Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Bertha May Clark


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Bertha May Clark and 26 of her descendants down to the fourth generation.


First Generation
1. Bertha May Clark,1 born 10 November 1904 in Montville, New London County, Connecticut, the daughter of John Leonard Clark and Elizabeth Chapel;1 died 28 January 1981 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut.1 Bertha married, first, Edward C. Gwiazdowski1, 4 (born ca. 1902, the son of Andrew J. Gwiazdowski and Veronica Kozlowski;2 Edward died 19293). Bertha married, second, 25 January 1930 in Montville, New London County, Connecticut, Emil William Nadeau5 (born ca. 1910 in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts, the son of John Nadeau and Margaret Williams5). Bertha partnered with, third, ca. 1930, William Hanna6 (born ____, parents not determined). Bertha partnered with, fourth, ca. 1937, John McPherson (born ____, parents not determined). Bertha married, fifth, 31 October 1943 in Montville, New London County, Connecticut, Nathan Wilcox Wheeler8 (born 8 December 1910 in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut, the son of Nelson Woodward Wheeler and Flora Belle Young;7 Nathan died 23 September 1994 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut7). Bertha is buried in Westfield Cemetery, Danielson, Windham County, Connecticut.1 Edward is buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, Norwich, New London County, Connecticut.3

Bertha had six children from two marriages and two partnerships. The obituary for Bertha Wheeler names five of her children: sons Edward Gwiazdowski, Russell Nadeau, and Nathan Wilcox, and daughters Marge Anilowski and Shirley Botelho. Her daughter Dolores Fox is inexplicably not included.1

Her first marriage to Edward Gwiazdowski in the early 1920s produced one child, also named Edward Gwiazdowski, born in 1924. Her husband Edward died in 1929, and Bertha married Emil William Nadeau the next year. It is believe that Bertha and Emil had no children together, and that their marriage was short and ended in divorce. The cause may have been related to Bertha giving birth to daughter Marguerite (Marge) in late 1930, and to daughter Shirley in late 1931, both by William Hanna, who is identified as their father in Shirley’s obituary (she died in 2002). The same obituary also lists Marilyn Daniel as a sister of Shirley, but Marilyn is believed to be the daughter of William and a woman other than Bertha. William Hanna has not been found in any other records.

Neither Bertha, husband Emil, nor son Edward have been found in the 1930 census, and nothing more is known about Emil. Bertha is probably the Mrs. Bertha M. Nadeau shown in the 1933-37 city directories for New London, Connecticut.

Family sources indicate that Bertha had two children by John McPherson, although his name has not been found in any associated records. Their son Russell was born in 1937 in New London, and their daughter Dolores was born in 1938 in the Connecticut State Farm for Women, Niantic, (now York Correctional Institution) while Bertha was incarcerated there. Both Dolores and Russell were born with the Nadeau surname since Bertha continued to use her married name Nadeau until 1943 when she married Nathan W. Wheeler. Their son Nathan W. Wheeler, Jr., was born in 1945.

Nathan was a member of the Norwich Auxiliary Police and the American Polish Club in Montville. He was employed at Electric Boat in Groton.7


Child of Bertha May Clark and Edward C. Gwiazdowski:

+2i. Edward Charles ‘Cochise’ Gwiazdowski, born 1 February 1924 in Montville, New London County, Connecticut; died 3 September 2000 in West Haven, Connecticut. Married Dorothy May Lacharite (née Evans) .

Children of Bertha May Nadeau (née Clark) and William Hanna:

+3i. Marguerite ‘Marge’ Hanna, born 24 October 1930. Married Theodore L. Anilowski.
+4ii. Shirley Barbara Hanna, born 5 October 1931 in New London, New London County, Connecticut; died 12 November 2002 in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Married James J. Botelho.

Children of Bertha May Nadeau (née Clark) and John McPherson:

+5i. Russell John Nadeau, born 22 April 1937 in New London, New London County, Connecticut. Married Sarah Ann ‘Sally’ Hart.
+6ii. Dolores Ruth ‘Dee’ Nadeau, born 8 June 1938 in East Lyme, New London County, Connecticut; died 5 April 2012 in New London, New London County, Connecticut. Married Randolph V. ‘Randy’ Fox.

