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48. Joan

Alphy had built a second barn for the cattle by the late 1940's, but by the mid 1950's, Alphy didn’t want to make any further expansion into farming. His heart was really set on carpenter work. Alphy began to speculate how he could make a living at carpentry.

By 1956, the older children had secured employment. Edna, Ida, and Velda* were working at the Western Hospital on ‘the floors’.

Their work consisted of cleaning the rooms and preparing the food for the patients. The girls stayed in Alberton and would come home once a month, whenever their shifts were completed. They received room and board at the nuns’ residence in Alberton. They would come home by train to St. Louis whenever they had time off. Alphy would usually meet them at the train station, or they would get a drive from the station with friends.

LeRoy had initially found work in Gagetown, New Brunswick, and had boarded there for a few months, but had returned home. He now was working at the parish house in Palmer Road**. His responsibility included maintenance and janitor work for the church, hall, and parish house.

In 1956, there were LeRoy, Helen, Ivan, Dennis and Eileen living at home. The older daughters enjoyed coming home whenever they could.

* Velda worked at the Western Hospital for 38 years. During this time, she would also receive training to become a nursing assistant. * *LeRoy would work at the parish house for forty-five years until he retired in 2001.

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