Celeste Anne Burke
Celeste Anne Burke was born in River Bourgeois, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, on February 3, 1900. She was the second child of Eugenie Landry and Damien Burke. Celeste Anne's only sibling was Abraham Alfred Damien Burke. She and her family are descended fom Antoine Bourg and Antoinette Landry, and are historically Acadian.
From the transcribed River Bourgeois church records... (This link was found by searching for RBParish.html. Should it change, try the search.)
Born : Burke, Celeste Anne, Feb 3, 1900, to Damien Burke & Eugenie Landry
Celeste Anne's godparents were Cyprien Burke and Susie Thibeau.
Note : a somewhat common name in Acadian records was "Celestin", from which the name "Celeste Anne" may have evolved.
Note: when hearing Celeste Anne's name pronounced, the last syllable sounded like "stan". When neice Theresa Longhurst pronounced it, it sounded like "Stella-Stan" to me, probably because Stella (Welch) was a family friend and I was trying to make sense of the name. Celeste Anne's granddaughter thought it sounded like "Selestan".
Census records...
This is a snippet from the 1911 Census. Entries are for Damien, Eugenie, Ann (Celeste Anne), Fred D. (Damien) and his wife Ellen Jane, and their daughters Lillian and Angela. Note: "Cannes" is a municipal division of River Bourgeois, on the south side.
Click on this image to view a local copy of the 1921 page that shows the family of Peter and Celeste Anne Landry.
Click on this image to view a local copy of the 1931 page that shows the family of Peter Abram and Celeste Anne Landry.
On January 15, 1917, young Celeste Anne married Peter Abraham Landry (born October 14, 1892, son of Lamond (Armand) Landry and Sarah Richard). Follow this link to see more details on the ancestry of Peter Landry.
Celeste Anne and Peter had nine childen: Clarence, Arthur, Mary, Leo, Helen, Jean, Lorraine, Stephen, and Edmond.
Peter worked as a carpenter in Boston when his children were young, and on the famous Keltic Lodge in the highlands of Cape Breton. Peter was a fisherman in the 1940's and 1960's, with son Leo, until Peter retired (when first eligible for Canada's Old Age Pension, at age 70, in 1962).
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The Sea Vamp, Peter and Leo's first boat.
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The Skeeter, Peter and Leo's second boat.
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Anne Landry comments... In 1945, my Dad came back from the war and started fishing with Peter, his father, on the Sea Vamp. A few years later they built the Skeeter together, which they put it in service around 1948-1949. They had extended the boat shed in the yard at our house so they'd have room to build the boat inside. They fished together during lobster/mackerel/cod season (May/June). Don't know (what to call) the style but the Skeeter had a boat house they put on the front when they went for overnight fishing trips. I remember seeing the boat house in the field when not in use and us getting scolded for climbing on it.
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Peter Landry loading lobster traps on the Skeeter.
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Peter Landry mending fishing nets.
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Anne's story about the Skeeter... "Dad was telling us about one time when he and grandpa had fished off Cheticamp and the buyers wouldn't buy their catch of cod at the wharves until all the regular fleet was in and had sold all theirs (they didn't like other people fishing off their waters). Anyway, grandpa got angry and left the wharf at 5:00 p.m. because they needed a few hours before dark to make it around Inverness and through the causeway. Everyone told them they should hold up in port because there was a bad storm approaching but grandpa figured they'd get in ahead of the storm, so he decided to leave anyway since they couldn't sell their catch. They'd try pulling into Port Hood to see if they could sell their fish there. Well the storm blew in before they got to Port Hood and they had a wild trip to reach there by nightfall. Dad said they took on lots of water before they reached the harbour. The "packing box" had come loose so they had to bail out and repair that. During a calm in the weather, grandpa decided to head out again for River Bourgeois. Apparently the storm wasn't done yet and by the time they reached Port Hawkesbury it was pretty nasty. He wasn't too sure they'd make it either, but grandpa was a tough old fisherman and 'stubborn' too... He remembers it was early morning by the time they finally reached River Bourgeois. They heard later that apparently one of the buyers' trucks had stopped in Port Hood asking if they'd seen grandpa and dad since they felt sure they'd perish in that storm."
Anne Landry remembers... "I have memories of watching him (Peter) and Dad (Leo) at the fish filleting table and being amazed at how fast and accurate he could fillet hundreds of mackerel without cutting his fingers."
Peter decided to invest in the River Bourgeois Mutual Telephone Company. He became a shareholder and supplied the wood for the telephone poles along the south side so they could get the phones connected. His was one of the first families in River Bourgeois to have a phone.
Theresa (Celeste Anne's neice) remembers... "Uncle Peter had a boat and would give Lou and I rides in it when we were young (even though our mother forbid it)."