Child of Bertha May Nadeau (née Clark) and Nathan Wilcox Wheeler:

+7i. Nathan Woodard Wheeler, born 2 December 1945. Married (1) Barbara A. Ouimette Married (2) Linda M. Fletcher Married (3) Donna Marie Bode.

  1. Obituary, The Day, New London, Connecticut, Bertha Wheeler, 29 January 1981
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Connecticut, New London County, Norwich, Enumeration District 537, Sheet 26B, family of Andrew and Veronica Gwiazdowski.
  3. Headstone, St. Joseph Cemetery, Norwich, Connecticut, Gwiazdowski: Andrew J., wife Veronica, son Frank, son Edward, and daughter Victoria.
  4. Obituary, The Day, New London, Connecticut, Edward Charles Gwiazdowski, 13 September 2000. This is the obituary for the son of Bertha (Clark) and Edward C. Gwiazdowski.
  5. Marriage Certificate, State of Connecticut, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Town of Montville: Emil William Nadeau and Bertha Gwiazdowski, #1930-083. Copy viewed at Montville Town Hall. The certificate gives their ages and birth places, and the names of their parents.
  6. Obituary, Providence Journal, Providence, Rhode Island, Shirley B. (Hanna) Botelho, 14 November 2002
  7. Obituary, The Day, New London, Connecticut, Nathan Wheeler, 25 September 1994
  8. Index to marriage, death, and land records, Montville, Connecticut, Town Hall Website, file number 1943-00000044, marriage of Nathan Wilcox Wheeler and Bertha May Nadeau
Second Generation
2. Edward Charles ‘Cochise’ Gwiazdowski2 (Bertha1), born 1 February 1924 in Montville, New London County, Connecticut;1 died 3 September 2000 in West Haven, Connecticut.1 Cochise married, 29 April 1961 in Montville, New London County, Connecticut, Dorothy May Lacharite (née Evans) 3 (born 2 October 1921 in Waterford, New London County, Connecticut, the daughter of Joseph Evans and Emma May Loomis;2 Dorothy died 4 June 1993 in New Haven, Connecticut2). Cochise is buried in Union Cemetery, Waterford, New London County, Connecticut.1

Edward served in the US Army in WWII. He worked at the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant for 20 years, and later at New London Motorcycle Sales in Groton.1


3. Marguerite ‘Marge’ Hanna2 (Bertha1), born 24 October 1930.4 Marge married, ca. 1956, Theodore L. Anilowski6 (born 27 December 1929 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the son of Alexander Anilowski and Barbara Pryhoda;5, 6 Theodore died 19 February 2006 in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida5, 6). Theodore is buried in Bay Pines National Cemetery, North Bay Pines, Pinellas County, Florida.

Theodore worked as a sheet metal mechanic. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War and a member of American Legion Post 273 and the Holiday Isles Elks Club. Theodore volunteered at Bay Pines VA Medical Center.6


Child of Marguerite ‘Marge’ Hanna and Theodore L. Anilowski:

+8i. Tammy L. Anilowski, born 15 June 1967. Married Steven R. Lindholm.

4. Shirley Barbara Hanna2 (Bertha1), born 5 October 1931 in New London, New London County, Connecticut;7, 8, 9 died 12 November 2002 in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts.7, 9, 10 Shirley married, ca. 1956, James J. Botelho (born 6 February 1926, the son of Joseph Botelho and Mildred Tafe;11 James died 2 November 1990 in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts11, 12). James is buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts.12

Shirley was a solderer for Litton Industries for 22 years before she retired. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church.9

James was a letter carrier assigned to South Station, Fall River Post Office, for 30 years before he retired in 1988. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War and he also served in the merchant marine. James was a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Swansea.12


Children of Shirley Barbara Hanna and James J. Botelho:

 9i. Michael J. Botelho, born 20 May 1957.4
 10ii. Paul W. Botelho, born 15 January 1962.4

5. Russell John Nadeau2 (Bertha1), born 22 April 1937 in New London, New London County, Connecticut.13 Russell married, 1 November 1958, Sarah Ann ‘Sally’ Hart13 (born 5 June 1939 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, the daughter of Russell Seymour Hart and Florence Delores O’Brien13).

