I’m back and hopefully will be for a long time to come. Yes, I have been away for awhile taking care of some medical issues and all is good now! This seemed like a good time to make my return to the We Are Family Briggs blog.
This time last week Sunday, the Briggs family reunited on the lawns of Irving House in New Westminster, BC, to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of my parents, Grant & Jeannette Briggs. Some family members were not able to make it which we certainly missed (my youngest brother and his family, some cousins and a couple of my mother’s brothers).
Grant & Jeannette married on June 30, 1962, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Maillardville. They started their life together in New Westminster moving to Port Coquitlam in 1971. They lived there until the early 80’s moving to Langley. In 2004, they made the big move to the little town of 100 Mile House and live there today.
They have three children, Veronica (me, born in 1962), Ronald (1964; wife Kim) and Shawn (1969; wife Michelle). As well, my father has a daughter, Cris (1959; husband Gary).
They have also been blessed with 9 grandchildren (Justin, Nichelle (Braydon), Amanda (Jack), Taylor, Jeremy, Cole, Dale, Maielle & Shia) and 4 great-grandchildren (Elijah, Levi, Elodie & Blake). Sadly, two great-grandchildren, Elliott & Ezra have passed.
In New Westminster, the Briggs family has a family home, Irving House. This home is now a heritage site, and is part of New Westminster’s and our history. We decided to have a picnic on the lawns of the home as our ancestors may have done in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. I won’t go on about the history of Irving House – that’s for another post!
The New West Record (local newspaper) was invited to join us and put together a wonderful article and video which I invite you all to view – they did a wonderful job and we are very thankful.
Also attending was New West City Councillor Jaimie McEvoy who made a presentation on behalf of the City to Mom & Dad for their 60th – a job well done!
A good time was had by all! I have to say a special thank you to the Heritage Program of New Westminster in helping me to set all this up, to the volunteers and staff at Irving House for their time and patience, and most of all to all the family who attended and made my parents’ celebration all that more special! They were very happy to see everyone.
Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad with many more to come!
We Are Family Briggs 