B8 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 13, 1993 mother and child reunion "YVONNE MOEN ORTY-SIX \_ years later, Fiorence Powell, who now lives in Cranbrook, has found ler long lost son. She has now recalled the events leading to the disappearance of her son, and ‘the family she had — trusted as babysitters. . Her son, Joe Tennier, was born on Apr. 27, 1945 in Timmins Ontario. He was baptized by his parénts as Hermas Longpre but later legally took the “name -Joseph Tennier when he grew up because that was the only name he re- members. The name was given | io him by the people who took him when he was two years old, : His true mother never saw him again until this year, on May 9 — Mother’s Day. . A child of the Depression, Florence was taken out of school in the fourth grade because of hard times, When she:was 16 years old her parents * married’ aher ‘off to a George Longpre, who..she said was @ shiftless husband; “who drank a lot, chased other women, abused her physically and ~ neglected their children. Florence left her husband short- ly after giving birth to her fourth — child — baby Hermas (Joe). Desperate for cash, she landed a job feeding 80 loggers:in a camp 135 km from Timmins, Ont. She had to leave the children in the care of family and friends fo work in the camp. One son she left with grand- parents, the other two children with other relatives. heganewborn. son. Hermas, sieslaceewith an clade Sup | she knew,'thé Penningtozs::: In February of 1947, Florence . gave the babysitters t three months - payment in advance . and told. them it would be‘her last. 7 She said'she had meta wonder- ful man and was engaged. _ His name was Mr.: Paul. and they planned to’ save up enough money so they could gather the. children together and be a family again. Two months later, however, her dreams were destroyed. On Apr. .27, 1947 she hitched a ride into town with a logging truck driver to come to:celebrate her son’s second birthday. The driver had dropped her off at a relative’s home. She walked downtown to buy clothes . and several gifts for . Hermas. She then, hurried to the babyslt- ter’s howe. mt Moments later, she collapsed in tears. i’ The. ime. was locked : ‘dad emply. SHe was told the couple had moved out a few days afier her last visit. © ‘She went to the police, but the investigation got nowhere. Then she started searching her- self and found that the Penning- tons had moved to England. She didn’t know that the Pen- pingtons’ eldest. daughter, Beatrice, had stayed behind. © ~ Daughter Beatrice had taken young Hermas with her. and moved in with a fellow’ by the’ name of Tennier, and then moved around the Sudbury, Ont. area...” "There, “appiently, young Hermas Longpre was -renamed Joc .Tennier, and --tist's | the. identity the boy grew up with. Meanwhile, Florence married a Mr. Hermas Paul and they moved with the other children to Thes- salon Ont. Over the years, Florence con- aoe tinued the search. By 1977 her second tusband had died. and sho’ almost gave up. home of ever seeing her son: a: Last year, she became seriously ill and told . daughiter-in-law- Rose Anne Longpre, of: Terrace, that she worried’ about’ dying without ever finding her son, That prompted: Rose 10 take up the investigation again, ove They slarted: with the, date : be mens, they started to search for the Penningtons’ daughter, Beatrice Tenner, This spring she was found in an Ontario senior citizens’ home. Rose teamed that both the Pen- ningtons have since passed away in England. . : Beatrice Tennier wouldn’t talk . about what happened, only saying that he had been renamed Joe Tennier. _ Rose then turned to the Ontario “phone book and started calling all the Tenniers she could find in the Bobcaygean area — and finally hit the rightone. —~ The phone tang at Joe Tennier’s _ house at 5:20 p.m. on March 17, 1993. , On the end of the line was a woman named Rose Longpre who claimed to be his sister-in- law. What followed was two. hours of questions, tears, laughter and joy. Rose then made arrangments for Ioe to be waiting by the phone at 8 p.m. while she made the big call to Florence. Al83-p.m. Florence Powell and her son spoke for the first time in 46° years. Sobs of joy made the conversation almost incoherent. Joe dealt with many mixed emotions over the next few months, He was angry his family kept him away from his true mother and felt angry at the system which makes it difficult to search © through old records. Joe’s young . life had been tough. A MIRACLE: Florence Powell was reunited in Cranbrook with her long lost son, Joe Tennier, on Mother’s Day. By age 10 he was being shuffled between children’s homes in the Espanola area and lived a transient life until he was 17. He thought of joining the army; but afler writing away for his . birth certificate he was told Joc Tennier didn’t exist When he married his wife Nancy in 1966 he applied to the courts to-have his name legalized. On May. 4th, foe Tennier and his wife travelled.to Cranbrook to , meet his mother for the first time. Their two daughters also met their grandmother. restaurant owner in the Bob- caygean, Onlario area. bypass heart operation. fering from heart disease. - © With all the hardship both have _ endured, we now hope they will be..blessed with . happiness and good. health. “Joe Tennier i is now a successful . He’s now enlering hospital in. - Ontario..to undergo a tiple-". His mother Florence is also suf- Skeena Mall - Christmas , Fashion Show "Nov. 26 & 27 There will be an audition for Models Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6:15-9:00 pm in the Skeena Mall. (Meet our coordinator in the centre mall) Both male and female models of all ages are needed | Don't Be Shy - Be A Star . For more information please call Lynda at 635-2546 MEER) mae Lakelse Ave., Terrace, BC competitors. | ane soap Me Cat, above i isa “Fiyundai Elantra. It won the Australian, below i isalsoa Hyundai Elantra. 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