Children of Russell John Nadeau and Sarah Ann ‘Sally’ Hart:

+11i. Russell John Nadeau, Jr., born 1 January 1960. Married Ann Mary Delaney.
+12ii. Lori Eileen Nadeau, born 13 July 1963. Married Lewis Arthur ‘Buddy’ Laumann.
 13iii. David Ray Nadeau, born 3 July 1969 in Portsmouth, Virginia.13
+14iv. Bryan James Nadeau, born 4 July 1970 in Portsmouth, Virginia. Married Angela Kay Kaufman.

6. Dolores Ruth ‘Dee’ Nadeau2 (Bertha1), born 8 June 1938 in East Lyme, New London County, Connecticut;4, 14 died 5 April 2012 in New London, New London County, Connecticut.14 Dee married, 17 February 1960 in New London, New London County, Connecticut, Randolph V. ‘Randy’ Fox15 (born 25 May 1934, parents not determined4). Dee was adopted by Elmer Oliver Hannaford and Mary Elizabeth Clark on 8 June 1938.

Family sources indicate that Dolores was born in the Connecticut State Farm for Women (now York Correctional Institution) while her mother Bertha was incarcerated there. Dolores was born with the Nadeau name since Bertha continued to use her married name Nadeau until 1943 when she remarried to Nathan M. Wheeler. Dolores was adopted and raised by her aunt Mary Clark and her husband Elmer Hannaford.


Children of Dolores Ruth ‘Dee’ Hannaford (née Nadeau) and Randolph V. ‘Randy’ Fox:

 15i. Noelle Fox, born 21 December 1965 in New London, New London County, Connecticut.4
+16ii. Kimberly Paige Fox, born 13 June 1967. Married Steven Joseph Santora.

7. Nathan Woodard Wheeler2 (Bertha1), born 2 December 1945.4 Nathan married, first, 5 June 1965 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, Barbara A. Ouimette16 (born ca. 1946, parents not determined16). Nathan married, second, 10 June 1967 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, Linda M. Fletcher17 (born 12 April 1949, parents not determined;17, 18 Linda died 3 September 1971 in New Haven, Connecticut18, 19). Nathan married, third, 20 November 1971 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, Donna Marie Bode20 (born 23 May 1949, the daughter of William Bode and Mildred Lawrence4).

Child of Nathan Woodard Wheeler and Donna Marie Bode:

