CARIBOU, Maine — Family members of Ora LaChance St. Peter poured into The County for several days in anticipation of her 99th birthday for a special reunion celebration.
The event was held at the Caribou Motor Inn and Convention Center July 26, 2015.
Ora LaChance St. Peter was born in Winterville, July 25, 2016, to Paul LaChance and Adelle Soucier. Her siblings include: Corrine, Sophie, Louis, Numa, William, Marc and Samuel.
Her father, Paul, worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad. When she was a young girl, she remembers riding the railroad once and receiving an orange from the conductor.
Ora came to Caribou in the early 1930s where she married Edmund St. Peter (1914-1986), a farm laborer. After several children arrived in the marriage he went to work in the shipyards in the early 1940s but soon returned to Caribou, his hometown, in the mid ’40s.
Edmund and Ora raised four children: Carroll, Maynard, Dina and Marilyn. They built their modest home on South Main Street in Caribou, where she continues to reside independently today.
From these small roots has come a very large family tree. Her children married and had children of their own. At the reunion, five generations of her descendants gathered in celebration of this milestone in her life.
There are 14 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 23 great-great-grandchildren. Members of her extended family include: Carroll St. Peter (1936-2011), Charlotte Chapman St. Peter (1936-1995), Joseph St. Peter, Eva St. Peter, Michael St. Peter (1978-2003), Jason St. Peter, Chantel St. Peter, Austin Michael St. Peter, Reagan Paige St. Peter, Jean St. Peter Guy, Dylan Guy, Gracey Guy Malm, Christopher Malm, Cooper Malm, Madison Malm, Mallory Guy Wells, Phillip Wells, Hannah Wells, Landon Wells, Charlotte Wells, Henry Wells, Dylan Guy, Jr., Molly Guy, Colton Kelsey, James St. Peter, Marianella St. Peter, John St. Peter, Maria St. Peter, Kathleen St. Peter, Kendall St. Peter, Korie St. Peter, Kaden St. Peter, Kayce St. Peter.
Also, Maynard St. Peter, Velma Madore St. Peter, Margo Roberts, Robert Roberts, Stewart Hayden, Erin Hayden, Zachary Hayden, Silas Hayden, Shawn Hayden, Kristy Hayden, Emily Hayden, Taylor Hayden, Steven Hayden, Madison Margaret-Lawrence, Hayle Hayden, Steven Hayden, Taylor Hayden, Angela Parrish Hayden, Kiley Hayden, Annalise Hayden, Brandon Hayden, Carl Hayden, Cora Todd-Hayden, Rosh Hayden, Hillary McCaw Hayden, Mahayla Hayden, Anabelle Hayden, Sarah Roberts, Phillip St. Peter, Lisa Anderson St. Peter, Terry St. Peter Huston, Jamie Huston, Jeffrey St. Peter, Marta Jovani, Allen St. Peter, Charlien Bursi, Gaige St. Peter, Jacoby St. Peter, Dezarai St. Peter, Mike Loggins, Karen St. Peter Ginish, Joseph “Norman” Ginish, David St. Peter, Denise Norris St. Peter, Nicholas St. Peter, Simon St. Peter, Malcom St. Peter, Naomi Morrow St. Peter, Eli St. Peter.
Also, Dina St. Peter Plourde (1938-1996), Christopher Plourde, Natalie Plourde, Breana Lewis, Landon Lewis, Warren Plourde, Frances Harrington Plourde, Jacquelyn Adriance, Thomas Anderson, Daniel Plourde, Wesley Plourde, Amber Plourde, Desirae Plourde.
Also, Marilyn St. Peter Soble Hill, Gary Hill, Bryant Soble, Melanie Salser Soble, Madelyn Soble, Katherine Soble, Derek Soble, Gary Allen Hill, Heather Barich, Sommer Floyd, Collin Floyd.
Others recognized at the gathering included the farthest traveled, Marta Jovani from Benicarlo, Spain. The newest member of the family is Henry Wells, born May 16, 2015. Oldest member of the family was Ora St. Peter, 99 years young.
Recent newlyweds were Malcom and Naomi St. Peter, married July 13, 2013. Married the longest were Maynard and Velma St. Peter, who were married August 6, 1960 — 55 years.
Honored for most children was Margo Roberts with eight children present, and recognition for most grandchildren went to Cecile Bell with 17.