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Person

Gerald LaFreniere

Also Gerald LaFreniere · Gerald N. LaFreniere Jr.

Draft — sources verified, prose evolving

TypePerson
Borncirca 1967
WithinBeaver Island
ErasModern era
On this page
Person
Born
circa 1967
Eras
Modern era
Concepts
religioncatholicismcommunity
Within
Beaver Island

Summary

Gerald LaFreniere, born circa 1967, was named as a First Communion communicant at Holy Cross Church on May 15, 1975, “son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald LaFreniere.” His father, also Gerald LaFreniere, was in turn the son of Vernon Hugh “Dick” LaFreniere (Vernon Hugh "Dick" LaFreniere), discharged from Army service in October 1965. As a teenager this younger Gerald — later identified in print as Gerald N. LaFreniere, Jr. — placed first in a boys’ tandem-ski race and caught the smallest fish at a 1981 Fire Auxiliary winter carnival, and in April 1985 the Beacon reported him joining the Army, stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Evidence and limits

No source gives an exact birth date; the circa-1967 estimate follows from his First Communion age in 1975 and his 1985 enlistment age, not a civil record. The 1975 notice’s “Mrs. Gerald LaFreniere” is not further identified in the sources read for this article; the Holy Cross Cemetery index separately lists a Carol A. (Schlacter) LaFreniere (1944–2012) as “wife of Gerald LaFreniere” (see Carol A. LaFreniere), which would make her this communicant’s probable mother, but no source states the relationship directly.

Open questions

  • Is Carol A. (Schlacter) LaFreniere this communicant’s mother? No source read here confirms it.
  • What became of Gerald N. LaFreniere, Jr. after his 1985 Army enlistment?

See also

Sources

  1. Names Gerald LaFreniere, "son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald LaFreniere," as a May 15, 1975 First Communion communicant. It does not provide a full civil identity or parish register. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1975-05_Beaver-Beacon
  2. The held combined issue confirms the name and sacramental notice.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1975-05_Beaver-Beacon
  3. Reports "Gerald LaFreniere, son of Mr. and Mrs. V. H. LaFreniere," discharged from the U.S. Army October 8, 1965 — identifying this communicant's father as the son of Vernon Hugh "Dick" LaFreniere ([[person/dick-lafreniere-1962]]).
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1965-10_Beaver-Beacon
  4. Reports Gerald LaFreniere placing first with Kenny Kenwabikisee in the boys' tandem ski event and catching the "Smallest fish" prize during ice-fishing at a Fire Auxiliary winter carnival. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1981-05_Beaver-Beacon
  5. Reports "Gerald N. LaFreniere, Jr. has joined the service," giving an Army address at Fort Dix, New Jersey — consistent with an 18-year-old enlistee and a circa-1967 birth year. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1985-04_Beaver-Beacon

Added 3 August 2026 · revised 4 August 2026. Recent changes

Cite this article

Beaver Island Archive, “Gerald LaFreniere”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/people/gerald-lafreniere/, accessed [date], citing Beaver Beacon, May–June 1975, “First Communion.” (and 4 further sources listed on the page).

Last revised 2026-08-04. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.

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