 17i. Julieann Wheeler, born ca. 1973.4

  1. Obituary, The Day, New London, Connecticut, Edward Charles Gwiazdowski, 13 September 2000.
  2. Obituary, The Day, New London, Connecticut, Dorothy E. Gwiazdowski, 6 June 1993
  3. Index to marriage, death, and land records, Montville, Connecticut, Town Hall Website, file number 1961-00000021, marriage of Dorothy May Lacharite and Edward Charles Gwiazdowski
  4. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
  5. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Theodore L. Anilowski, no. 047-22-5564
  6. Obituary, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Florida, Theodore Anilowski, 16 February 2006
  7. Massachusetts Death Index 1970-2003 (available at Ancestry.com and familysearch.org), Shirley Barbara Botelho, 12 November 2002
  8. Obituary, The Day, New London, Connecticut, Bertha Wheeler, 29 January 1981
  9. Obituary, Providence Journal, Providence, Rhode Island, Shirley B. (Hanna) Botelho, 14 November 2002
  10. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Shirley Botelho, no. 023-24-8854
  11. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). James J. Botelho, no. 032-18-3602
  12. Obituary, Providence Journal, Providence, Rhode Island, James J. Botelho, 4 November 1990
  13. Ancestry of Bryan James Nadeau of Orlando, Florida.
  14. Obituary, The Day, New London, Connecticut, 11 April 2012, Dolores Ruth Fox, died 5 April 2012 in New London, Connecticut.
  15. Connecticut Marriage Index, 1959-2001, available at Ancestry.com and familysearch.org, Groom: Randy V. Fox, age 25. Bride: Dolor[as] R. Hannaford, age 21. Marriage Date: 17 Feb 1960. Marriage Place: New London, New London, CT.
  16. Connecticut Marriage Index, 1959-2001, available at Ancestry.com and familysearch.org, Groom: Nathan W. Wheeler, age 19. Bride: Barba[ra] A. Ouimette, age 19. Marriage Date: 5 Jun 1965. Marriage Place: Norwich, New London, Connecticut.
  17. Connecticut Marriage Index, 1959-2001, available at Ancestry.com and familysearch.org, Groom: Nathan W. Wheeler, age 21. Bride: Linda Fletcher, age 18. Marriage Date: 10 Jun 1967. Marriage Place: Norwich, New London, CT
  18. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Linda Wheeler, no. 047-44-0682. The SSDI shows her date of death as Sep 1971 which agrees with the Connecticut Death Index. The SSDI shows her birth date as 12 April 1849, and was actually 1949 based on other records.
  19. Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2001, available at Ancestry.com and familysearch.org, Linda M. Wheeler, 3 September 1971, in New Haven, Connecticut.
  20. Connecticut Marriage Index, 1959-2001, available at Ancestry.com and familysearch.org, Groom: Nathan W. Wheeler, age 25. Bride: Donna M. Bode, age 22. Marriage Date: 20 Nov 1971. Marriage Place: Norwich, New London, CT.
Third and Fourth Generations
8. Tammy L. Anilowski3 (Marguerite ‘Marge’,2 Bertha1), born 15 June 1967.1, 2 Tammy married Steven R. Lindholm1 (born 13 August 1964, parents not determined2).

11. Russell John Nadeau, Jr.3 (Russell,2 Bertha1), born 1 January 1960.3 Russell married, 16 August 1980, Ann Mary Delaney3 (born 18 November 1960, parents not determined3).

Children of Russell John Nadeau, Jr. and Ann Mary Delaney:

 18i. Danielle Alicia Nadeau, born 13 June 1981.3
 19ii. Christopher Russell Nadeau, born 5 February 1983.3
 20iii. Patricia Ann Nadeau, born 29 August 1984.3
 21iv. Ryan Joseph Nadeau, born 17 July 1989.3
 22v. Sean James Nadeau, born 29 January 1991.3

12. Lori Eileen Nadeau3 (Russell,2 Bertha1), born 13 July 1963.3 Lori married, 24 May 1986 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Lewis Arthur ‘Buddy’ Laumann3 (born 13 October 1959, parents not determined2, 3).

Children of Lori Eileen Nadeau and Lewis Arthur ‘Buddy’ Laumann:

 23i. Casie Lee Laumann, born 30 June 1984.3
 24ii. Clarissa Ann Laumann, born 19 March 1988.3

14. Bryan James Nadeau3 (Russell,2 Bertha1), born 4 July 1970 in Portsmouth, Virginia.3 Bryan married, 4 August 1995 in Newport News, Virginia, Angela Kay Kaufman3 (born 27 May 1973 in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, the daughter of John Haywood Kaufman and Georgia Gaylene Underhill3).

Children of Bryan James Nadeau and Angela Kay Kaufman:

 25i. Jonathan Bryan Nadeau, born 11 November 1997 in Newport News, Virginia.3
 26ii. Bryan James Nadeau III, born 4 June 2001.3
 27iii. Sarah Gayle Nadeau, born 27 May 2003.2

16. Kimberly Paige Fox3 (Dolores ‘Dee’,2 Bertha1), born 13 June 1967.2 Kimberly married, 16 July 2005 in New London, New London County, Connecticut, Steven Joseph Santora4 (born 9 February 1953, the son of Joseph Santora and Carol Conant2).

  1. Email from Shirley (Chapel) Smith to Lee Gazlay 14 November 2010.
  2. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
  3. Ancestry of Bryan James Nadeau of Orlando, Florida.
  4. Marriage Announcement, The Connecticut Post, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 18 October 2005; marriage of Steven Joseph Santora and Kimberly Paige Fox on 16 July 2005 in New London, Connecticut.