(3) MARIAM MARY MARJI (1902-1983) MARIAM MARJI, eldest daughter of Abraham Marji, was born in Kfeir in 1902 and married her first cousin, Joseph Kays in 1921. Joseph Kays was the eldest child of Mary Lubra Margi who was one of the few women peddlers on Prince Edward Island around 1900. Joseph came to Canada in 1926 and my aunt Mariam came in 1929. They stayed with my parents in St. Paul, Quebec. Uncle Joe came to the Island in 1928 and Auntie followed in 1929. Uncle Joe likely wanted to come to the Island because his mother, Mary Lubra Marji, had talked so positively about the Island. When Aunt Mary (Mariam) came to Canada, she came with Lydia Kays (Weatherby) younger sister of Uncle Joe. Uncle Joe opened a store on the north side of Fitzroy Street in Charlottetown, two houses

from Esher Street.

The trip to Canada took two weeks and three days at a cost of $300. Aunt Mary went back to Lebanon in 1937 at a cost of $500. The main purpose of her trip was to fulfill a promise to Saint Anne to visit the shrine in thanksgiving for the birth of a child. Not only were her Aunt Mary and Uncle Joe first cousins, but Aunt Mary’s parents were also first cousins. This could have been the reason why she had several miscarriages. She was very depressed over this and wanted to have several children. She made a promise to Saint Anne that she would visit Her shrine if she could have children. With extra special

care from a local doctor and many prayers to saint Anne, her wish came true.

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