Della Dube (1890 - 1990)

Della was born March 24, 1890, to Magloire Dube and Aurore LeBrum in St. Ephrem, Q.P., Canada. She was one of twelve children, six boys, and six girls. They were raised in a strict Catholic environment, a way of life she practiced all of her days. Her own children were educated in the Catholic School system. This was a luxury she herself was never afforded. She never had an opportunity to attend any school, as was the way with immigrant children at the turn of the century. But that didn't stop Della, she went on to learn to read and speak English on her own.

The Dube family immigrated to the United States while Della was still a young girl. Like so many other Canadian families, they were attracted by the textile industry of New England. The family settled in Lawrence, MA. Della and her family worked in those mills, Della herself retired after nearly 50 years.

Growing up, Della was popular in the area. She was also very talented. Her abilities included singing, dancing and playing the piano. Because of these abilities, she had many male suitors. Among these young men was one Michael LaCroix, because he was two years her junior she procrastinated, in the end, she agreed to marry Michael. They settled down and raised four children. Because of the economy and job situations, Della and Michael moved their family between Massachusetts and New Hampshire a few times. After her husband's death, Della settled down in Lawrence, MA. Much of her life was spent raising her children on her own for she never remarried.

Della, like Michael, was also a strict but loving parent. She was always there for her children whether it was for comfort or advice. Being a single parent during those hard times was difficult, to say the least. As she was much more relaxed as a grandmother than a mother.

My memory of her is of a kind and gentle lady, she was always a lady. I never heard her use profanity, those kind of words were just not in her vocabulary. She said her prayers every day as a good Catholic should and joined her beloved husband in Heaven at the age of 99, one month short of her 100th birthday.