Rene and Alma D'Amour

Rene and Alma D'Amour moved to Skead from Gogama when the Poupore Lumber Company established its sawmill in the community in 1942.  Rene was a sawyer for over 30 years before retiring and Alma was active in school and church functions.

Rene and Alma D'Amour.  Photo courtesy of the Greater Sudbury Historical Database.The couple had six children: Roger; Delia; Estelle; June; Ron; and Diane.  By 1999, the D'Amours had 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

The D'Amour family left Skead in the early 1960's. Alma and her daughter, Delia, opened a restaurant in Hanmer, while Rene went to Dalton, Ontario in search of work.  Eventually, Rene moved to Falconbridge and continued his employment with the Poupore Company until his retirement.

In 1963, tragedy struck the family when the restaurant exploded as a result of a gas leak.  Five members of the family were killed in the explosion including Alma, her daughters Delia and Estelle, and two of her grand children: Norma (Delia's daughter) and Vincent (Estelle's only son).

Alma's life was cut short at the age of 46.  In 1997, Rene died at the age of 83 in London, Ontario. 

 

Material compiled from Skead, Ontario, Canada: 1924-1999.

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