With Grandmother Valentina Quilietti and Grandad Alex. Murray are their children May, Vally, Eddy, Minnie, Jimmy, Joe, Leo, Margaret, Alec, Tommy, Duncan, Bob, Bill Photo was taken at the 50th Anniversary Party of Tina and Alex.
Valentina Murray. Valli as she was known was born in this tenement just short of the walk up to Edinburgh Castle at 332 Lawnmarket on 3rd February 1920. She was the eldest daughter of the 13 children of Valentina Quilietti Murray and Alex. Murray. She is Dawn’s mother.
The tenement today 332 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh.
The same tenement to the left. Up to the right is a small stroll to Edinburgh Castle
Dad Paul Dufresne
Paul and Valli had met in Scotland during WW2 when Paul was serving in the Canadian Army. They married in 1942 in Edinburgh. In 1944 their eldest daughter Pat was born in Edinburgh. After the war, Valentina and Pat travelled across the ocean on the Queen Mary to meet Paul and they settled back at Paul’s homestead, at Elie Manitoba, a small town on the outskirts of Winnipeg. The town of Elie had been founded by Paul’s Grandfather Elie.
As Elie looks today courtesy of Google Earth. It is full of open spaces, low housing and plenty fresh air. A different way of life from the old cramped and damp housing of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Dawn, Martin, Pat and Roland Dufresne. Great Grandchildren of Valentina Quilietti Murray
Valli with her children. Roland, Martin on his mum’s knee, Pat and Dawn.
Dawn Dufresne 1947– BIRTH MAY 11TH 1947 • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
The Murray family remained close and still do today. Not sure what this get-together was for but it is a most wonderful photograph with too many Murray’s to mention.
In the year 1982 Dawn married Gordon Evers in Winnipeg in Canada. Daughter Allison was born on 17th November 1983
Christmas 1984
Then it was Allison’s Turn. On 27th July 2012 Allison married Joel Girouard. They now have two children Iris born 2013 and Henry 2016.
Allison with daughter IRIS
As the T Shire says Big Sister. Baby Henry’s arrival in 2016
Dawn looking beautiful with her daughter , new son-in-law and husband
Dawn with niece Elaine Murray
another beautiful photograph of mother and daughter
Family with step mother Jeannie. Dad re-married to Jeannie after the death of Valli. They were friends from childhood.
With brother Roland and nephew PJ Dufresne and his sister Ashley who are Matin’s kids
Photo was taken at the 50th Anniversary Party of Tina and Alex.
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