The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-08-07
Death Claims
One OF World
Famed 'Quiints'
Autopsy Shows
Emile DiOnne
Died Of Epilepsy

MONIhEAL h - AN eplleptlc
stroke caused the death of Emile
Dionne, one of the famed Callander
uuintuplets, DR.. Rosario Fontaine
announced following an autopsy
today.
DR.. Fontaine, Quebec's leading
medicol-legal expert, said the girl,
who died after three strokes yes
terday in Ste. Agathe, Que, had
suffered from epilepsy for some
time.
"The epileptic stroke was
brought up by pulmonary conges-
ton, particularly in the pituitary
gland in the BRAIN" the doctor
said after a 1s4-hour autopsy.
The autopsy was described as a
tormality necessary because of the
prominence of the 2O-year-old girl,
and the fact no doctor was pres
ent when she succumbed. She died
at Ste. Agathe Hostel for old folks
and retired Roman Catholic clergy
men.
Her body was moved under po-
lice escort IS miles TO the Montreal
Morgue. The autopsy, by the spe-
.cialist, DR.. Rosario Fontaine, was
Get for 8 am, EST.
Funeral Planned
The girls grieving family went
ahead with plans for funeral SER
vices and burial Monday near
the Dionne home at Callander,
Ont.
A dispute arose, meanwhile,
over a surprise report that she
had been stricken with polio as a
child.
An elder sister, Mrs. Maurice
Giraouard, who arrived to take
charge of the body, said yesterday
Emile had polio II years ago and
since then had been afflicted with
fainting spells. The sister ex-
planned she was not familiar with
the medical term for the attacks
but believed they were epileptic.
Others who knew her also said
she was a victim of epilepsy.
In Callander, a parish priest who
acted as spokesman for her IA
Their Olivia Dionne, said she died
from q stroke. He said she had
had 4 weak spell" when she
was 8.
carefrNN Child
at was never diagnosed" ne
added, ''but polio is out"
Emile at birth the second
smallest Of the sisters - was
known as the most carefree of the
five when they were youngsters.
The girls celebrated their 10th
birthdays together last May rs.
The four survivors - Yvonne,
Marie, Cecile and Annette - as
well as Emilie's parents and sew
en- other brothers and sisters were
reported deeply shocked at her un-
timely death.
1T is a terrible blow to US ALL"
the father said last Eight. "She
was very dear to u.s."
II had letter from her only
yesterday" he added, "and she
didn't give any indication in it
that she was about to be seriously
Ill. She hadn't been quite herself
during recent months - that is
one of the reasons why she went
to Ste. Agathe to rest and where
the air is good - but we were not
prepared for anything like this"
About two months ago Emile
came to the Lac Brule Hostel.
which the Oblate Sisters of Mary
Immaculate run for old folks.
Prospective Nun
Nurse Cecile Believeau, who at.
tended her during her last hours,
said she had not been well during
her stay, but was accepted as a
prospective member of the Oblate
Order.
Emile, wearing the dark habit
of the order, was seen strolling
about the hostel grounds Thursday
evening. That night, because she
had difficulty getting to sleep, a
sister slept with her in a second
cot in her auStere room.
Two attacks within a few hours
weakened her, nurse Believeau
said, and in the morning she re-
fused her breakfast.
At 9 am. she appeared to be
sleeping. The sister who had
been at her bedside went to Mass,
thinking the girl was no longer
in danger.
Returning, the sisters discovered
she had suffered her third stroke.
They summoned DR.. Albert Joan.
nette from Ste. Agathe. He pro-
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