Continuation of tree (14th child of Joseph Louis Pitre/2nd wife Veronique Martin); all known surname descendants:
8 Joseph Jerome Pitre b: 1 September 1905 St. Alexis, Matapedia, QUE; d: 15 September 1948 Newburyport, Essex, MA
+Viola Ellen Durken b: 17 November 1910 Burlingame, KS; m: 23 December 1928 Gillespie, Macoupin, IL [John/Viola Dunbar]; d: 5 April 2009 Johnstown, Licking, OH
9 Viola Marie Peters b: 20 February 1930 Gillespie, Macoupin, IL; d. 11 December 2022 Newark, Licking, OH
+Richard Horace Milner b: 13 August 1929 Newburyport, Essex, MA; m: 12 February 1949; d: 7 January 1980
*2nd Husband of Viola Peters:
+William Ora Houck b: 24 September 1935 Johnstown, Licking, OH; m: unknown [Irva/Lena Ankrum]; d: 4 September 2015 Sunbury, Delaware, OH
9 Jerome Joseph Peters b: 13 January 1934 Newbury, Essex, MA; d: 12 February 2006 Mesa, Maricopa, AZ
+Marilyn Louise Young b: 1936; m: 23 September 1956 Braintree, Norfolk, MA; d: Aft. April 2009
Notes for Joseph Jerome Pitre:
Census
- 1930 Detroit, Wayne, Michigan: Jerome Peters 24 labor/general, wife Viola 19, Viola M. 1 month.
- 1940 Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts: Jerome Peters 34 farm labor, wife Viola 29, Viola 10, Jerome 6 [98 High Road]
- 1950 Newbury, Essex, MA: Edmund R. Boucher 24 finisher/silver manufacturing film, wife Viola E. 39 supervisor/silver manufacturing film, stepson Jerome J. Peters 16 clerk/retail grocery store.
WWII Records: Jerome Joseph Peters, res. 98 High Road, Newbury, MA; b. 1 Oct 1905 St. Alexis, QUE; wife Mrs. Viola Helen Peters; 6'1/2", 165 lbs., hazel eyes & brown hair, light brown complexion; 16 Oct 1940 Newbury, MA.
Murder report: Boston Herald, Thursday, 16 September 1948: (photo - Jerome Peters - Night Watchman found dead in a Newburyport factory) Ice pick used in slaying - Watchman victim in Newburyport plant: Newburyport, Sept. 15 - The brutal slayer of Jerome Peters, 42-year-old night watchman at the Towle Manufacturing Company here, whose body was found beaten and stabbed in a company carpenter shop early this morning, was being sought tonight by local and state police. Peters had been bludgeoned on the head with a steel pinch bar and stabbed through the heart with an ice pick just before dawn, minutes after he had made a routine call to Newburyport police from a phone 20 feet from where his body was found. The killer, who, police theorized, surprised the watchman as he left the phone, took nothing from his victim or from the shop, famed for its manufacture of silverware, because after his savage attack, he found himself still in a building apart from the silver shop itself. At first police were confronted with what appeared to be a phantom murderer, since the slayer disappeared from the scene while leaving the shop's only three doors locked from the inside. Peters' body was discovered by Arthur J. Corey, 42, of 1 Vernon street, the night fireman, who went to look for the watchman when he did not return at 5 A.M. after his 4 A.M. tour of stations. Back-tracking all of Peters' steps, he found the carpenter shop locked, crawled in through an open window without observing the body on the floor in the darkness, broke open a door and returned a short time later with Raymond Harris of Lime street, a day-shift employee just arriving for work. Harris snapped on the light to reveal the watchman's body. They told investigators later that Peters had only one more station visit to make before his night's work would have been finished. Dr. Frank W. Snow, medical examiner who performed the autopsy with Dr. Alan R. Moritz of Harvard, state pathologist, said Peters suffered "at least two fractures on the right side of the head, in addition to the stab wound, any of which could have caused death." The watchman's left cheekbone and nose also were fractured. (More details of the scene.) A popular employee of the Towle company, although he had only worked there 11 months, he previously had been a carpenter, fruit grower and truckman working for himself. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Viola Peters, a supervisor of the company's advertising department; a daughter, Marie, 18, who is employed in the cutlery department; a son, Jerome, 14, a freshman at Newburyport High School; seven sisters and five brothers. Three sisters and four brothers live in Canada, where Peters was born. The others are Mrs. Judith Gallant, Mrs. Josephine Gallant, Mrs. Margaret Gallant, all of Ipswich, and Mrs. Georgianna Gallant of Peabody, all of whom married men with the same surname, and Emile Peters of Ipswich.
