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The Losty Family History
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HOLYOKE MASSACHUSETTS

RUSSELL GEORGE LOSTY & MARIE RITA LORETTA BENOIT

 

RUSSELL GEORGE LOSTY

Russell G. Losty was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts and is the descendent of Irish Born Matthew J. Losty from Halverstown, Kildare County Ireland.  In 1911, Russell's parents, and two of his sisters Claire and Blanche, were living in Holyoke, Massachusetts at 12 School Street when they welcomed his birth on October 20th. Russell was named after his mother Delina Russell and father George J. Losty. 

In 1920, Russell was 8 years old and living in Chicopee, Massachusetts on Pearl Street with his parents.   Russell's father, George J. Losty, Grandfather Matthew J. Losty and Uncles Daniel and Burns Losty, were all employed at "Matthew J. Losty & Sons" Paper Ruling & Tablet Shop at the corner of Cabot & Bigelow Streets.  Russell was attending school as were his siblings. Claire, Blanche, and the twins, Earl & Eleanor.  Russell's mother was keeping house and watching her babies John and William ages 4 and 2.  Reference  Page 1 & Page 2

 

Russell continued attending school during the fall and winter months and graduated from Chicopee High School in May of 1929. 

On April 14, 1930, Russell Losty and his family were at 62 Hampshire Street in Hampden County, Massachusetts, excluding Russell's sisters, Mrs. Claire Racine and Mrs. Blanche Mandeville who had already married. It is also noted in the 1930 US Census, Russell age 18, was employed in the Cotton Mill Industry (occupation not legible). Russell's brother Earl Losty age 16, twin of Eleanor, was also employed in the Cotton Mills of Holyoke working as a "track boy".   Reference 1930 US Census 

Russell continued to work in the Cotton Mills as did many of the young people of Holyoke to help support their families during the mid 1930's when WWII was underway.

 

World War II

The Civilian Conversation Corp

The following year the Losty family moved to 298 Chestnut Street and it was during this year in 1937, at age 25, RUSSELL G. LOSTY met his bride to be, 20 year old, Miss. MARIE RITA LORETTA BENOIT

During their courtship Russell Losty was promoted from his previous position, at the Farr Alpaca Company, to that of a cloth "Dyer" as noted in the 1938 Holyoke, Massachusetts City Directory when Russell was still living at home with his parents and siblings.

MARIE RITA LORETTA BENOIT

Rita Benoit was born in South Holyoke, Massachusetts on September 20th, 1916 in the home of her parents at 527 South Bridget Street.  She is one of 15 children, all of which were born, with the help of relatives and midwives, in their home on Bridget Street.

Both of Rita's parents, Roderique Benoit and Antoinette Arel, immigrated to the United States with their parents in the years 1882 and 1890.  Rita's father descends from Paul Benoit dit Livernois born in Nevers, France in the early 1600's and Rita's mother descends from Olivier Arel and Elyde Vanasse both of Canada.  Learn more about The Benoit & Arel Family Histories (1569 - 2004) coming soon

In 1930, at the age of 13, Rita was attending grade school and living with her parents and siblings at 527 Bridge Street in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the same location she was born. Reference

On June 9, 1930, two months after the US Census was taken, Rita's father, Roderique Benoit passed away leaving his wife Antoinette with 15 children in their home to raise. 

It became a necessity of life for Rita and her siblings to find employment to help support their large family after losing their father. Sometime after Roderique passed away, his widow, Antoinette moved the family to 580 South Summer Street.  Granddaughter of Antoinette Arel Benoit recalls a conversation between her mother Rita and Rita's sisters.....

"I remember my mother and her sisters reminiscing about their younger years when they were teenagers and I recall one conversation they had about working, in which, they cleaned houses to earn money during the summers to help their mother, themselves and their family." ^{Joan Losty Ellis- 2004}

Life wasn't all work and no play for Rita. Rita's sister, Julie Benoit DeGrandpre and husband Bill DeGradpre often attended the Horse Races in Belmont.  Bill and Julie had a friend who was a jockey and who, on one occasion when Rita was with Julie and Bill in Belmont, helped Rita mount the race horse (seen in the adjacent photo) for a Kodak moment. View full image  Rita was in her mid teens when this photo was taken estimated 1931.

By 1937, Rita Benoit had blossomed into a charming young woman who went from riding horses to wearing the latest fashions for young women and during that year she met her future husband to be Mr. Russell G. Losty of Holyoke. 

According to Rita and Russell Losty's eldest daughter, Joan Losty Ellis, her parents worked at the same Mill before they were married...  "In 1937, Daddy lived just a few blocks from where Momma lived and they also worked at the same Mill but I don't remember the name of the Mill"  ^{Joan Losty Ellis 2004}, and this is most likely where their eyes first met one another's that sparked the beginning of their courtship.

