3. & 4. Portraits of My Mom & Dad
5. SGT. Andrew Beerntsen
6. Jamie Fameree-Elliott
7. Wayne Pierre
8. Marie Pierre
9. Catherine Fammeree
10. Hannah Asplund
11. Allison Beerntsen
December 2008
** BEHOLD THE MIRACLE **
Wishing You Merry Days, A Heart That’s Light,
Family and Friends, a Season Bright!
Another month has passed,
Here are the Highlights & Happenings
As always this past month has been extremely busy with traveling to Wisconsin and helping Jo-Anne & Dad move in the new house and the Thanksgiving Holiday, but we finally finished & I would have to say almost 98% done! Although Jo-Anne has this huge craft Armoire that has not been refilled with all the craft goodies Jo has, (IT’S AMAZING)!!! I really love her house & she even has a spare bedroom with my name attached to it, so I will always have a place to hang my hat when I’m in town! I initiated the help of Jo-Anne’s good friend Pam a local artist who painted portraits of Mom & Dad & we put them in some antique oval convex glass frames & this was my house warming/Birthday/Christmas gift for Jo-Anne & they are absolutely stunning! Thanks Pam!!!
ALSO BIG NEWS!!! My Nephew Andrew Beerntsen (Ida’s Son) is back in the States after completing his 2nd tour of duty in Iraq!!! YEAH!!! Please help us CELEBRATE him home!
I believe he has a month off & will be home for Christmas. My whole Family is so thankful He is safely returned to us & can’t wait to see him again!!!
Now I would like to talk a bit about a Christmas tradition my Family & I knew as children, which is St. Nick Day…
On Dec 5th in the Evening Some of our Neighbors would dress as St. Nick / Santa and would peek in our windows and scare us, then they would pound on our door & ring bells they carried, when we answered the door we would place a chair for them to sit on, they never usually spoke, just pointed, 1st they would point at their ear, this meant we would tell him what we wanted for Christmas, then they would point at their cheek, this meant we give St. Nick a kiss on the cheek. Then he would toss peanuts for us to gather and we would receive a plastic stocking that was filled with candy & small trinkets or just a bag with candies & if we were lucky there would be some angel food candy in it.
Today my Sister Mary celebrates by leaving a stocking or a shoe hung by the mantle on Dec 5th to be filled with candies & small gifts. & my Sister Jo-Anne usually buys everyone small gifts like socks or color books for the small kids.
Next you will find a story of St Nicholas Day in Belgium!!!
St. Nicholas, The Children's Friend
A Belgian Tradition for December 6
by Ade Bethune
St. Nicholas was an important figure of my childhood in Belgium over sixty years ago. He was the children's friend. On December 6, his (not on Christmas), he brought toys and goodies.
First, you had to be good yourself. Be obedient. Listen. Tell the truth. Say your prayers. Ask permission. Say "please" and "thank you." Say "Good morning" and "Good night." Put your toys away in the evening. Drink your milk. Finish your food. Brush your teeth. Tie your shoe laces. Let your mother cut your fingernails. Put your shoes where you will find them in the morning. Also many don'ts. No quarreling with your big brother and sister. No hitting people. No breaking things. No whining. No stealing what is not yours. Respect the other children's toys. Quite a program, both of good things to do and bad deeds to avoid.
Ideal children would do good things at all times. But in real life, a period of special effort is helpful. St. Nicholas's coming provided just that. His gifts would show approval of my conduct.
What seemed like weeks ahead, advance notice was given and early preparations began. Every evening, our night prayer included a hymn in honor of St. Nicholas. There were three stanzas.
To be sure, every day conversation also centered on the great theme. On and on it went.
On the morning of December 5, the children were gathered at the foot of the stairs because some of the grownups thought they heard a sound coming down from the attic. We sang another song to welcome our friend and, no sooner was the song finished than a hail of tiny cookies rained down from above. Just a little sign that St. Nicholas was thinking of us! Just the encouragement we needed to live through the last twenty-four hours and keep our record high. Then, in the evening, a last fervent night prayer and hop into bed.
