Wilfred Octave Joseph GIROUX

On The War Memorial Trail….. Successful Conclusion To The Search For Wilfred Giroux

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

July 3, 2023.  Last year, following an interview published on May 4, 2022 in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Pieter received an email from Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk in The Netherlands, asking if he could help with an unusual request. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/05/04/article-in-de-telegraaf-quest-for-faces-zoektocht-naar-gezichten/)

…Adje wanted to repatriate a photo and Christmas cards sent to a Canadian soldier and found at her parents’ house….

Adje had a photo of a WWII soldier from Canada, and two Christmas cards.  All had been found in her parents’ house and she wanted to return them to the soldier’s family.  The challenge Pieter faced was that she knew nothing about the soldier or his family. 

20220504_133002 Best Wishes Wilf Giroux

Photo found in the house of Adje’s parents. The front of the photo reads ‘Best Wishes Wilf Giroux December 1944’.  On the back was written ‘my baby sister and myself’. (Photo submitted by Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk)

The photo and the names listed on the Christmas cards helped Pieter to identify him as Wilfred Octave Joseph GIROUX, the son of Octave Joseph and Elizabeth Ellen (nee Hickey) Giroux.  Wilfred was born September 25, 1912 in Mattawa, Ontario, and survived WWII.  Unfortunately, Pieter was never able to determine in which Regiment Wilfred served.  We posted an article about the search in June 2022 and hoped a family member would come forward.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/06/02/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-wilfred-giroux/)

…Research continued….

Meanwhile, research continued, in case information about Wilfred’s military service or living family could be found.  Sometimes interesting connections were made, as when Judie Klassen found that Wilfred’s brother Joseph married Zita Rellis, who had been Wilfred’s teacher.  Judie wrote us that “…They must have been school sweethearts as she is in a school photo with the rest of the Giroux kids. Looks like his sister Lillian was a witness at his wedding….” (See https://vitacollections.ca/whitbynews/details.asp?ID=69906)

DSCN2427 Ste Annes Church from Don Coutts

Ste. Anne Roman Catholic Church in Mattawa, Ontario. (Photo credit: Don Coutts)

We had been unable to find the Ste. Anne Roman Catholic Church that the family had attended when we went through Mattawa, Ontario last year, but Don Coutts was kind enough to send us a photo.  “…I was in Mattawa delivering bags of PEI potatoes to the Mattawa Food Bank several weeks ago and made a detour to the Sainte-Anne Roman Catholic Church.…” (See Paroisse Ste-Anne https://stannemattawa.com/)

….One family member identified the woman in the photo with Wilfred….

Not long after the article was posted online, Bev Dahlinger contacted us, saying “…Imagine my surprise while I was searching online for information about some of my ancestors when I came across this article about my Great Uncle Wilfred Giroux. My Grandmother Marguerite Mann (Giroux) was Wilfred’s sister. The woman in the picture with Wilfred is his sister Addie. I don’t know a lot about Wilfred, other than he lived in Toronto and my mother used to go into Toronto to visit him years ago….”

….Addie’s daughter got in touch….

FB_IMG_8065410907851165341 Laurie Kane left with friend Kim

Laurie Kane (left) with friend Kim on holidays in Mexico. (Photo courtesy of Laurie Kane)

Months went by, and then in December 2022, we received a most welcome email.  “…My name is Laurie Kane, daughter of Addie (Adelaide) Giroux and Howard Kane. I have a sister Mary Frances.

That is 100% my Mom pictured with Wilfred that you posted! I knew as soon as I saw it!! She was the youngest of 11 children. Their parents were originally from Rivière-du-Loup in Quebec. They moved to a large farm in Whitby, Ontario.

My parents adopted me when my mom was 40 years old. I don’t have many memories of Wilf, but he owned a gas station and was a mechanic, so perhaps was also a mechanic in the war.

20230422_132618~2 Aug 1954 Addie and Howard with Wilf in Toronto

Laurie’s parents Howard Francis Kane and Addie with Wilf at his garage in August 1954.  (Photo courtesy of Laurie Kane)

Thank you so much. The article was an absolute delight to read!!...”  Laurie ended with the words Adje was pleased to hear. “…And please thank Mrs Van der Sanden for making such a reconnection possible!! What an amazing woman! I would love to have the Christmas cards and photo….”

When she wrote, Laurie explained that she was on a winter vacation in Mexico, and sent a lovely photo from the beach.  Nice!

20230422_132649~2 Group photo undated Wilf identified

Giroux family photo. Wilfred identified by red arrow.  (Photo courtesy of Laurie Kane)

Laurie included a group photo, saying “…I believe this is the last big family photo…Wilf is third from left to right top row….”

