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- In April, 2005, Gervaise Dynes-Wolak wrote:
"My grandmother's family was a bit daft. I discovered [my grandmother's name] "Parthemia" when I was searching census records years ago. I chalked it up to a bad census taker because my grandmother was baptized Gervaise Damian Snouffer on April 14, 1900, just two weeks after her birth. Her certificate and church records confirm that. Her mother, Mary C. Foley, must have been having a joke with the census taker. My grandmother's birth record wasn't filed until the 1940's but to our knowledge she was always called Gervaise. We are not even sure where Mary came up with Gervaise in the first place. She was a devout Catholic and raised all 4 children in the church. There was a St. Gervais (male) and that's where my grandmother thought it came from. Especially since the other 3 children have relatively common names. She [Mary] was a reader though, and may have found it somewhere in literature. When I Google Gervaise I get the 1950s French movie/novel of the same name and that's about it. We have continued a family tradition of naming the first daughter Gervaise, so I am number 3 and my daughter is number 4. We have three in the household now and you should see the confusion we cause at doctors' offices!" (EMail to Wm.C.Snouffer, 12 Apr 2005)
Obituary, http://obit.horanandmcconaty.com/obitdisplay.html?id=499869&listing=Current (accessed Jan 2008):
"Gervaise B. Dynes, 81, formerly of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL died peacefully at her home in Highlands Ranch, CO on Sunday morning, January 27, 2008, following a short illness.
"She was born June 25, 1926 in Minneapolis, MN; the daughter of Theodore H. and Gervaise (Snouffer)Belling. She grew up in Evanston, IL and Providence, RI. She was a 1946 graduate of Stephens College in Columbia, MO. On December 28, 1950 she married Robert Anthony Dynes at St. John's Episcopal Church in Barrington, RI, sharing 54 years together before his death on December 19, 2004. Together they raised three children and lived in several states while Bob pursued a successful career in business. Upon retirement in 1980, Jerry and Bob moved to Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, where they lived for 24 years. In 2005 she moved back to Colorado where she could be close to all her children and her beloved cabin in Wyoming. She enjoyed world travel, especially the Orient which she revisited several times. She took up golf late in life and thoroughly enjoyed the lasting friendships the sport offered. She was an avid needle worker and knitter and was constantly making family heirlooms for her children and grandchildren.
"She is survived by her three children: Gervaise Dynes-Wolak, Highlands Ranch, CO; Robert S. Dynes and Lorraine Arnold, Brighton, CO; and Peter G. Dynes, Snowmass, CO; three grandchildren: Joshua R. Dynes, Lewisville, TX; Robert A. Dynes II, Albuquerque, NM; and Gervaise Michelle Wolak, Highlands Ranch, CO; three siblings: Dr. T.H. Belling, Jr., DVM, Winston, NM; Bruce C. (Jane) Belling, Westport, MA; and Sallie B. (Timothy) O'Connor, Centennial, CO; and many nieces and nephews.
"There will be no services locally. There will be a private memorial service this summer at the family ranch in Encampment, WY. ***
"Thank you to everyone for your prayers, love and support.
"Sincerely, Gervaise Robin"
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