Notes for Viola Ellen Durken:
- Viola remarried to Edmund Robert Boucher, 17 February 1950 Newbury, MA.
- Obituary: The Newark Advocate (Newark, OH), Tuesday, 7 April 2009: Johnstown - Viola E. Boucher, 98, of Johnstown, passed away at Northview Senior Living Center on April 5, 2009. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 7 PM at Crouse-Kauber-Sammons Funeral Home, Johnstown, OH with Father Reichert officiating. Viola was born on November 17, 1910 to the late John and Viola Durkin in Macoupin, KS. Viola is survived by daughter, V. Marie (William) Houck; daughter-in-law, Marilyn Peters; grandchildren, Sharon, Cindy, Doug, Laurie, Glenn, Dawn Marie, Robin Christopher; eight great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews and special friends. Viola is preceded in death by her two husband, E. Robert Boucher and Jerome J. Peters; children, Roberta Bustomonte, Jerome J. Peters II; grandson, Michael Houck; three sisters and two brothers. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, April 8, from 5 to 7 PM. The family requests that memorial contributions be made in lieu of flowers to Hospice of Central Ohio, Newark, Ohio.
Tombstone Inscription, Liberty Cemetery, Liberty, OH: BOUCHER / Viola E. / Nov. 17, 1910 / Apr. 5, 2009 / E. Robert / Jun. 6, 1925 / Nov. 24, 2006
Obituaries for the children:
Viola Marie Peters: Crouse-Kauber-Fraley Funeral Home (OH): Viola Marie Houck, February 20, 1930 - December 11, 2022 (photo) Viola Marie Houck, 92, of Johnstown, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at Licking Memorial Hospital. She was born on February 20, 1930 in Gillespie, IL, a daughter to the late Jerome and Viola (Durkin) Peters. Viola is survived by her daughter, Sharon Milner; granddaughter, Maria Bray; great-grandchildren, Jessica (Brandon) Burch and Cameron Vance and great-great-grandchildren, Eirick Vance, Rhyder, Kimber, Gage and Charli Burch. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband, William Houck; son, Michael Houck; brother, Jerome Peters and sister, Roberta Boucher. Graveside service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2022 at Fredonia Cemetery in Granville, OH with Pastor Bryan Moore officiating.
Jerome Joseph Peters: The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), Wednesday, 15 February 2006: (photo) Jerome Joseph Peters passed away on February 12, 2006. Jerry was born January 13, 1934 in Newbury, MA. He was a Vietnam Veteran who served four years in the Navy and sixteen years in the Air Force. While in the Air Force he earned an associates degree from Phoenix College. He was proud of his service to his country and was a long time member of the American Legion. Traveling, skiing, fishing and boating were among his favorite pastimes. He was a budding artist who loved woodworking, wood carving and painting. Jerry's one true joy in his life was his wonderful family. Jerry will be truly missed by his loving wife Marilyn, daughter Cindy and husband Joe; daughter Laurie and husband Michael; son Doug and wife Marilyn; son Glenn and wife Amee; mother Viola and stepfather Robert Boucher, sister Marie, nine nieces and nephews including Robin and Dawn, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Family and friends will share their last goodbyes Thursday, February 16, 2006 at Mariposa Gardens, Mesa, AZ. Visitation will start at 12:00 PM with services to follow at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Service Organization (USO), the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice. Mariposa Gardens handled the arrangements.
Tombstone Inscription, Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, Mesa, AZ: 1934 - 2006 / United States Air Force / Jerome J. / PETERS / Marilyn L. / 1936 - (blank) / together forever
Back one generation to parents of Joseph Jerome Pitre
Items in RED have been verified against parish register entries.
- Deaths in RED from online death certificates (1920-1934).
- New Brunswick marriages in RED also from Vital Statistics Records (online)
Last updated: 18 October 2025.