Genevieve M. Breton (Troy)

GENEVIEVE M. BRETON. "Brete .• , Danbury, Conn. "Brete.,·· the will-o-the-wisp, of the A "s! She is always on the jump and mighty hard to find. Exploring hidden corners of the library is one of her favorite pastimes.

Taught at: New Fairfield, New Street School, South Street School

Genevieve was born July 12,1904 in Danbury. Her father, Ernest A. Breton was born in Massachusetts in 1872. His father emigrated from France. Her mother, Margaret Barrett was born in Connecticut and Margaret’s mother emigrated from the Irish Free State, the name given to Ireland from 1922 to 1937. The State was established by the treaty that ended the three-year Irish war of independence.  She had two brothers, Ernest A. and Edward Barrett, both born on July 21, 1906.  

In the 1910 census, the Breton family is living at 16 Town Hill Ave. Genevieve's father is listed as a butcher in his own store.  Her uncle, Jules Breton is living with them and working as a butcher. Her aunt, Mary Barrett is also with them and working as hat trimmer. Ernest’s 1917-1918 draft card lists his occupation as grocer in his own store at 111 South Street and the family’s address as 87 South St., a three-family house. The 1920 census notes that Edward and Ernest are working as newsboys. In 1925, Genevieve is a teacher. In 1926 she is listed as teaching in New Fairfield, the same year Edward is working as a clerk in his father’s store.

 In 1930 the family is living at 42 Washington Ave. Margaret M. Sears, a cousin, and Margaret Barrett, their grandmother (born in the Irish Free State), live with them.   Ernest owns a meat and grocery store and Edward is a clerk there.  In 1931, Ernest’s butcher shop is located at 5 Main St.

Genevieve is listed as a public school teacher in the 1928 – 1930 city directories but there is no information on where she is teaching.  She married John Francis Troy, a hatter, on June 30,1930 and they live at 56 Town Hill Avenue.  They had three children, Mary G. Troy (1931 – 2012), John F. Troy Jr. (1933 -2022) and Michael R. Troy (1937 – 2023).  John Troy is a hatter in Norwalk in 1934 -1935 and they live at the rear of 561/2 Washington Ave. John works in Bethel in 1936 and is listed as working at A. N. & L. Hat Company in 1937. By 1939 he is working as a hatter at the Martin Paul Hat Co. located at the rear of 45 River St. in Danbury

In 1935, Ernest Breton Jr., who attended Niagara and Fordham Universities, is practicing dentistry in Danbury and living in the Germantown section of the city. He married Terese Moran in Waterbury on October 28, 1935.  He and his wife have moved to 106 West Terrace by 1940.  As of 1949 he has his office at 207 Main St, and they are  living at 33 Ridge Rd.

By 1940, the Troy family is living with Genevieve’s father, Ernest, at 42 Washington Avenue.  John is a foreman in a hat factory.  In 1942-1946 John is listed as a machine operator and his draft registration states that he works for the Auto Ordinance Co. as a supervisor in Bridgeport. Genevieve’s father died on March 5, 1947. That year, John is employed at 11 South St. From 1948 on, he is a chemist employed at Boesch Manufacturing Co, 45 River St Danbury.

  In the 1950 census, John is a “color man” at a hat factory and they have a lodger – Paul Valhos.  The children have grown up – John Jr. has graduated from Danbury High School (1951) and enlisted in the U. S. Army. According to his obituary, he was stationed at Fort Dix N.J. and West Point. Mary is employed by the Girl Scouts and is working in New Haven. In 1953, Mary G. graduated from Danbury State Teachers College with a degree in education.

From 1955 to 1956, Genevieve is a social worker at Catholic Charities, 92 Main Street in Danbury. John Jr. is a student attending the University of Bridgeport where he earned an engineering degree. Mary G. is a teacher with the Girl Scouts in New Haven and her father John is a chemist at the Boesch Co. on River Street.  In 1957 John is listed as a chemist in Bethel.

John Troy died on April 1, 1958.  The 1959 directory shows that the family moved to 2 Highview Terrace in Bethel. Genevieve is now a substitute teacher at New Street School in Danbury.  John Jr. is still a student at the University of Bridgeport, Michael is a salesman in Danbury and Mary is a teacher in New Haven.

1964 city directory – Genevieve is a teacher at South Street School, John Jr. is a planter at Brack Nursery in New Milford, Michael is salesman for FXR Div.

Genevieve’s brother Ernest Jr. died in 1969 in Danbury. Her brother Edward married Margaret Wixted in Bethel in 1933 and passed away there in 1977

Genevieve died March 25, 1996 while living a 2 High View Terrace in Bethel.

Mary G.  after graduating from Danbury State College entered the order of the Sisters of the Cenacle.   She earned advanced degrees in Education from St. Michael’s College in Vermont and in Social Work from Salem State.   After she left the order, she moved to Lincoln, Massachusetts where she was considered an “activist” in the community.   She died December 5, 2012

John F. Jr. died January 26, 2022 in Bethel where he was an active volunteer, especially with veteran’s groups.

Michael married Beth Sapp in Portage Ohio in 1970. He was a salesman for several companies during the following years. In 1994 they moved to North Smithfield R.I. He was a naval reservist, serving on active duty during the Cuban missile crisis and the Vietnam War.  He had two children, Bredon and Amy and died in North Smithfield on September 20, 2023.