This period photo shows part of the property belonging to Peter and Celeste Anne on the South Side. Click on it to see it enlarged. A rustic setting with a view of the North Side in the distance.
This second photo is described by Anne Landry as..."Celeste Anne and (her son) Clarence...the old hen house and woodpile. Dad's boatshed is behind the henhouse."
Celeste Anne worked at this lobster canning factory located at the end of the southside road just past her' and Peter's house. Granddaughter Anne: "She didn't have far to walk to get to work but they did long hours for ten cents (an hour). My grandfather (maternal side, Joseph P. Burke) worked there, too, one winter and bought himself a winter jacket with his earnings. That was big money in those days."
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Lobster canning factory behind schooner (unidentified).
Anne Landry comments... The three large warehouses across the harbour from the lobster canning factory were built by George Edward Bissett in the days when River Bourgeois was a thriving center of commerce. George had earlier bought the land and buildings of a pre-established fishing business from Queen Victoria in 1837.
- born February, 3, 1900, in River Burgeois
- Granddaughter Anne Landry: "Grandma went to school at the one room schoolhouse on the southside at the head of the river at the "Pont à Bill".
- while English was her primary written language, she was fluently bilingual
- married on January 15, 1917, to Pierre (Peter) Landry
- son Edmond Earl Landry writes about Celeste Anne... "Celeste Anne was an avid card player. She was always ready and able to play a game of cribbage or auction forty-five and did so until her death at age 97."
- granddaughter Anne writes... "(Celeste Anne) never missed a card-playing event unless she was ill. They used to tease her about having the ace of hearts up her sleeve - she always seemed to have it in her hand when she needed it."
- From Celeste Anne's journal: "I was born and brought up in Nova Scotia in the year 1900. My name is Celeste Ann Landry. We stayed at the Pond, as we used to call it, then moved to River Bourgeois when I was around 4 or 5 years old. I remember that day so well. It was like moving to the big city for me, as at the Pond there was only three houses and I was the only small one around, so I had nobody to play with. That day they moved two houses - ours, and my uncle's. It was (like) a big wedding going on they had to make food for around 30 or 40 men as the men were very hungry when they got there for dinner. And I can remember so well when my uncle came to get me to stay with (his family) for the day as mother was helping them their dinner. They moved two houses on the same day so I imagine they were all so tired and hungry. It was a treat for me to visit at my aunts for the day. I thought I was going to New York. I wasn't very old, maybe 4 or 5, out there at the pond where we lived, there was nobody my age, they were mostly all grownups, so I was happy to be going out for the day. Nobody had cars then - it was the horse and sleighs."
- From the journal... "I remember when I started school. I really liked that lots of kids were my age. Sometimes in the wintertime we used to follow the shore, especially in the spring, and get on the "clampers" (icebergs), get our feet wet, many times."
- Celeste Anne's favourite saint was Saint Anne - she had a Saint Anne prayer book "with the pages frazzled from so much use".
- Celeste was a member of the River Bourgeois Catholic Church CWL (Catholic Women's League) for 42 years.
- Isabelle Fougere's family were neighbours of Celeste Anne and Peter. She remembers that Celeste Anne was a "kind lady" and "an excellent housekeeper".
- children :
- born December 23, 1917.
- on August 19, 1946, married Nora Kathleen McCaughey (born November 10, 19200
- Children: daughter Noreen and one other
- Clarence died November 23, 2011.
- Nora died April 8, 2015.
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- children: 3
- Mary died October 28, 1973.
- Leo died January 5, 1974.
- born October 28, 1921.
- served in the Merchant Navy.
- married Theresa Mary Burke (note: a different TMB from the daughter of Celeste Anne's sibling Abraham Alfred Damien Burke)
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Wedding day photos. In the group photo are, left to right, Theresa's sister Anna, Peter Landry, Celeste Anne, Theresa's brother Anthony (front), Leo, Theresa, Leo's sister Lorraine Landry.
Peter Landry, Leo Landry, Theresa Mary Burke, Celeste Anne Landry.
- From an article in the River Round Up..."Theresa Mary was born February 8th, 1928, the eighth child of Clara (Landry) & Joe P. Burke of the Southside. She attended Cannes School until sixth grade when she was forced to quit to assist her mom who had just given birth to her sixteenth child in the twenty-three years. Direct descendents of her parents now number 234 as of December. As a teenager Theresa also spent time taking care of her grandmother Irene Landry who was blind, her grandfather Docite and Aunt Irene's sister who suffered from a broken back. Later Theresa and her sister Anna went to work for the "Yazer" families of Sydney Mines. The brothers owned a duplex and Anna worked in one half while Theresa worked in the other. In 1948 Theresa began dating the man next door or better known then as "the next field', named Leo Landry. The romance was moving at a "snail's pace" so in 1949 she and her friend Hilda Pottie moved to Halifax where they spent a year working as housemaids. Following many love letters Leo realized that absence did make the heart grow fonder and proposed to Theresa."
