Passing of Armand Gauthier's Eldest Son Armand

Armand, son of Armand and Aurea, lived to be 80 years of age before his passing in October. Below is the obituary.  Armand was not the first of the Gauthier children to pass. They lost two other children but that was several decades ago when they were both quite young. (Jeanine, John's twin, passed shortly after her birth in 1942 and Cecile passed after living only a few hours in 1946). 

 The photos are Armand with his brother John Gauthier (youngest of Aurea and Armand's children) and with Laura and Lisa Gomes (daughters of Loraine (Gauthier) and John Gomes). The family gathered at St Joseph's Cemetery in Lowell on Nov 20 for the commital of his ashes in the plot he shares with his parents.

Armand Gauthier
of Lowell, MA

LOWELL -- Armand Gauthier of Lowell, MA, beloved son of the late Armand and Aurea Gauthier, died peacefully on October 16, 2015. Armand was born and raised in Lowell, MA. He was employed for many years at a local auto dealership. Armand loved to spend time with his family and recount many of his childhood stories. He will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure to know him. 

Armand is survived by his brother Arthur Gauthier and wife Rose Ann of Hudson, NH, and John Gauthier and special friend JoAnn Sakalinski of Dracut, MA. Sister Blanche Mahaleris of Pelham, NH. Jeanne and Donald Robey of Pelham, NH, and Lorraine and John Gomes of Dracut, MA

Keruac Biographer Recalls Armand Gauthier

August of 2014, I received a very nice note from Kerouac biographer Paul Maher, Jr. Below is the email. I plan to get copies of the Antlantic Monthly article and the "Good Blonde and Others".  Many thanks to Paul for reaching out and sharing some wonderful observations about Pepere. 


"Hello,

 "I read your blog on Armand and enjoyed it. I am a biographer of Kerouac and just wanted to alert you to another reference of Mr. Gauthier in Kerouac's short story      "In the Ring" where Arman is called Roland Bouthelier: "who was my father's unofficial chauffeur 'cause my father couldn't drive his 1929 Ford himself his legs being too short, or him having to talk too much while driving, and Roland also a young friend of the family's (about 22) and a worker in his printing plant to boot"

   "The whole piece seems  to be about Armand. It can be found anthologized in the Kerouac book Good Blonde and Others (Grey Fox Press) and still in print.

   "Incidentally, my grandmother, Gertrude (Larrivee) Maher told me once that she knew Armand and his family, and her brothers also knew him well. One of her brothers actually also worked in Leo's boxing gym.

     Best wishes, Paul"

"

National Park map Features Pepere

The attached map is from the National Park in Lowell and if you look in the upper right hand corner, there is a picture of the Kerouac family with Armand Gauthier.

Certificate of Marriage

Nice information on Armand and Aurea's certificate of marriage.  Example, had no clue that Memere ever worked but here she is listed as having been a stitcher at the age of 22 when they married and that Pepere worked in a furniture store.  Thanks to Father Roland Dandelin for marrying my grandparents. 

Merrimac Rug & Linoleum

Armand worked for many years at Merrimac Rug. I will post more on this later but wanted to set up a post for this photo I found of the office.

Aurea Gauthier's Obituary

LOWELL - Aurea J. nee Fortier Gauthier, 91, a resident of Lowell's
Pawtucketville section and a retired employee at Raytheon Co., died
yesterday, Dec. 16,2003 at local nursing home. She was the wife of the late
Armand R. Gauthier.

She was born in Canada on June 11, 1912, a daughter of Amedee and
Rosanna (Desallier) Fortier. She was a communicant of Ste. Jeanne d'Arc
Church in Lowell.

Prior to her retirement, Mrs. Gauthier was an assembler at Raytheon's
Lowell plant.

She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Blanche and Charles
Mahaleris, Lorraine and John Gomes, all of Dracut, Jeanne and Donald
Robey of Pelham, N.H.; three sons and a daughter-in-law, Armand
Gauthier, Arthur and Rose Ann Gauthier, all of Lowell, John Gauthier of
Dracut; 16 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and
nephews. She was also the sister of late Joseph, Edward and Wilfred
Fortier, and Exilia Audet, Aurore Malenfant and Eva Michaud.

Published in the Lowell Sun on 12/17/2003.

The photo is from the family plot where Aurea and Armand are buried at St Joseph's Cemetery in Lowell.

Trip to NYC in 1932

In an earlier post, we discussed how Armand Gauthier worked for Leo Kerouac- father of Jack Kerouac- in several capacities including driver, print shop worker, boxer and wrestler.

Blanche Mahaleris explained to me that sometimes her father would drive the Kerouac family to New York City as Jack's mother enjoyed visiting the fortune tellers there. She learned this during conversations with Armand. Whatever the reason for this visit, he was very busy according to his comments.

Here is a postcard Armand sent his girlfriend Aurea Fortier (later Gauthier) during one trip to NYC. He does not mention that this trip is with the Kerouac family in the post card but I am assuming that is the reason. Notice no zip code was necessary back in 1932.

Another interesting point is that this is written in English and not French.

Post Mark

Bronx, NY

1932

Addressed to:

Miss Aurea Fortier

768 Lakeview Ave,

Lowell, Mass.

Information about Grant's Tomb printed on Post card:

GRANT'S TOMB, New York City. Grant's Tomb, overlooking the Hudson River, commands a magnificent prospect of Riverside Drive and 123rd Street. In memory of his services during the Civil War this magnificent mausoleum was erected in 1897 by the City of New York. The tomb is a square structure, 90 feet on each side and 72 feet in height, built of white granite with marble interior.

Note from Armand to Aurea:

Hello Aurea:

I hope you're feeling fine. for myself everything is O.K.

I reach the big town without any trouble. I'm ready to visit the nice places.

I don't think I'll have time to sleep much while I'm here.

Anxious to see you soon.

Armand