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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-07-20, Page 2klngsbridge news Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, July 20, 1983—Page 2 Fred and Leona Vassella married 50 years Mr. and Mrs. Fred Vas - sella of Kintail have received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope John Paul II on the occasion of their 50th wed- ding anniversary. A plaque from the Pope was presented to the couple by their family at a Catholic Women's League mass held for them at St. Joseph's Church, Kingsbnde on July 14. Mass was also celebrated on June 24, the actual date of the Vassellas' anniversary, and this past Friday evening, a reception was held in Lucknow attended by family, friends, neighbours and rela- tives of the couple. Along with the blessing from the Pope, Mr. and Mrs. Vassella also received con- gratulations from Prime Min- ister Trudeau, MPP Murray Elston, Leader of the Oppo- sition David Peterson and Lieutenant -Governor John Black Aird. Leona Taillon and Fred Vassella were married on June 24, 1933 by Father Sullivan at St. Joseph's Church in Clinton. Attending them were Joe Ryan of Seaforth and the bride's sister Nora Taillon, now Nora Hallahan of Oakville. It was the middle of the defression but Leona and Fred were both used to tough times and hard work. Fred was born in England to Patrick and Maria Vassella but went to live in Switzer- land when he was only three years old. He served in the Swiss Army in 1923 and also worked on the railroad. He immigrated to Canada in 1925 after being convinced it was the land of milk and honey. He found, upon his arrival at Halifax after a rough boat trip, that it was theland of ice and snow instead. His only language at the time was Italian. After some hard labour in the lumber camps of north- ern Ontario, he landed a job on the farm of Duncan Laid- law of Walton. He got paid $10 a month in the busy season. This was reduced to $5 in the winter months when the days became shorter. Twice he travelled out west on the excursion train to help with the harvesting there. Leona was born in Corn- wall, Ontario to Benjamin and Eva (Leger) Taillon. Her first language was French although she cannot speak it now. She spent some time in an orphanage when she was young and later went to work keeping house for a woman in the Blyth area. Fred and Leona met at Wasaga Beach and Fred offered to drive Leona to a job she had waiting for her in Announce Lucknow tractor pull results The winners of the 1983 Lucknow Tractor Pull are as follows: SATURDAY 6500 Econo Modified 1. Robert Willowby, Oshawa, Rat Attack, 454 Chev 2. Blake Metcalfe, Arkona, Michigan, 454 Chev 3. Roger Cochrane, Bowmanville, Moby Dick, 460 Ford Open 2 -Wheel Trucks 1. Norm Hodgins, Parkhill, 1955 Ford, V-12 Rolls Royce 2. Roger Cochrane, Bowmanville, 1976 Ford, 460 Ford 3. Frank Shane, Hampton, Brutus, 1978 Chev, 454 Chev 9,000 Super Stock First and second place tied: Richard Kalisek, Corunna, Michigan, 3688 IH, Rapid Red and Jack Grant, Chatham, 986 IH 3. Richard Karnatz, Gowan, Michigan, 4010 JD, Little John 7200 Modified 1. Denis Perkins, Saline, Michigan, Farmer's Nightmare, two 427 Chevs F.P. 2. Bill Douglas, Alviston, Spook, three 427 Chevs 3. Scott Baker, Jonesville, Michigan, The Homewrecker, two Rovecks 55 Superstock 1. Mike Bingham, Charlotte, Michigan, Orange Flash 180 AC F.P. 2. Chris Rydall, Greenville, Michigan, Co-op, Cockshutt 40 3. Harold Rydall, Greenville, Michigan, Chicken Coop Special, Cockshutt 40 Sewl-Trucks 1. Bill Wolfe, Grand Valley. 13 sp. 435 Detroit, 1980 Wester* Star, F.P. 2. Steve Alexander, Glammis, 400 Cat., 1982 Freightliner 3. Gary McSweeney, Newcastle, 13 sp. over drive, 350 Cummings, 1979 GMC SUNDAY 5,000 Modified 1. Ace Roubeugh, St. George, Cannonball Run, 392 Hemi 2. Alan Keck, Monroe, Michigan, Keck Special, V-12 Allison 3. Scott Baker, Jonesville, Michigan, Homewrecker, Two Rodecks 9,200 Modified 1. Dennis Perkins, Saline, Michigan, Farmer's Nightmare, two 427 Chevs 2. Allan Keck, Monroe, Michigan, Keck Special, V-12 Allison 3. Scott Baker, Jonesville, Michigan, Homewrecker, two Rodecks Turn to page 15. Guelph. Upon her arrival, Leona found the job had fallen through and Fred then offered to get her a job he knew of in Walton where he was still working on the farm. "After 1 got a raise to $19 a month, we decided to get married," says Fred. The couple rented a farm from Mrs. Joe Dalton at Kingsbridge for five years and then moved to their present farm just north of Kintail which they purchased from the late Neil MacDon- ald, owner of the Kintail store, for a S100 downpay- ment after selling three heif- ers. They moved their house from the back of the farm closer to Highwy 21 at the front of the farm in 1952. They still live in this house. Fred continued to milk cows up until 1975 and he still plants 30 acres of mixed grain although his son-in-law Jim Sinnett now owns the farm. The Vassellas credit hard work and good neighbours and family for helping them through the tough times and making their marriage a lasting one. "We lived day to day. We were busy. We worked hard and had a good time. We had our health. We had a good family and neighbours. Ev- erybody pitched in and help- ed," says Leona. Fred says he has never missed a day's work. Along with farming, he (and his children) did custom thrash- ing for many years with Joe McIntyre. Fred and Leona's family of seven includes: Mrs. Delmer (Maureen) Maize of Toronto, Carlo Vassella of Chats- worth, Mrs. Jim (Yvonne) Sinnett of Kingsbridge -Kin - tail, Mrs. Mike (Betty Lou) Dalton of Kingsbridge -Kin - tail, Mrs. Danny (Eileen) Wilson of Kingsbridge -Kin - tail, Mrs. Art (Linda) Bowler of Kintail and Mrs. Paul (Dianne) Wiser of Toronto. They also have 23 grand- children and one great grandchild. Of Leona's family of three sisters and two brothers, just her sisters are still alive. Of Fred's family of twin sisters and two brothers, just his sisters are alive. He met them for the first time in 48 years last year when he travelled to England with his daughter Yvonne and her husband. He has visited Switzerland three times. Mr. and Mrs. Vassella are members of St. Joseph's Church at Kingsbridge and Leona has been a member of the CWL there for over 25 years. She is well known in Leona and Fred Vassella of Kintail recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Here, they show the Apostolic Blessing they received from the Pope to honor them on the occasion. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) the area for her cooking and baking and she also enjoys knitting in her spare time. Fred keeps busy making all kinds of furniture for his family out of scrap lumber. Joe Ryan, the Vassella's best man of 50 years ago, was at their reception on Friday night. Fred recalls fondly that Joe was his first friend when he came to Canada and his only friend for a long time. But that all seems like a long time ago now... Prices greatly reduced on our entire stock of famous brand name... Summer Blouses Summer Dresses Summer Slacks