- Notes from 2007, from daughter Anne... "I had Dad & Mom talking about their youth in River Bourgeois on the weekend. They both remember when the merchant ships, the Nova I and the Nova II, used to come into the harbour to drop off things like molasses. One time (one of the) ship(s) got stuck in the ice across from our house and the community got together and helped them unload the molasses while the ship was still stuck in the ice. Mom remembers everyone walking on the ice to go up to touch the ship. They also talked about the house-moving kind of gatherings that were like the instance Grandma Celeste Anne remembers. On Sunday, from the pulpit, the priest would announce that someone wanted a house moved and anyone who could help out should show up after lunch. They would often move these houses in the winter when they could use the ice. The ice surface was easier to move them on than the ground - even surface and less obstructions."
- Side notes: Nova I, 86' x 17' x 9', 106 ton, owned by Nova Scotia Shipping Co., Halifax 1930; Fish Collectors Ltd., Halifax 1931. Wrecked 14/08/1932 Port Burwell, Arctic Canada. Nova II, Nova III, Nova IV and Nova V were also built, each with slight differences from the other.
- "MV Nova I (+1932) was a Canadian wooden hulled sailing aux. motor cargo steamer that was on route from Sydney, Nova Scotia for Diana Bay with a general cargo when she foundered on the 13th August 1932, five miles south of Port Burwell, Hudson Straits."
- Details from Lloyd's of London, Lloyd's Register of Casualty Returns... General nationality: Australian. Purpose: transport. Type: cargo. Ship propulsion: sail and motor. Date built: 1930. Details tonnage: 106 grt. Material: wood. Engine: Aux. 1 diesel engine, single shaft, 1 screw. About the loss, cause lost: ran aground (wrecked). Date lost: 13/08/1932.
- A picture circa 1930 of Nova IV can be viewed at the Nova Scotia Archives website at this link, with this caption : "Five vessels docked at Guysborough: Nova IV, S.S. Robert G. Cann, M.S. Hurryon, S.S. Chedabucto, and S.S. Granville III." What is good in the Archives picture is that the five vessels are of different types and sizes. The Nova IV is quite small compared to the other four - hard to imagine it plying Arctic waterways. A helpful picture (below) of the Nova IV can be viewed at the W. Laurence Sweeney Fisheries Museum site. "With more than eighty vessels built or contracted over the years, the Sweeney fleet was one of the largest on the east coast. Freighting and fishing as north as Hudson's Bay and as south as Venezuela."
- Leo was born on October 28th, 1921, the fourth of nine children, to Celeste Anne Burke & Peter Landry. He was born small and weak and it is said that's why he was only given one name since they didn't think he'd live long.
- Leo attended Cannes School up to the forth grade and two weeks in school he became ill with pleurisy and was driven to Sydney hospital by Dr. Joe Digout in his new Model T. Ford (taxi fare was $35). Leo spent some time in Sydney hospital with visits from relatives who lived in Sydney. Later he returned home where he was bedridden for a year. During his convalesence his grandmother Eugenie taught him how to knit to pass the time, a craft which he used to mend fishing nets and later went back to and excelled in during his retirement years. He knit everything from mittens, sock, sweaters, hats, throws to christening gowns.
- During his teenage years after his recovery he worked with his father fishing and with neighbours cutting pulp. He worked at Ben's Bakery in Halifax with his older sister, Cecilia Woods, for a time. He and his friend Alfred Burke later worked with CN Rail travelling across the country.
- In 1942 he signed up with the Merchant Marines when he wasn't accepted into the army. He left Xmas Eve, 1943, to travel to Vancouver to meet the ship the "Moose Mountain Park" oil tanker. His official "date of engagement" with the Merchant Navy was January 1,1944. The ship stayed in port in Vancouver for several months before sailing in March, 1944 to Portland, Maine. From there they made trips back and forth to Venezuela and overseas. It was on one of the upon returning to Portland, Maine Leo received word that his grandmother Eugenie had died. The message indicated she'd died 2 weeks prior so he had missed the funeral. He was discharged on 21st March 1945 because the ship had been sold to a Swedish company. He came home right away because the new owner sent his own crew over to sail her back to Sweden. That's when he started fishing with his father Peter on the Sea Vamp.