….Wilfred Giroux passed away in 1991….

Judie Klassen answered one research question when she found Wilf’s obituary in April 30, 1991 edition of The Oshawa Times.  Wilfred had died April 29, 1991 at the Rockliffe Nursing Home in Scarborough, Ontario, predeceased by 5 of his sisters and 3 of his brothers.  He was survived by his sisters Antoinette (Toady) and Addie.  He’s buried at St John The Evangelist Cemetery in Oshawa, Ontario.

….The photo and cards were repatriated….

20230517_154351~2 Laurie Kane with Xmas cards

Laurie Kane with the two Christmas cards and a note from Adje van der Sanden. (Photo courtesy of Laurie Kane)

This spring, Laurie received the photo and Christmas cards from Adje, and wrote to Adje, saying “…I was more than thrilled to receive the Christmas cards and your note. Wilf was my uncle on my mother’s side…Giroux. Peggy, Toady, Dot and Katie were all my aunts. I was very close to them and spent half my childhood at their house.

We called them ‘down home’…it was my second home. They were all lovely and giving people and made anyone who walked through their door feel at home and part of the family. I was very lucky to have had them all in my life for so many years. Toady (Antoinette) was the last of them and she died in 2014.  Thank you so much for finding me and sending the cards and picture. I am forever grateful….”

Adje’s quest to repatriate the cards and photo was successfully completed!

Thank you to Laurie Kane for contacting us and providing photos and further information on her uncle.  Thank you also to Judie Klassen for the research done in uncovering family members and where Wilfred settled post WWII, and to Don Coutts for taking a photo of the church in Mattawa.

This story began with a quest and thanks go to Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk for preserving the cards and photo in order to return them to Wilfred’s family. 

Do you have a story to share? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1. 

© Daria Valkenburg

….Another WWII soldier from Mattawa….

Howard Milo NICHOLLS, who served in the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, lost his life on April 28, 1945 in Germany, also came from Mattawa. Born March 21, 1924 in Mattawa, Ontario, he was the son of Albert and Frances Nicholls.  We briefly told his story during a feature on the soldiers who lost their lives in the same incident, but up to now family for this soldier have not come forward. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-4/)

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The Search For Wilfred Giroux

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments

20200529_154800 Adje van der Sanden

Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk wants to return cards and a photo to the family of WWII soldier Wilfred Giroux.  (Photo submitted by Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk)

June 2, 2022.  When Pieter begins a research project into a soldier from either WWI or WWII, it’s usually because it’s a soldier on a list.  Sometimes a photo is missing, or a soldier participated in a particular battle, or was in a specific regiment.  In each case, the name of the soldier and a few particulars about the military service are known.

So we were intrigued when Pieter received an email from Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk in The Netherlands.  She contacted him after reading an article which translated to ‘Quest For Faces’ in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on May 4, 2022. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/05/04/article-in-de-telegraaf-quest-for-faces-zoektocht-naar-gezichten/)

…A photo and Christmas cards were found….

Adje had a photo of a WWII soldier from Canada, and two Christmas cards.  All had been found in her parents’ house and she wanted to return them to the soldier’s family.  The challenge Pieter faced was that she knew nothing about the soldier or family.

In a translated excerpt of her email, Adje wrote “….In the house of my deceased parents, Toon and Marie van Lisdonk-Nooten, we found Christmas cards, a one-dollar bill, and a photo of the soldier Wilfred with his baby sister. In 1944 he stayed in Gilze Rijen, Holland, near my parents.  

I would like to send this to the relevant family and I wonder whether the soldier survived the terrible war and whether he returned home to Canada. 

I read the article about you in De Telegraaf today. Then I googled and that’s how I found your wife’s email address. I have a lot of admiration for both of you. Today is the Commemoration Of The Dead here and the flag is now at half mast….”

…The photo gave a clue to the soldier’s identity… 

20220504_133002 Best Wishes Wilf Giroux

Photo found in the house of Adje’s parents. The front of the photo reads ‘Best Wishes Wilf Giroux December 1944’.  On the back was written ‘my baby sister and myself’. (Photo submitted by Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk)

The photo that Adje submitted was signed ‘Best Wishes Wilf Giroux December 1944’ and on the back was written ‘my baby sister and myself’.

We had our first clue – the soldier’s name – Wilfred GIROUX.  Gilze Rijen has a large air base, and at first we thought he might have been in the Air Force.  However, it appears that he is wearing an Army uniform, and likely the photo was taken in Canada before he was posted overseas.