 

SOUTH SUMMER STREET

In 1937 Rita Benoit, her widowed mother Mrs. Antoinette (Arel) Benoit, and 10 of Rita's siblings, including herself, lived at 580 South Summer Street.  

The Benoit Family, lived on the third floor to the left of the front door seen in the apartment building in the adjacent photo. Their address: 580 South Summer Street 3rd floor. 

Note:  After Rita and Russell were married they also lived in this apartment building, except they were on the fourth floor to the right of the front door. Their address: 580 South Summer Street 4th floor. 

Before Russell owned a car, he probably walked to the Benoit home during their courtship in the mid 1930's, and likely escorted Rita for an evening to the "Victory Theater" in Holyoke. 

It would be on an occasion such as this Russell would, from his home at 298 Chestnut Street, start out going Northeast toward Hampshire Street where he would turn right and continue until he reached Cabot street where he would turn right again putting him on Main Street.  From there he would walk to Adams Street, turn left onto South Summer street and have only a few moments (0.1 miles) to get his hair in order and make sure his tie was straighten properly before reaching the Benoit residence where his future bride to be, Miss. Rita Loretta Benoit, was awaiting his arrival.

 

The image map below illustrates the precise locations where Russell & Rita were living when they applied for their Marriage License and the path Russell & Rita would have taken to reach each other when they could be separated no longer. Note to self:  Fix map dots.... wrong locations.

 

It was during their courtship in 1937, Russell Losty, age 25, employed as a cloth finisher in one of the Cotton Mills in Holyoke, Massachusetts, lowered himself onto one knee, looked up to Rita and proposed they get married. Of course she said YES, and with the blessings of their parents, Rita and Russell announced their plans to be wed the following year on August 16, 1938. 

	Russell G. Losty and Marie Rita Loretta Benoit were United in Matrimony by Reverend William J. Mortin in the Precious Blood (Roman Catholic) Church in Holyoke, Massachusetts August 16, 1938.
Russell's brother, Earl Losty the grooms' best man,, and sister, Claire Losty Racine the brides' matron of honor are noted in their marriage record received from the church as witness to this union. During the year, Russell & Rita were married, Russell was promoted from a "dyer" to a cloth finisher as noted in their marriage record. Their Wedding Photo (seen below) was taken in front of the "Little House" at 581 South Summer Street directly across the street from the Benoit Residence.

Memoirs of "The Little House"

" ....the house across the street from where we lived was always known as ... 'the little house' which was the only house on the street, squeezed in between tall apartment buildings."  Theresa Losty Chagnon ²⁰⁰⁴  

" ..... "the little house" at 581 So summer Street, had a huge lilac bush in the front yard. During the month of May it was in full bloom. There were so many blossoms on the tree the aroma from the Lilacs filled the neighborhood with the sweetest flowery scent and especially across the street where we lived.  Every year, the school I attended had a shrine to the Virgin Mary during the month of May.  All the children from the school, including myself, would collect flowers and place them at the base of the Virgin Mary's shrine.  I remember picking the lilacs that grew in the yard of  "the little house" and carring as much as I could to the Virgin Mary's Shrine."   Joan Losty Ellis ²⁰⁰⁴  

"..... I was indeed the paperboy for " the little house" across the street from us.  The only people I remember living there, were the Roy's who lived on the second floor."   James Michael Losty ²⁰⁰⁴   

As mentioned above, after Russell and Rita were married they lived in the same apartment building as Rita's Mother, Antoinette Arel Benoit, widow of Roderique Benoit.   

Antoinette was known to her grandchildren as "Mememe Benoit' and it is at 580 South Summer Street that Russell and Rita lived during the births of their children. It is also where they raised their children until the late 60's.

From the union of Russell Losty and Rita Benoit produced four of Mr. & Mrs. George J. Losty and Mr. & Mrs. Roderique Benoit's grandchildren. 

On March 28, 1939, Russell & Rita welcomed the birth of their first born, Joan Esther Losty. Having lived so closely to Mememe Benoit, Joan spent a lot time with her Grandmother "Mememe" and has many fond memories of Grandma Benoit, which you can read about on Joan's page. coming soon

Joan E. Losty married Henry Richard Ellis and from this union produced 4 of Russell & Rita's 6 grandchildren.

Tommie Richard Ellis
James Martin Ellis
Sharon Leigh Ellis - Losty Webmaster
Mark Andrew Ellis

Learn more about Joan Ester Losty and her children coming soon

 

In 1946, Russell was working at his Grandfather's Service Station, which at that time was owned and operated by Russell's uncle, William Burns Losty.  Reference:  1946 Holyoke City Directory

 

 

On May 11, 1949, Russell & Rita welcomed the birth of their first born son James Michael Losty.  James' sister, Joan, was ten years older than her little brother and she recalls her brother Jim at a very early age, would save every penny he could find and seemed to have reservations about spending it, when he would buy himself something and never on candy.

