Main Sections

Sharing Memories On Farm Life With Joyce Guillemette

photo by provided Edgar & Joyce Guillemette had a long and wonderful marriage and raised their family on the farm like both of them had been.

photo by provided While Joyce would rather not admit to being 90, the family party for her special birthday brought her great joy.

photo by provided For Joyce the only thing better than farm is family and she loves hers!

Tuesday February 27, 2018

By Cookie Steponaitis

Joyce Guillemette has a bright smile, firm handshake and effervescent personality. Joyce was born in Essex Center in 1927 about halfway in the middle of thirteen brothers and sisters. She was raised on a farm, learned to milk cows, feed calves, garden, cook and can and how a family functions as a tight unit. She was raised to “get along” with others to hear her tell it and to “get along in life.” While the world may have changed drastically around her, Joyce is delighted to report she grew up on a farm, married a farmer and brought her children up how she grew up. The words that best describe it, to quote Joyce are, “close, work, learning something new every day.”
    Raised at a time in Vermont when farms dotted the countryside and most people she knew were farmers, it should come as no surprise that Joyce knew her husband Edgar before she married him.          “When you grow up in a farm community,” shared Joyce, “you help your neighbors and learn who they are.”  Married at ages eighteen and twenty-four respectively, the couple raised children Suzy, Edgar, Jr., Sherri, Phil,  Jean-Paul , and Rosie while living and working with the land. “I am not saying farming is not hard work, because it is,” explained Joyce. “We never had hired help. Just like when I was growing up we did it as a family. We worked, we learned to fix equipment and to doctor the animals. While none of my children have gone into farming I am glad they got to know what it was like to work with the land.”
    When asked what she and Edgar did for hobbies, Joyce lets out a deep chuckle and replies, “family.” When prompted to explain, she is quite to the task. “When you run a family farm you have time for the farm and family. We went to church and we did things as a family. You always have something to do and there is always a family member to help do it.” One farm chore that was a favorite for Joyce and she passed on to her children was a love of gardening and cooking. “I am very glad that my children love to garden and grow some of their own food,” explained Joyce. “We had a very large garden on the farm and learning how to cook, preserve and work with food is something every child needs to learn how to do.” When questioned about favorite recipes of each child she shared that like herself her kids were not fussy and even a great dish of spaghetti was a family favorite.
    Knitting up a storm, Joyce has done over 100 pairs of mittens which are sold by her daughter Rosie in Ferrisburgh and the proceeds donated to cancer research. “She survived cancer,” shared Joyce with a serious look. “I lost my husband and I lost a child, but those are facts no one can change. You have to be grateful for the life you have and get along with others.” Shaking her head, Joyce returns the smile to her face and amps up the wattage. “Now where were we?” grins Joyce. “Hey do you need a pair of great mittens? Or even crochet? I made a lot of blankets for children and grandchildren.”
    At the closing of the interview Joyce shook her head about all the new changes in farming in her county and the decline of the small family farm. “Not quite sure what they are thinking,” remarked the second generation Vermont farmer. “They may get more milk but they are sure losing the lifestyle. Time will tell I guess. I know they work hard, so I am sure they will get along fine.”
    Located next to her chair are photos of her beloved Edgar, her children, and a massive cake with the words happy 90th emblazoned on it. “Now isn’t that just something,” remarked Joyce. “I have absolutely no sense of how fast time has gone and that I am ninety. Guess that means I am finally old, huh? I would like to not think so and in fact I am declaring I am not old. How’s that?” That is indeed fine Miss Joyce, because the Valley Voice celebrates your spunk, life and motto of ‘getting along in life and to do your very best’ which is sound advice for any generation or situation.

Printer Friendly

Top

Advertisements

Search our Archives