Gilze Rijen was liberated at the end of October 1944, and Allied troops were stationed there for about two months.  It may be that Wilfred was part of a maintenance or mechanical regiment.

The photo inscription suggested that it was given to Adje’s parents, so Pieter asked her if she knew how Wilfred could have met her parents.

Adje replied that “…He was quartered diagonally with several soldiers across the road from my parents. Opposite was a cafe so my father, who enjoyed a beer, may have met him there. My father was a very social person….”

… Wilfred survived WWII…

With a name uncovered, the Canadian Virtual War Memorial database was consulted.  No Wilfred Giroux, which suggested that he had survived the war.  We were no further ahead in determining where he came from, which regiment he served in, or what happened to him.  We then looked for clues in the Christmas cards.

…The Christmas cards led to clues about Wilfred’s family…

Two Christmas cards, written by Wilfred’s sisters, provided more clues.   One card, written by his sister Peggy, read “…I know that there will be nothing around you to remind you of Christmas, so I am sending you this Christmas tree – just imagine you are sitting in front of it in our living room…” (The card had an image of a tree, along with the names Dada, Dot, Katie, Peggy, Toady, and Addie.)

“… Next year we will have one just like it and with you here it will be just as if Santa Claus has come to us once again….

 Try and forget about this Christmas and just keep thinking of next.

 Loads of love and the very best of luck at Christmas and all through next year.  Peggy…”

The second card, dated December 1, 1944, was written by Toady and read: “…Dear Wilfred, Things are shaping up for a white Christmas here, it has been snowing all day.  It’s the kind of weather that is bad for straight hair. My permanent is grown out and I have to put it up every night…..

We are all fine and will remember you in our Communions at Christmas.  Love Toady…”

Toady’s card indicated a family that was Catholic and that they lived in an area where winter came early.

… Wilfred’s sister Toady helped unlock the mystery…

The name Toady was unusual and was the clue that unlocked the mystery of who Wilfred Giroux was.  I found an obituary for Marie Antoinette ‘Toady’ Giroux, who died in Oshawa, Ontario on August 30, 2014, the last surviving sibling of eleven.

If there had been any doubt that this was the same Toady as in the Christmas card, it was dispelled when the obituary mentioned that Toady and her sisters Katie, Peggy, and Dot raised two nephews – Butch Mann and Archbishop Anthony Meagher. Unfortunately the sisters and the nephews were also deceased. (See obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/oshawa-on/marie-giroux-6104629)

I called the funeral home, and they checked, but the contact number for the person who arranged the funeral was no longer in service.  A call to a woman who had left a condolence message led to the information that her mother had lived across the road from the Giroux family in Whitby, Ontario.

… Pieter finds the birthplace of Wilfred…

20220518_123551 May 18 2022 Pieter takes photo of Mattawa town sign birthplace of Wilf Giroux

Pieter by the sign for Mattawa, Ontario.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

With the names of Wilfred’s sisters and the locations of Oshawa and Whitby gave Pieter enough information to find Wilfred’s family.  His father was a railway contractor, and was posted in various locations.

Wilfred Octave Joseph GIROUX, the son of Octave Joseph and Elizabeth Ellen (nee Hickey) Giroux was born September 25, 1912 in Mattawa, Ontario, a place we had a chance to drive through on a recent trip to North Bay.

… A few more clues…

A search through newspapers available online did not turn up any information on Wilfred, but Judie Klassen was able to find the names of two of Wilfred’s brothers:

  • John William, who married Janie Annie Martha Britt
  • James L (Jim), who married Lola Mabel Varr

Wilfred and sisters Dorothy (Dot), Peggy, and Toady (Marie Antoinette) never married.  Addie (Adelaide) married Howard Kane.  Lillian was married to Francis Joseph Meagher.  Marie Lydia Marguerite married Joseph Harold Mann.

Wilfred did survive WWII and moved to Toronto, where he was listed as a mechanic in a 1974 voters list.  He was still alive when his brother Jim passed away on December 10, 1977.

… Unanswered questions…

Still unanswered are the following:

  • Which Regiment did Wilfred Giroux serve in?
  • When did he pass away?
  • Are there any family members left for Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk to contact?

Thank you to Judie Klassen and Shawn Rainville for their assistance in uncovering family members and where Wilfred settled post WWII. Thank you also to Don Smith for researching the uniform that Wilfred is wearing to help assess whether it was an Air Force or Army uniform.

We very much appreciate the care that Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk took to preserve these cards and photo, and for wishing to return them to Wilfred’s family.  Can you help with information on Wilfred Giroux or his family members?  Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

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Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEuropeDaria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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© Daria Valkenburg