| Name |
CHAREST, Marie Desanges Claire Anne |
| Nickname |
Claire |
| Born |
2 Nov 1924 |
Manville, Rhode Island  [1] |
| Gender |
Female |
| Died |
25 Apr 2020 |
Woonsocket, RI |
- Claire passed on the evening of April 25, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. She had moved to a nursing home several years earlier and her daughters visited her often, particularly Denise and Jeanne.
However, due to the pandemic and risk to elderly patients at the nursing home, all visitors including family and priests/ministers were banned. Claire spent the last months of her life without any family visitors, and was not able to have a Catholic priest provide the customary Last Rites for her.
A traditional funeral was not permitted, so Claire's daughters held a graveside service for just the three of them. A memorial service was held after pandemic-related bans on large gatherings was lifted.
- Obituary from Fournier & Fournier Funeral Home, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Claire M. Forand 94, formerly of Greene St., passed away Saturday, April 25, 2020 at the Woonsocket Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was the wife of the late Leo J. Forand. Born in Manville, she was a daughter of the late Alphonse and Emilie (Frechette) Charest. Claire worked in the combing department of the former Argonne Worsted Mills for fifteen years, she also worked for the former Warwick Shoppers World and Univis Frames.
She is survived by a son Robert J. Forand of St. Petersburg, FL and three daughters Susan Joyal of Uxbridge, twins Jeanne Forand of Woonsocket, and Denise Pincince of Worcester, a sister Lucille Duclos of Maryland, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by siblings George, Armand, and Rosaire Charest, Theresa Gaunt, Rita Danese, Noella Papagno, and Margaret Volpe.
A Funeral Mass and burial will be held at a later date and time.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Claire M. (Charest) Forand, please visit our floral store.
|
| Person ID |
I9 |
Charest Genealogy |
| Last Modified |
13 Mar 2026 |
| Father |
CHAREST, Ildephonse, b. 19 Mar 1891, Upton, Quebec, Canada , d. 20 Jan 1945, Woonsocket, Rhode Island (Age 53 years) |
| Relationship |
Birth |
| Mother |
FRECHETTE, Emelie, b. 22 Nov 1889, St. Didace, Quebec, Canada , d. 3 Jun 1957, Woonsocket, Rhode Island (Age 67 years) |
| Relationship |
Birth |
| Married |
4 Oct 1916 |
Joliette, Quebec, Canada |
| Documents
|
 | Genealogy of the Charest Family
A detailed genealogy of the Charest family, as researched by Roger Forbes. Much of his source information comes from French-language documents maintained at the French-American Association, Woonsocket, Rhode Island. |
 | Summary of Deceased Family Members
A summary of birth and death dates of members of the extended Charest family, descendents of Ildephonse Charest and Emily Frenchette. This document was developed as a collaboration between Roger Forbes and Pauline (Hurteau) Watson. As Pauline wrote:
"This is a project that was undertaken because one of my nephews wanted to know when some of our relatives passed away. I thought it was a very important and necessary project to do and Roger offered to help locate some of the dates. This project was very hard to do and brought back many, many memories. It was done with lots of love and many tears."
This document should be considered a primary source reference for the dates shown. |
 | Wedding Announcement of Ildephonse Charest
A French-language newspaper clipping announcing the marriage of Ildephonse Charest. This appears to have been published some time after the actual wedding, as the wedding was in Joliette, Canada, and this article appears to be written in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Machine translation summary:
--------------
Headline: Sixty-nine at the wedding supper at Mr. Charest's house
Article Summary: A large automobile procession took place. Sixty-nine people attended the celebration at Mr. Athanase Charest's home on Nash Road, not counting children. Mr. Ildefonse Charest, married in Joliette, immediately left for New Bedford, while his brother Armandius was married the next day. They will travel to Fall River, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Brockton, Taunton, New Bedford, Joliette, and Quebec. Mr. and Mrs. Armandius Charest will return to Brockton, and Mr. and Mrs. Ildefonse Charest will live in Quebec.
Gift List: A list of gifts offered to Mr. and Mrs. Ildefonse Charest and Mr. and Mrs. Armandius Charest is provided, including clocks, linens, silverware, and various household items from numerous donors. A separate list of gifts for Mr. and Mrs. Ildefonse Charest is also included. |
 | Letter From Ildephonse Charest to Emelie Frechette
This image is a photograph of a handwritten letter in French from Ildephonse (Alphonse) Charest to his future wife Emelie Frechette. This letter date only includes a month and day, but as they were married 4 Oct 1916 the year of this letter is probably 1916. A line in this letter appears to indicate they were setting their wedding date.
Note 1: The closing line of
- St-Remi [de] Tingwick -
Probably refers to Saint-Remi-de-Tingwick, which is a municipality located in the Centre-du-Qu?bec region of Quebec, Canada. This may have been Ildephonse's location when writing this letter.
Machine (AI) Translation
Page 1
Quebec July 29
To Mademoiselle Emelie Fr?chette
Miss and Dear [?]
A few words to give you news of me which are very good thank God thank you.
And at the same time
I must ask you for forgiveness for all the faults that I have committed by not having been faithful to my promises.
Page 2
But you know, you know that I have a good heart and I admit every day I already have a few mayors in my heart
Every time I fancifully, I tell myself that I must write us back and you, sincerely, give me the gift, and if you give me the gift, I want to become married. Even though I love him, he is still very much in love even though we are not married
It is time to do what we should have done instead of this. I have said
In Borbes, a gray figure that mo
Page 3
...must that you are still faithful and he must come to your house to give you my news.
I am the second cook on the St. Ireneo and I have a salary of $50.00 a month. I should have enough to get married as soon as I finish my time at sea.
But as I told you, if you want, you will be my wife.
I promise you, because God will not allow me to forget you; I must do his will.
Page 4
aussistat that I have finished, be sure, be and cheese from October or at November, serve, I have a fork. Fork goes to Bedford, it has and returned to Grand Cere. I have a big commitment for the winter while the guarded one, solve the problem, I want you to receive from your news soon what I gave you, I regret to you, the washhouse will remain if you and farsee flous nois fable what yours
Page 5
Keep the [money/envelope] sent for the month as you would like.
I believe that is all for tonight from your friend.
I hope so, Alphonse Charest.
Cuisinier [Cook], St-Remi [de] Tingwick, Louise Richer [?], Quebec. |
| Photos
|
 | The Charest Family, Descendants of Ildephonse and Emilie (Frenchette) Charest
A family photograph of all nine children of Ildephonse and Emilie (Frenchette) Charest. Taken during a family reunion in the early 1980s. This was the last time all nine children were together, as Margaret would pass several years later.
From Left to right, top row:
Rita, Noella, George, Lucille, Margaret
Second Row:
Clair, Joe, Armand, Theresa |
 | Ildephonse Charest and Emilie Frechette
Ildephonse Charest and Emilie Frechette, unknown year taken. Possibly another photo taken on their wedding day. |
 | Wedding Photo of Claire Charest and Leo Forand
Wedding photo of the Charest family at the wedding of Claire Charest and Leo Forand. From left to right:
Louis George Charest, __, __, __, __, __, __, __ . |
| Family ID |
F1 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
1924 - 2020 (95 years)
