Catherine Laura (Pothier) Pyne (1915 - 1975)

Born 15 Sep 1915 in Sluice Point, Yarmouth Co. Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Wife of Stanley Reid Pyne — married 20 Nov 1951 (to May 1975) in Weymouth North, Nova Scotia

Descendants

Died 17 May 1975 at age 59 in Sudbury, ON. Canada

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Biography

Laura was the 2nd daughter of Levi & Odille Pothier, born in 1915. Her older sister, Marion moved to live with relatives near Boston where she helped out in the home and received an education. Laura helped raised her 9 younger siblings. When she was 16, (1931) she was employed at a doctor's home in Yarmouth. One rainy evening as she was running across the street, she was hit by a car and dragged for a considerable distance. Among other injuries, her left leg was badly damaged. Over the next 7 years, she was intermittently hospitalized and treated for gangrene. Her leg was amputated below the knee. Penicillin was not available at this time. During her hospital stay, she took up smoking and had a severe case of Rheumatic fever, which damaged her heart. She remained at home where she continued to help with her siblings and learned to quilt, knit and sew. She was an excellent cook. The therapy and prosthetic was paid for by a charitable service group.

Laura received some training (from the same service group) and eventually got work at Cornwallis Naval Base where she ran the canteen and learned to speak English. A letter dated July 20, 1951, re: Miss Laura Pothier (Supervisor, Soda Fountain) approves a pay increase from $90.00/month to $115/month 1st August, 1952 (the year is underlined, so it does not seem to be a mistake). "The following factors were taken into consideration: (a) Professional knowledge of soda dispensing, (b) Responsibility for purchasing, and custody of stock, (c) Length of service and hours of employment,..." The letter is signed by M Preston, Canteen Officer and on H.M.C.S. Cornwallis Central Canteen letter head.

By this time, she was in her 30's. She met Stanley Pyne at Cornwallis, where he was a Firefighter, (after his Airforce service). As an English, protestant, divorced man 8 years younger, it was not seen as a good match on either side of the families. They married in 1951.

Laura and Stan had 2 children, Tom, born in 1952 and Nina, born in 1953. Stan found work in Northern Ontario and the family followed in about 1957. Around 1960, Laura and Stan were in a multi-car pile up in Elliot Lake. Stan broke several ribs and Laura's head went through the windshield and her right leg was broken in 11 places. A court case was launched and by 1962, the Supreme Court ruled in Laura's favour, awarding her a precedent setting amount for a homemaker. Stan & Laura together received $11,000 ($3K for Stan and the rest for Laura, because her mobility was compromised by her previous injury). The family bought a place on Richard Lake near Sudbury, ON in 1963 and lived there until her death in 1975 (at 59) from colon cancer.

Sources

First-hand knowledge entered by Nina Pyne, Wednesday, August 14, 2013

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Footnotes

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Nina Pyne for creating Pothier-71 on 14 Aug 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Nina and others.