The next morning, an unbelievable vision of beauty was spread before our eyes. Presents were not wrapped in colored paper, but artistically displayed on the floor, at the foot of the coal stove, between a scattering of bright red apples, oranges, walnuts, hazelnuts, and St. Nicholas cookies. The presents were not marked (little ones don't yet know how to read anyway), but instinctively my brother and sister and I knew which treasure was intended for each child. There were no presents for the grown-ups. This was a children's feast. Grown-ups got their pleasure out of seeing the children's joy, and possibly supplying some helpful hints about equitable sharing of apples, nuts and cookies. The rest of the holiday was very much like the American Christmas which in fact combines St. Nicholas' Day and Jesus' Birthday.
This leads me right into…
December Birthdays (in date order)
Special Birthdays – 5th Robert LeCaptain,6th Winnifred Pierre,7th Wayne Pierre,9th Jamie Fameree Elliott,12th Tom Fameree & Jeff Routhieaux,13th Travis Englebert & Hannah Asplund,16th Sue Kaczmarek & Catherine Fammeree,18th Karen Kaczmarek, 25th Marie Pierre,28th Allison Beerntsen,30th Madella Collins
1
Lori Ann Booze 1958
Jessica Lynn Fameree 1981
Nicolas Allen Collin 1981
2
Wendy Sue Jonet 1983
Léa Zilberstein 1993
3
Janice Elizabeth Vlies 1948
Lynn Mary Heim 1966
Stephen Joseph Nowak 1983
4
Mary Jo Jandrin 1952
5
Joanne Goeben 1935
Robert Jule Le Captain 1946
Ronald Joseph Vlies 1953
Carol Ann Ropson 1959
Steven Michael Kovack 1987
Bradey James Seiser 2002
6
Winnifred Mae Pierre 1931
Janice Dahlke 1953
Debra Lynn Arendt 1958
Deanna ? 1974
Nickolas Scott Delcorps 1981
Andrew Ropson 1984
Amy Vlies 1985
Ophélie Simonart 1992
7
Wymen Louis Wade 1953
Christina Chung 1954
Geniese S. Heraly 1963
Lisa Luchon 1968
Wayne Robert Pierre 1981
8
Allen Ernest Prokash 1943
Patricia Ann McKenzie 1967
Carol Elizabeth Pierre 1981
9
Julie Kay Jandrin 1960
Scott Mc Kay 1964
Jamie Jo Fameree 1980
Stephanie Erline Fameree 1982
Amanda Lorraine Schmidt 1986
Joshua Wm. Stanley 1994
10
Mayme Vandervest (Monfils) 1924
James Earl Vlies 1946
Anna Michelle Holtom 1998
11
Pam Holmes 1956
Timothy Dale Fameree 1957
Lisa Sue Fameree 1969
Travis Le Roy 1980
Peter James Kloiber 1982
Rachel Frye 1987
Benjamin Allan Fameree 1987
12
Nathalie Evelyn Pierre 1936
Francis Walter Vlies 1949
Christine Mary Jandrin 1956
Mark Vlies 1960
Thomas John Fameree 1961
Jeffrey John Routhieaux 1965
Jessica Pijnaert 1982
13
Ruth Elaine Vlies 1916
Emily Lucy Vlies 1920
Travis Englebert 1976
Danielle Marie Salmon 1981
Jane Heloise Flynn 1986
Hannah Annarose Asplund 1999
14
Thomas C. McDougal 1919
Nolan Joseph Tebon 1946
Joseph Henry Seipel 1952
Cynthia Caroline Verty 1956
Linda Mary DeVillers 1956
Bradley Austin LaLuzerne 1985
Kyle Bradley Heim 1988
Nn. Collin 1993
Avrey Madison Seiser 2006
15
Mariana Louise Lemens 1956
Michelle Joan Warden 1968
Gretchen Juanita Vlies 1976
16
Jerome Joseph Wotachek 1952
Jeannette Mary Walker 1958
Susan Mary Kaczmarek 1963
Christy Vroman 1970
Catherine Nicole Emilie Fammerée 1979
Dustin Michael Mc Kay 1984
Angelica Webster 2006
17
Barbara Mary Jonet 1930
Nancy Marie Bellin 1966
18
Geneviève Borremans 1919
Scott Lee Vlies 1954
Karen Marie Kaczmarek 1969
Casey Lee Villers 1978
Jerome David Wotachek 1986
Gaëtan x 1990
19
Anny Rappe 1929
Jelaine Marie Fameree 1954
Kali Kitchen 1979
Carina Marie Derenne 1994
