Author: Beth (Purinton) Gamache

Beth Purinton lives in Lisbon Falls, Maine with her husband Jack Gamache. They have two children Loni Beth and Derek. Beth is from South Durham, Maine. She brings her enthusiasm for ancestry research and a local, Maine perspective on each story.
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Re: Question

 
Sat 11/28/2020 11:31 PM
 
John, IV
 
Sorry for my delayed response.  Jack had gallbladder issues and spent a couple of days in the hospital, resulting in its removal.  That, plus Thanksgiving and his being in the hospital during that time, has set me back a bit.  I didn’t turn my computer on until today and am finally catching up on emails, etc.  He’s doing much better but will take a few weeks to recover.  November hasn’t been a good month for us, and we’re hoping for no more hospital visits for a long, long, longggggg time.

 
I’m not sure where to start looking for your great grandfather’s and grandmother’s gravesites.  I’ve walked through St. Cyril and Mt. Calvary cemeteries a few times and don’t remember seeing their names anywhere.  There’s another cemetery, Hillside, in town.  I just looked for their names at Hillside with no results found, so that’s a dead end.  I don’t know the names of all the cemeteries in Durham, but Google will know.  I don’t have a problem looking for their gravestones if I know where they are.  I can ask my HS friend for help with this.  He may even be able to find an obituary.  I’ll do that and get back to you.
 
You’re not driving me crazy any more than I drive YOU crazy.  It seems to be what we do best.  This Ancestry stuff isn’t for the faint at heart!!
 
Beth
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Re: Status Updates

Sun 11/29/2020 10:03 PM
John, IV,
 
I’ll try to locate someone who may know who’s buried at St. Cyril’s.  I have a few options to investigate.  I wonder if Paul J. Elcik Sr (1896-1970) and Mary Fabian (1891-1978) are the John & Mary Elizabeth may be talking about.  I realize she said Paul was married to Marie Pelcarsky, but the gravestone picture I took of Paul J. Elcik, Sr. clearly says his wife was Mary Fabian.  Paul J. Elcik Jr. (1915-1992) married Gertrude Fournier (1918-1993), and Mary A. Elcik (1917-2008) married Joseph Kinney (1909-1989).  
 
Also, the 1920 census lists Paul J. Elcik, age 23, immigrated in 1911, his wife Mary, age 23, immigrated in 1913, their children Paul, age 4 1/2, and Mary, age 2.  This would be the Paul J. Elcik I mentioned above.  I feel this is a completely different family from our John P. Elcik Sr’s and Jr’s families.  Some of the confusion is definitely the spelling of Mary’s last name, and some of the records indicate Marie as her first name.  Since the records were all destroyed from Slovakia, we may never know Mary/Marie’s name’s original spelling.  I also think Paul John may have gone by John, NOT Paul.  Again, I’m only guessing.  Mary Fabian on the gravestone doesn’t match Mary’s last name’s different spellings, BUT the name on the gravestone says otherwise.  YES, I’m beyond confused.  Maybe she changed her last name at some point in time??????
 
I have Sandra Kinney Eck’s obituary that I got from my friend at the HS.  I believe she was Joseph Kinney’s sister, who married Mary Elcik.  It lists her children, and I think they live in Lisbon or at least in the area.  I may be able to find someone who knows them if I do some more research.  That’ll come another day, another time.  It’s a long shot, but I’m willing to try.  
 
Hang in there; I may solve this crazy puzzle, MAYBE, just MAYBE!!!
 
Beth 
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Re: Status Updates

 
Sun 11/29/2020 8:20 PM
 
John, IV
 
Thank you for your kind words.  Jack and I are getting better and are staying clear of hospitals.  We both had excellent care, and all the precautions were taken while we were there.

 
I misunderstood that John and Mary are buried at St. Cyril’s cemetery.  I’ve walked the entire cemetery and don’t remember seeing their gravestone.  I looked at all my pictures again, and I don’t have a picture.  I’ll go again as long as we don’t get snow before that happens.  I have to say I’m completely perplexed by this.  
 
Nancy & Larry’s tenants are GONE!!!  They left a week ago today.  They’ve been in the house, and fortunately, there isn’t a lot of damage.  They need to paint and replace the carpets in the bedroom and do general cleaning, but they’re going to wait until after the holidays and maybe longer.  They’re in no hurry but are happy they’re gone and didn’t have to involve the authorities.
 
Good luck with your slide conversion.  I don’t envy you, but I have faith you’ll get it done.
 
Beth
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Re: Updates to Flash Drive

 
Sat 12/5/2020 5:29 PM
 
John, IV,
 
Sending a fresh flash drive would be fine. I’m always finding mistakes and correcting them, thinking that’s the last time I have to do this. THEN something or some other information pops up, and AGAIN, I have to make another correction.  

 
I totally understand. The Elcik family is driving me crazy!!! This is worse than my family because of the lack of records from the “old” country.  
 
It’s a never-ending search for information and knowledge!!!!
 
Beth
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Re: Status Updates

 
 
Sat 12/5/2020 5:50 PM
 
John, IV,
 
I meant to correct my mistake about Joseph Kinney.  He was Sandra Kinney Eck’s daughter, NOT her brother.  

 
When you read the obits I sent you, you’ll see that John P Ilcik/Elcik and Mary Jonek had 5 children, which we already know, Joseph, Andrew, George (who married Jack’s Aunt Anna), Michael and Mary Elcik King.  John’s obit says he had a brother Paul, whom I believe to be the same Paul who married Mary Fabian, Paul Sr.  Paul Jr. married Gertrude Fournier.  This is the Durham John P Elcik family.  Mary Fabian’s obit states she married Paul Elcik, and they had a son Paul.  This may be repetitive, but the more I say and write it, the better I understand it.  That’s just how my brain works!!!
 
If only we could connect the Durham Elcik’s to our Elcik’s other than through marriage.  It’s frustrating!!!
 
Beth
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Re: Historical Society

Sun 12/6/2020 6:14 PM
 
John, IV,
 
His name is Earl Williams, and he’s truly amazing at finding all these things.  I believe he’s taken thousands of gravestone pictures in the state of Maine.  He’s my “go-to” for everything.  He’s helped me with camera questions, including lenses, techniques, etc.

 
He told me there’s a map of gravesite locations at Hillside and St. Cyril cemeteries at the HS.  Unfortunately, it’s not open yet.  We’re hoping it will be in a few more months.  When that happens, you can bet I’ll find out where John P Elcik Sr. is buried.  He even suggested to me that he may NOT be buried in a cemetery.  That may be a possibility to consider.
 
Beth