Odile Clemens (Barette) Coppersmith

Lifespan: 1883-04-05 — 1972-12-07

Summary

Born April 5, 1883 in Dyckesville, Brown County, Wisconsin to Joseph (Ferdinand Joseph) Barrette (1855–1933) and Antonette (Antoinette) Potier (1859–1914). Married Frank Joseph Coppersmith on June 6, 1905 in Red River, Kewaunee County. Mother of five children: Wilfred (William), Claude, Harold, Geraldine, Agnes.

Lived in Green Bay from her marriage in 1905 onward. Died December 7, 1972 (Thursday) at a Green Bay hospital after a short illness, age 89. Last address: 136 Garfield St., Green Bay. Visitation at Malcore Funeral Home, Funeral Mass at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church (Rev. Earl Schuh, Monday 11 a.m.). Buried at Allouez Catholic Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum (Section F South) beside Frank.

Outlived her husband Frank by 13 years (d. Oct 7, 1959). At her death she had 23 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

FamilySearch lists her as “Odile Clemens Barette” — Clemens appears to be a middle name, Barette the maiden surname.

Relationships

• Parents: Joseph (Ferdinand Joseph) Barrette (1855–1933) & Antonette (Antoinette) Potier (1859–1914)
• Spouse: Frank Joseph Coppersmith (m. 1905-06-06, Red River, WI; d. 1959-10-07)
• Children (5, per 1972 obituary):
  • Wilfred I “William” Coppersmith (b. 1906)
  • Claude J Coppersmith (b. 1907) — Foggy’s great-grandfather
  • Harold Joseph Coppersmith (b. 1910)
  • Geraldine Madeli Coppersmith (b. 1913) — m. Albert La Roche, Sturgeon Bay
  • Agnes Antoinette Coppersmith (b. 1922) — m. Bernard Putman, Green Bay
• Siblings (Joseph + Antonette had 10 children per Geneanet):
  • Predeceased: Clemence Josephine (b. 1880), August (b. 1882), Oliver J. (b. 1885), Jules J. (b. 1887, “Jule” in obit), Gustave William (b. 1890, “William” in obit)
  • Survived her: Mrs. Emma (Barrette) Mielke, Green Bay; Joseph Barrette Jr., Oconto Falls
  • Status unclear: a second Clemence (b. 1889 — name reused, likely died young), Louis Joseph (b. 1893 — not mentioned in obit, possibly died young)

Sources

• Obituary (Dec 1972, Green Bay paper) — full text recorded; gives last address, employer of Frank (Northern Paper Mills), funeral arrangements, complete sibling status, and descendant counts (23 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren).
• FamilySearch record for Claude J Coppersmith (names parents, gives ages at birth).
• FindAGrave / cemetery record (exact birth, death, burial with plot Section F South).

Research Notes

• Barette/Barrette is a Belgian surname consistent with Dyckesville settlement patterns.
• Parents confirmed: Joseph (Ferdinand Joseph) Barrette & Antonette (Antoinette Marie) Potier.
• Born in Dyckesville, same community as husband Frank — families likely knew each other.
• Mielke connection: Odile’s sister Emma married into a Mielke family (Green Bay). Foggy’s other direct line includes Mielkes (Margaret Pfister m. Emil Mielke). Worth checking whether Emma’s husband and the Emil/Margaret Mielke line are related — would be a cross-link in the tree.
• Albert La Roche correction: Earlier records listed “Albert Coppersmith” as a sixth child. The 1972 obituary corrects this — Albert was actually Albert La Roche, Geraldine’s husband (son-in-law). The albert-coppersmith.md record now documents this correction.