Brooke Marie Derenne 1994
Amy Marie Derenne 1994
20
Louise Élise Simonart 1888
Mary Elizabeth Le Captain 1947
Peter James Kazck 1964
Holly Vieau 1975
Jesse James LaLuzerne 1983
Derck James Moede 1983
Jessica Kitchen 1984
Katherine Christine Pierre 1985
21
Jessica Lea Salmon 1979
Autumn Anna Klosterman 1979
22
Vickie Ann Starr 1955
Holly Raedem 1961
Julie Marlene Ropson 1965
Nathan Johnson 1980
Dawn Marie Luedtke 1985
23
Élise Louise Moniquet 1888
Mary Bernice Collin 1928
Arlene Louise Buelow 1938
Mary Jane Vlies 1961
Marty John Shaw 1968
Sarah Theresa Pabick 1981
24
François Simonart 1962
Mieke Van Leemputen 1965
Aaron Kuckuk 1974
Amanda Ann Oshefsky 1982
25
Ronald Gerald Delforge 1952
Trina Marie Kasbohm 1959
Marie Philomena Pierre 1959
Christin Veronica LeCloux 1983
26
Stacia Pouteau 1916
Dorothy May Fameree 1927
Nathan Fameree 1977
27
François Clément De Decker 1921
Kathleen Ann Ropson 1943
Linda Ann Krohn 1950
Cory Joseph Kasbohm 1967
Ryan Krause 1978
28
Ernest Rappe 1928
Janice Marie Maude Bowe 1940
Scott David Delcorps 1958
Jenise Mae Kudick 1958
Elizabeth Ann Naze 1962
Nicole Werner 1971
Aaron John Stroebel 1983
Christopher John Flynn 1991
Allison Mary Beerntsen 1987
29
Claude Michel Lison 1931
Audrey Mary Prokash 1939
Susan Lynn Vanness 1946
Gerald John Dart 1953
Virginia Beyer 1957
Angela Heather Vlies 1977
Todd Vlies 1980
Aaron John Stroebel 1983
Jacob Robert Thompson 1989
30
Madella Rose Baudhuin 1934
Robert Francis Derenne 1940
James Anthony Collin 1961
31
James Wallace Corsten 1933
Mary Josephine Dhuey 1949
Connie Marie Vandenhoven 1952
Reyne Jandrin 1962
Rachel Michel Hafeman 1982
Dustin Fuller 1991
Happy Birthday / Bon Anniversaire to all
Richard's Thoughts
Richard & Rachel have been very busy with their performances, teaching & raising little Miss Sunshine.
Richard has a special surprise for all our Family, please visit the myspace link below to experience a great treat!!!
http://www.myspace.com/famereetree
PLEASE SEND PHOTOS TO EITHER RICHARD OR MYSELF SO WE CAN ATTACH THEM
Blessings to all our dear family, Adele, Rachel, Richard
http://fammeree.blogspot.com
Please visit Richards blogsite as well as ours, the only difference being the double M's
"The Responders"
1st Mary Ann Pierre-Johnson from WI
Hello Jean
Thanks for the family connection info and for the blog site information. I am fascinated by all the news and family tree things you have accumulated. Who is Richard? How is he related to you? I take it the house your sister is building on the family land is in southern Door County? Where exactly is it in relation to Casco and Brussels? I must attend the Lincoln Kermis next year! Who knew? I have always been interested in my family heritage. Of course Dan can come. I am so anxious to meet you both. My husband, Mel, loves to cook also. He is Scandinavian by heritage and grew up in So. Dakota- a flat lander -as he says. I am the oldest of four children. my sister Barb lives farther away but my brothers Dave and Jeff and their families live very near to me. I have three children, 2 sons and a daughter. My oldest son works for a Sheriff’s department, and would very much like to live in the Dykesville area some day. Nate is getting married the end of January. He is 28, our daughter Sarah is 24 and our youngest son Michael is a sophomore at anarea University. Michael is adopted and has been with us since age four. He was born in Honduras.
