Ovila Vachon

Other Names: Joseph Jean Ovila Vachon

Comments: Ovila and Flore began their married life caring for the land of his grandfather Joseph in Weedon. They did so on the condition that they would care for Joseph. They worked hard to pay off the grandfather's debts. They eventually moved to Fontaibleau where Ovila worked in a mine and was able to earn enough money to begin a good life. The girls were sent to school. Unfortunately, the mine closed. The family returned to Weedon where Ovila worked his land and the family grew to 15 children. In 1940, Ovila accepted the responsibility for managing a farm in L'Ange-Gardien, Rouville County. Life improved again, but the farm was sold in 1945 at a price too great for Ovila and Flore to afford. Their son, Raoul, had recently bought a farm in the St-Casimir range. The family joined him and his new wife there. Around 1952, Ovila and Flore managed to buy a plot of land with a house and cheese shed in the Magenta range. They transformed this into a poultry farm, raising chickens to grill. The work was great and the odor of the chickens was strong. After 4 years, Flora's asthma and eczema became too aggravated, they stopped production. Flora loved this land and would take long walks on it.
Flora died on a Sunday morning in 1956 when she and Ovila were driving down a road. The glare from the sun prevented Ovila from seeing the on-coming bus. Flore was thrown from the car. Ovila and a neighbor tried to help, but Flore died quickly after making her last confession. Ovila was depressed and was cared for by his children. He was eventually placed in a home where he died in 1983. Ovila and Flore are buried together in a cemetery in L'Ange-Gardien, Rouville County.

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