- His retirement was filled with small projects like making furniture for his children. He helped his son Danny build kitchen cupboards at his home and later at his son Vince's in Dartmouth. When that was too much for his health he settled into knitting projects, building model ship and doll house kits gifted to him from his children. He especially liked to do the rigging on the model ships as he was very knowledgeable on that aspect of sailing ships. When Sudoku's became popular he took to them with ease as he was always good in math despite his lack of schooling. When the grandchildren and great granddaughters arrived, he took on all new projects with enthusiasm. There are many brightly coloured socks and hats spread throughout the country to friends and relatives alike.
- Obituary... LANDRY, Leo "Popo", 88, South River Bourgeois, passed away May 8, 2010 in the Strait Richmond Hospital, Evanston. He was born in River Bourgeois to Peter and Celeste-Anne (Burke) Landry on October 28, 1921. A Merchant Navy Veteran, Leo served in the Second World War on the Moose Mountain Park Oil Tanker in 1944/45. He later worked as a fisherman and also carpenter at Riverside Industries. A skilled craftsman Leo generously gifted a legacy of ship models, doll houses and fine knitted works we his extended family and friends of family all treasure. We marvelled at his ability to face his life's health challenges with such a positive outlook and we thank you Dad for that great life lesson. We will miss seeing you in the rocking chair by the window knitting something for a new baby or college student, waiting for someone brave enough to challenge you at cribbage, or sitting at your table mastering your latest Jigsaw challenge. We, are your devoted wife of 59 years Theresa (Burke); sons, Danny (Anne) River Bourgeois; Vincent (Frances) Dartmouth; Leonard (Heather) Hamonds Plains; daughters, Anne, Halifax; and Rose (Bob) Kelly, New York; grandchildren, Genny (Jason) Ramsay, Laurie (Paul) Zinck, Janice (Mike) Pelly, Maura, Alicia, Kevin, James, Peter Evan and Emma Landry, Brad and Elise Kelly; great-granddaughters, Abigail and Amelia Pelly, Mila Zinck and Lydia Ramsay; brothers and sisters, Clarence (Nora), Helen Stone, Lorraine (Morgan) Miles, Stephen (Darlene), Earl (Louise), brother-in-law Don Eisenhaur (Jean) as well as many Burke, Harding, Sampson, Smith, McLaughlin in-laws and many nieces, nephews and their families. Leo was predeceased by sisters, Cecilia Woods, Jean Eisenhaur and infant brother Arthur as well as many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
- born October 7, 1923.
- on December 12, 1944, married George Alfred Stone
- children: 6
- George died October 22, 2007.
- Mary Eugenie (Jean) Landry
- born September 24, 1926.
- on August 2, 1952, married Don Osam Eisenhaur
- children: 4
- Jean died January 11, 2008.
- Don died March 11, 2011.
- born October 4, 1929.
- on July 31, 1954, married Morgan Miles
- children: 2
- Morgan died May 25, 2014.
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- born November 15, 1931.
- on July 12, 1958, married Lorraine Muise
- children: 3
- divorced c1988.
- on October 6, 1989, re-married Darlene __________
- died July 31, 2016
- obituary: "...passed away at Village of Tansley Woods (Burlington, Ontario), on July 31, 2016, at the age of 84. Devoted husband to Darlene. Loving father to Paul (Caroline), Troy (Louise), Todd (Pam). Step father to Gary Mitchell (Angela) and Larry Mitchell (Petra). Caring grandfather to Larissa, Zoe, Abby, Maura, Wilson, Tori, Sarah, Tyler, Christopher, and Lisa. Predeceased by his parents, Peter and Celeste Landry and his siblings; Clarence (Nora McGaughey), Leo (Theresa Burke), Cecilia (Leo Woods), Jean (Don Eisenhaur), and Darlene's parents Evelyn and Lou Williams, brother Gary Williams. Survived by his siblings, Earl (Louise) and Helen (late George Stone) and Lorraine (late Morgan Miles). He will also be missed by Darlene's family Caroline (late Raleigh Tyson), Sharon (John Burns), Beth (late Andre Letourneau), and many nieces and nephews. Steve was proud of his 36 year career with the Canadian Military as a radar tech, then promoted to Communications officer. Following his career in the military, he worked as a consultant at the National Defense Headquarters."
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- born November 27, 1933.
- served in Canadian military for 32 years (fifteen as a technician, and seventeen as a commissioned officer
- married on September 27, 1960, to Marie Louise Deveau
- Uncle Earl and Aunt Louise to Anne Landry
- in 2007, resides in Ottawa, Ontario
Peter and Celeste Anne, 60th wedding anniversary, 1977. Then, Celeste Anne at a granddaughter's wedding in 1981.
Peter Landry died March 29, 1980, at age 87.
Celeste Anne, 90th birthday February 3, 1990. The cake, decorated by Don Eisenhaur, has a replica of their house in River Bourgeois.
At age 96 and 97, respectively.