I have many fond memories of visiting the general store in Brussels WI as a small child. It was run by my great uncle, Clarence and Mamie Pierre. We go to pick cherries out side of Casco almost every August and I used to ride horse with my cousin Jill Fameree as a child, just south of Potawatomi. How old is your father? He and my grandmother would have been first cousins, correct? I miss her so much. She has been gone two years now. She died at age 98. An amazing woman. I am assuming that Frank was the older of the two brothers, but do you know how much younger your grandfather Joe was?
I have lots of questions, answer when you have time. Mary Ann
I replied
I'm so glad to hear you liked the blog site & also that your interested in our history as well.
I spoke with your Dad many months ago when I reached out to the Pierre branch of the Fameree's & I have been sending him email notifications of the blog update & any important family info, I had asked him for email address' for his children, so needless to say I am real glad to make your acquaintance, if you would like to share email address' for any of your siblings or children I would be happy to add them to our growing list. I have a family tree on this link http://gw.geneanet.org/jfameree please feel free to visit this site. I am missing your Michael, if you could send me full name & birthdays I will add to the family tree.
Ok, let me answer some of the questions Richard is our relative going pretty far up our tree.
1st of all let me work backwards from your great grandfather Frank born in 1883 & my Grandpa Joe born in 1888 their Dad was Honore born in 1849, his Dad was Jean Babtiste born April 1st 1810 (This past year we proclaimed our own Fameree Holiday called it Jean Babtiste day, I made Chicken Booyah & we had Belgian Beer (Blue Moon) & I made a batch of Galettes MMMM (maybe next year a will have one of the pies from our pie making event!!!
Any ways one of Jean Babtiste's Bothers name was Constant he stayed in Belgium but several of his children imagrated to Chicago several years after Jean Babtiste & his family did (around the time of the Chicago Fire (I believe their Voyage was paid for by the goverment to inlist carpenters & masons to help with the rebuilding of the devastated city.
One of Constant's children named Jean Joseph was the great grandfather to Richard. He spells his last name Fammeree & we dropped the double M shortly after the arrival to US & the Fammeree's I know in Belgium still have the double M. There are several Fameree's in Belgium with 1 M & I believe us to be related we just have to keep researching (here & Belgium).
My Sister Jo-Anne's house on the Family Land (My Dad is the Constable of the Township for the last 42 years, he is 82).
I would love to get together or you could take the train we could go downtown, I love to go around the holidays, there is a small German style Krist Krindle Markt. & always lots of sightseeing...
Now I would like to ask a favor would you send a family picture so I can include it in December Virtual reunion? That’s what it's all about just trying to acquaint all of Family members we don't know about. I will be including our email conversations in the Responders section & your picture would be a nice touch.
I don't know how much of the Blog you were able to explore, but there is an entry for each Month back to Feb you can access them by clicking on the left side. You can also pull up the Land Deed & if you click on it will right size it & you can even print it.
I will attach our family tree that I drafted in excel (It only has the Pierre's down to your Dad & Siblings).
Sorry to be so long winded but I get carried away when I know someone is interested.
I will also attach the Deed for you & Pix of Frank & Ernestine Fameree.
Enjoy & I will talk with you soon.
PS Dan & I so look forward to meeting you & all your Family as well. Sincerely, Jean
Next after a thanksgiving wish I sent out, I received the following responses
1st Tobi Fameree from Minnesota
Thank you for the note Jeanne. Life has been busy in Minnesota, too! I have not had time to do anything with the Fameree family history for you, but I still plan to do so. Perhaps over the long cold winter when I'm not as tempted to leave my nice warm home! Tobi Fameree
Next Nicole Fameree-Gall from Texas
Jeanne-
This month has been a hectic time for us. We've been going out of town and getting ready for my husband's departure to Korea (they are packing his stuff today). So we've been slowly trying to pack Kalix and my things so that we can move in with my mother and put the rest of our stuff in storage. Next week my sister-in-laws will be coming in for Thanksgiving and then Jeff leaves on the 3rd for a year. We are expecting as well, the baby is due in May...we don't know the sex of the baby yet. :) Other than that, not much is going on.
