Patureau Reunion 1993

One of my Patureau 3rd cousins Craig Pays sent me a photo this week.  It was a photo that his mom had saved.  His mom was Merlyn Agatha Patureau Pays and she was the 2nd cousin of my dad Robert Joseph “Bob” Landry.  Merlyn’s father was Peter Alexander “Alex” Patureau, who the first cousin to Bob’s mother Germaine Erie Patureau Landry.  Alex was the son of Louis Leobon Patureau, and Erie was the daughter of his brother Vincent Maximilian “Max” Patureau.  Louis and Max were sons of Ferdinand Pierre Patureau, the patriarch of the Patureau family in southern Louisiana and beyond.

Patureau family reunion on June 5, 1993

I was very excited to see this photo.  Not only was it the first time I’ve ever seen a photo from this reunion, but it is a photo of me with one of my most notorious cousins.  I’m speaking of Therese Wynhoven Mouton, who most of us call Tez.  (She was the daughter of Emma Patureau Mouton, the sister of Erie, my beloved Mee Maw.)  Tez actually has a number of nicknames, some of them not as nice as others.  One of the other ones that I’ve heard is “Wynie,” which is derived from her middle name.  But when I heard it spoken, it sounded like “whiney.”  It seems like Craig and his family just referred to her as Therese.

It also seems like Craig and his family were visited by The Uninvited Guest (aka The Bumply UG) as well.  It was a kick to share stories about our kooky cousin.  According to him, Therese would show up uninvited and start bossing people around.  Who ever heard of such a thing?  And she expected people to wait on her as she lounged around their house!  My goodness!

Craig said he had to speak up when Tez (sorry, that’s how I know her.  ‘Therese’ just doesn’t fit her as well) shooed away the family cat so she could sit in the chair it had been occupying.  Obviously it must have been a young cat who hadn’t learned to hide at the beginning of a visit from Tez.  Our family learned that lesson right away. (to avoid the obligatory greeting with a kiss)  Even family pets were known to make themselves scarce for the infrequent (yet too frequent) visits from the Bumply UG.

Nevertheless, I was excited to have a photo that included myself and Tez.  And we’re standing right next to each other!  How awesome is that?!  I have grown quite fond of Tez, now that I don’t have to be put out in my own house.  No more red kimonos coming down the stairway.  No more opera blaring through the house.  No more clouds of Cashmere Bouquet following behind Cousin Wart.  (Oops, Paula made me do that!)  At least we can share our fond memories of her and have a laugh.  Actually I’d like to hear a few more of those stories from Craig’s part of the family.  Feel free to leave a comment.

1993 Patureau Reunion with labels

I’d also like some help to identify as many people as we can in this photo.  I’ve named just a few.  I’m pretty sure that is Patricia Marionneaux in front of me in this photo.  Correct me if I’m wrong. (I was corrected.  It is actually Sylvia Schafer Daigre, first cousin to Patricia and my dad.)  I gave everyone a letter and a number (A1, A2…B1, B2…L5), so if you use that to identify a person, that would help.  I’ll update it as time goes by.

One more request.  If you have any more photos of Patureau reunions, I would love to have a copy of them.  Not just from this reunion, but I heard there was another one in Franklinton at Craig’s parents’ place.  I know I went to Tez’s place in Duson for a get together as well.  That was many years ago, but I’m sure somebody must have taken a photo or two.

Thanks for the photo, Craig.

Let the commenting begin…