiens he was among the scoring leaders year after year. His best season was 1914-1915 when he recorded 30 goals and was second in the league standing. He scored more than 200 goals in his pro hockey career. Pitre is survived by his widow and one daughter, Mrs. Vivian Boris, both of this city. He was an uncle of Vic Desjardines, pro hockey star.
Tombstone Inscription, Riverside Cemetery, Sault Sainte Marie, Chippewa, MI: PETRIE / Didier J. / 1884 - 1934 / Cecilia / 1884 - 1976
Obituary for the daughter:
Infelice Mary Philomene 'Vivian' Pitre: The Evening News (Sault Ste. Marie, MI), Monday, 19 October 1981: Funeral services were held today for Vivian I. Barras, 71, who died Thursday at Brinks Nursing Home in Sault Ste. Marie. Born Feb. 22, 1910, in Montreal Que., she had lived in the Sault for 60 years and was a homemaker. Her husband, Paul, died in 1978. She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. James (Joy) Bentley and grandson, Donald Bentley, of the Sault. Services were held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with Msgr. Oliver O'Callaghan officiating and burial was in Oaklawn Chapel Gardens. Arrangements were handled by Bailey-Newhouse Funeral Home.
Back one generation to parents of Joseph George Didier Pitre
Items in RED have been verified against parish register entries.
Last updated: 16 May 2024.