James M. Losty married Lucille Annette DeRoy and from this union produced 2 of Russell & Rita's grandchildren. 

Timothy James Losty
Shelley Anne Losty

Learn more about James Losty and his children coming soon

 

 

On June  23, 1950, Russell & Rita welcomed the birth of their second son Thomas Russell Losty. Tom Losty's sister Joan was 12 years older than Tommy. She recalls, Tommy, about 5 or 6 years old, came home one day from his outdoor adventures with something bulging under his shirt.  When questioned about what he had , he exposed the kitten he had under his shirt and replied, "He followed me home" 

 

Thomas R. Losty married Mary Meschke and is the Step-Father of Mary's children.

Learn more about Tom Losty and Mary Meschke  coming soon

 

In 1951, Russell was listed in the City Directory employed as a carpenter living at 580 South Summer Street.

On August 1, 1955, Russell & Rita welcomed the birth of their second daughter Theresa Marie Losty.  Theresa Losty is Russell & Rita Losty's youngest child. the baby of the family.  She was the last one to leave the The Losty home on Elm Street.

Theresa M. Losty married Thomas Charles Chagnon and is the Step-Mother to his adult children.

Learn more about Theresa Losty and Thomas Charles Chagnon coming soon

 

RUSSELL & RITA LOSTY 1940'S - 1960'S

Russell was an avid fisherman and frequently went deep sea fishing in Rockport, Massachusetts. as well as Gloucster, Massachusetts seen in the adjacent photo. In the late 1940's, while deep sea fishing, Russell Losty snagged an 800 pound tuna seen in the photo below along with exhausted faces of the men who helped him get the fish in the boat.  A grueling 8 hour ordeal.  Wow!

In 1943,  Russell's daughter, Joan Ester Losty born in 1939, shares her memory of her father's employment at her Great Grandfather's Service Station,  " ..... dad worked at the Hillside Service Station for his Uncle  William Burns Losty. "

^{November 22, 2003}

"60 years ago, when I was about 5 or 6 dad worked at the Hillside Service station. His grandfather Matthew built the Station.  When my Dad worked there, My Great Uncle Burns Losty was the owner and lived on Forrestdale just down the street from the Station.  I also remember the " Losty house" beside the Station and I recall meeting my Great Aunt Julia (can't be certain but I believe it was her). She and her husband, Michael Shaughnessy, and my Great Uncle Daniel Losty lived in Great Grandpa Matthew's house he passed away.  ^{Joan Losty Ellis 1943/2004}

The following year in 1944, Russell G. Losty was employed at Worthington Compressors Inc. and he worked there for 30 years until 1974 when he retired. 

 

In the mid 1950's Russell repaired TV sets on Chicopee Street in the " Willamansette section of Chicopee" with another man, possibly a Mr.Guertin, who also worked in the Repair shop.  We cannot report it to be absolutely certain but a faint memory regarding Russell and this man is that they were partners in this shop. Russell worked at the TV Repair Shop during the day, would come home for dinner and worked the second shift full-time at Worthington Pumps 7 Compressors.  The TV store on Chicopee Street is no longer there, and is now the home of a nursing home.

 

 

Rita worked for a Sports manufacturing company in Williamansette, Massachusetts and was featured in an advertisement by the request of company management in the mid to late 1940's, the company still exists today and is known as Spaulding (Sports Equipment Manufacturer).   Click on her image to view the entire image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Russell was a huge Boston Red Sox fan and never missed watching them whenever they were on TV. When Russell's boy were old enough to play little league baseball during the late 1960's -- and by then Russell  Losty, his wife, Rita and children were living on Elm Street --

From the time he was a young man, Russell went fishing as often as he could during his free time, until his later years when he could no longer manage the long hours one would spend in the deep sea fishing.

 

After retiring his fishing pole, Russell quickly developed a passion for bowling and it wasn't long before his bowling ball was as second nature to his hand as was his fishing pole.

It is unknown just yet, but we do know that Russell worked at the Armory in Holyoke but exactly when has not yet been discovered.

Russell & Rita lived at Elm St until Russell retired.  Then they moved to South Hadley, Massachusetts and lived the rest of their days in their son James Michael Losty's home.  James ie:  Jim, remodeled the lower level of his three level home and provided his parents with a separate living area for them to call their own. 

 

Late 1970's Memoirs of Russell Losty and Rita Benoit - by Granddaughter Sharon Ellis

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