Both of Marie's parents had surname Marguerettaz. Known to her grandchildren as "Momou." She came to the U.S. as a young girl, joining some sisters who had arrived before her. Marie is buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY.
She died in Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY.
Inglis Stuart book has her name as Marie Margaritas, incorrect.
Her Ellis Island immigration record shows the name Maria Marguerettaz, Maria probably being a spelling error. Ethnicity, Italy, Italian N. (north?). Place of residence, St. Remy, Italy. Age 21 years, marital status, single. She arrived May 16, 1910 on board the Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm, port of departure Southampton, Southamptonshire, England.
The 1920 census says she was French, and emigrated in 1911.
Marie's funeral at Walter B. Cooke, Inc. Funeral Home, which I believe to have been located at 141 Linden Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Related document: Birth certificate, Province de Turin, Arrondissement D'Aoste, Commune de St. Rhemy.
The word "Mamou" is used in some cultures. Today it means "something big" as in "the big mamu." It is a place name in Guinea and France, but is now most synonymous with the state of Louisiana, where is it used by the Cajuns. There is a town named Mamou in Evangeline Parish, was a Cajun song with French lyrics, and a 1950's pop tune with English lyrics. "Crawfish Big Mamou" appears on menus, containing many tomatoes. A "Little Mamou" has few tomatoes. Cajun bands use the word ("The Mamou Playboys") and dances, like the Mamou Cajun Two-step. In the 1700's the vast southwestern Louisiana prairie around the town was called "Mamou Prairie." The word may also have Native America origins, for "Big Hunting Ground," or the name of a Native American chief. It may have derived from a local Native American group other tribes called "Ma-Mo." Cajun historian Pascal Fuselier believes the word might come from the English "Mammoth," which French-speaking Cajuns and Creoles altered to "Mamou," influenced by the French word "mammouth" (huge). The word could be a place-name from France. Finally, there's the colorful tale that "Mamou" evolved from people hearing hungry calves on the prairie making the sound "maa" and the cows responding "moo." (Soukhanov, Anne. "Say the word." "Attache" magazine. US Airways, August, 2001, pg. 24)
Related document: Letter from Veterans Administration dated May 25, 1933:
Mrs. Marie M. Bisher as Gen Gdn. of Cecil E.J.F. Dunscombe,
221 Gates Ave.
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dear Madam,
A review of all claims in which payments of benefits were being made on March 29, 1933 was undertaken for the purpose of determining entitlement to benefits provided by Public No. 2, 73d Congress, entitled "An Act To maintain the credit of the United States Government."
Your claim has been carefully reviewed in accordance with the provision of the above entitled Act, and on the evidence of record in your case it has been determined that you are entitled to, and there is being approved in yuor favor, effective July 1, 1933, an award of pension in the amount of $15.00 monthly, to April 14, 1934, on account of the death of the veteran being due to war time service.
Regulations promulgated pursuant to the provisions of Public No. 2, 73d Congress, provide that, except as to degree of disability, an application for review on appeal may be filed within six months from the date of this notice, or July 1, 1933, whichever is the later date. In the event you contemplate filing such an application it is suggested that it be deferred until after July 1, 1933, when the condition of the work incident to the review of claimswill permit of expedited action on applications of this character.
By direction,
George E. Brown
Director of Compensation
Apparently Marie's four brothers were in the United States, Orange County, in 1913 (Declaration by Iole Marguerettaz, contract in her possession).
Cause of death: Strangled hernia.