I hope that you guys have a great Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays. Take care. –Nicole
Robin Nelson is next
Hi Jean,
This is Robin......Ethel’s daughter. I was wondering how the Lemmons are related to us?
The girls we in school at the same time my sons were and never realized they were related. Very nice kids. Thanks, Robin
I then replied
Sorry this took so long, I had to do a little research before I could reply.
As near as I can tell the Lemens Family married into the Fameree's indirectly thru 6 different Families.
3 different Collin Families (all 3 Collin trace back to Desire & Caroline Fameree Collin (Sister to Frank your Great Grandfather)
Vlies (which traces back thru Mary Vlies Fameree (married to Honore(your great great Grandfather)
Majeski (traces back thru Jean Babtiste aka John Fameree (Brother to Frank your great grandfather)
Pierre (traces back to Mary Pierre your Great Aunt)
I hope the list below helps you to find the lemens family your looking for.
Take Good Care Robin. It's nice to hear from you again. Sincerely, Jean
She then responded
Whew.......complicated...very interesting.....thanks for all the trouble!
Have a great Thanksgiving. Robin
Kathy Ducat sent the next response
Happy time of thanks to you and your family!
Safe travels too.
We've been coming down from the high of running the New York City
Marathon. Great time had by all.
Battling a cold. Submitted the eviction notice to the nasty virus, but
it is stubborn about leaving my body host. Think I will need to hire an
attorney to get it moved out.
We are staying here in town for Thanksgiving Day as Jim's brother and
wife will be in town. Much happy, Kathy
I replied
Thanks for your Sunny reply.
Always brings a smile to my face & to all our Virtual Family as well.
Congrats & Kudos on running the Marathon!! I really admire you & your ambition!!!
Good luck on the eviction of the VIRUS, sometimes it just needs to run it's course.
Take good care & I will talk with you soon. Sincerely, Jeanne
I then received an email from Tom Fameree from Wi
Jean,
What is the approximate address of this log cabin? I'd like to take a drive someday and walk the homestead.
Thanks, Tom Fameree
I replied
It can be seen from the road on the Family land.
Thought you may like the pix of your Great Grandfather Jean Babtiste(aka John) named after Jean Babtiste whom imagrated from Belgium in 1856.
If you care to send a Family photo & listing of who's who & maybe a few words about yourself, your Job, Hobbies and interest in our history etc. I will include in the next Virtual Reunion posting. Regards, Jean
Jeannette Fameree-Vandervest sent the next email
Hi Jean:
Was nice hearing from you and I wish you and all a Happy Thanksgiving. Where is your Dad moving? I didn't know they were building a house. That is nice everyone is helping out. They say the more the merrier. Sounds like you will be in Wisconsin for Thanksgiving. Take care and May God Bless. Jeanette
Jane Fameree-Hafeman sent the next
Hi eveyone, Hope you and your Family have a Great Thanksgiving!
Hope and pray all are doing well! Take Care and God Bless!
Love, The Hafeman Family (Barry & Jane; Ben, Jessi, Grant & Olivia;
Jason, Lieneke & Evan; Sarah & Andrew)
Then Janielle Fameree sent a reply to Jane’s email
Hello Jane-
Thank you for the Thanksgiving wish. I had a good Thanksgiving; Nicole gave me the opportunity to be a guest in my own house, by preparing dinner for the family. Her two sister-in-laws flew in from California for the occasion. I missed having Danielle here with her family, but I was happy knowing she shared the day with her extended family there in Lubbock. We all have our good health and in the company of loved ones, as I'm sure you all did. We are in good care and are blessed, as I pray you are too. Love y'all, Janielle
