Family Rumours, and What to Think?
I am sure I have mentioned this a couple of times, but when I talked to my father about the family’s history, he wasn’t always the most truthful. Do I think that he was being cruel by lying about things? No, often he wanted me to have a story about the family, but didn’t actually have one on hand, so he made one up. So I have often had to go through my recollections of his stories and measured them about things I do know, and see if they were true, or if they could be true.
Such is the case with his stories about Norma Shearer. Dad had mentioned many times that his mother had been very good friends with Norma Shearer, the Oscar winning actress. One of his more interesting stories was that when my grandmother married that Norma was to be her maid of honour, but could not attend because of filming commitments. Okay. So what to make of this story?
First off Norma Shearer was fromMontreal, like my grandmother, and actually was raised not more than a couple of blocks away from where my grandmother lived. They were also born about the same time. Grandmother was born in 1898, and Norma was born in 1902. The difference is only four years. However, they could not have gone to the same schools as Norma was Anglican and my grandmother was Catholic.
From this alone I am still a bit of a sceptic. But fortunately there is a bit more to examine. Dad wasn’t the only one to say that they were friends. My dad’s cousins N and M both have also said that Irene and Norma were friends.
I think though my most interesting clue lies in the story that Norma was to be her maid of honour. I have since hearing this story, read the marriage notice for Irene and my grandfather Hugh Leitch (which I have posted previously on WordPress) and it gets interesting. It is a beautiful bit of society reporting, which states to the minutest detail of who wore what, who was there, etc. Grandfather was attended by his brother Clair, and the bride was “Unattended,” although her sister seems to have dressed quite extravagantly in hopes to be her bridesmaid, she actually was only a guest. Could it be that she was unattended because the one she wanted to attend her couldn’t?
And this is all I can know. Norma Shearer passed away in 1983, and I have no idea what has happened to her children, if they had her papers, if there were letters, or the like. My dad did not keep any of his mother’s papers, photos or other kinds of mementos which would provide more evidence.
July 12, 2012 at 09:59
Family histories are fascinating.
My grandfather was from Montreal as well.
April 30, 2013 at 18:53
Hi but i am not lying at all but i am her Great great great graet great great…. Nicene on my dads side my name is Tiffany Layne Shearer
April 30, 2013 at 22:03
That is a lot of greats- maybe a few too many? She was born in the 1890s.
June 14, 2013 at 15:28
Norma Shearer was born in 1902 – and I’m in a bit of the same position as I’ve always been told that she was my Grandmother’s cousin, so I’m starting to track that line now.
May 20, 2013 at 21:33
i dont know how many greats but she is one of my great great aunts im 12 idont know how many when my dad was little she was always in newyourk or california so he never got to see her.
December 9, 2013 at 18:37
it would be cool to find some long lost relitives!!
December 8, 2015 at 16:18
Have you ever tried looking up Norma Shearer’s relatives on GOOGLE or IMDB? Then try on ancestry.com to put her family tree in.
December 9, 2015 at 18:29
She had two children, and I have thought about trying to contact them or their descendants. Not entirely sure that they would know about her childhood friends…. something to think about.
December 25, 2015 at 01:46
Her grandchildren and great grandchildren ,nieces and nephews are the only next of kin.Her two children Irving and Kathleen both died of cancer.
December 25, 2015 at 19:16
Thanks!
December 5, 2023 at 23:37
Norma was my Nana’s cousin, Norma didn’t have a happy childhood her dad was a alcoholic