Photo: Mary Margaret Whitehouse
L to R, Barbara; Mary Margaret; Doreen; Sandra & Louis
A 58-year-old mystery spanning six provinces has come to a dead end in Kelowna, literally.
The family of James Louis Whitehouse has been searching for him since they were separated shortly after their mother died in 1939.
Thelma Margaret Brady Whitehouse and Kjelder James Whitehouse had 4 children. At the time of her death and delivery of James Louis Whitehouse they had 4 girls. Barbara 8, Sandra 5, Doreen 3, and Mary Margaret 1. She gave birth to James Louis after a fall down the back stairs on May 31, 1939, and she passed the next day June 1, 1939.
According to Mary Margaret, now 80-years-old, her father made the decision to place the children with family members before he headed west.
"Barbara and Sandra the 2 oldest were given to his parents Jim and Klara Whitehouse in Verdun, Que. James Louis and Doreen wound up in the Social Services system. They were not treated in a kindly manner, abused sexually and in other terrible ways."
"Barbara and Sandra the 2 oldest were given to his parents Jim and Klara Whitehouse in Verdun, Que. James Louis and Doreen wound up in the Social Services system. They were not treated in a kindly manner, abused sexually and in other terrible ways."
Mary Margaret had very little contact with her siblings especially Louis, until February 24, 1961.
"I received a phone call from a lawyer in Montreal, Robert Dubuc, who had traced me somehow. He said that Louis wanted to meet with me and I agreed."
The siblings spent a week together, "it was a wonderful week, we talked about many things, he drew cartoons for the boys and they all had a great time together."
During their chats, Louis expressed a desire to find his father, "he told me he was going to Vancouver to find our father, who he felt hated him because our mother died when he was born."
But that was the last time Mary Margaret saw Louis.
Since then she has taken on the role of family historian and has searched high and low for news of Louis and her father.
A few years ago Mary's granddaughter used a 23andMe DNA kit which led them to Ancestry.com and the discovery that her father had died in 1977.
That didn't stop Mary's search and just before Christmas she discovered a posting on a Kelowna funeral home web site, which indicated that a James Louis Whitehouse had passed away in May of 2017.
After checking the birthdate, June 1, 1939, she determined this was likely her brother.
"I spoke with a very nice gentleman Bob at Hanson's Funeral Chapels and Crematorium, he gave me some hints on who to contact."
Turns out Louis was living in Penticton at the time of his death. "When I called the Public Trustee they gave me the names Vick(y)(ie) Whitehouse his daughter and Jennifer Whitehouse a granddaughter who lived in the area of Summerland but they didn`t seem to have anything to do with his death and or burial."
That's where the trail goes cold.
If you can help the Whitehouse family learn more about their long lost family member and help fill in the blanks on his life, please contact Mary Margaret Whitehouse by email @ mmwhitehouse@sasktel.net.
"If you knew James or know someone who did, please contact me. It would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance."
----------Article is from Castanet News and is also linked above below photo. If the link stops working, please go to Castanet news search field and search there.
UPDATE: Several readers contact Mary Margaret with solid leads. Wonderful! https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-248036-1-.htm#248036
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