Anne-Marie Guigon

 

Anne-Marie`s father Edouard Guigon was married to Monique Chalnot

 

Anne-Marie as a child

 

Anne-Marie`s first husband Andre Doudou an Engineer

 

Her brother Xavier

 

Marc Bernard and their daughter Nina

 

her children Marine and the twins Sophie and Tom Bernard

 

Her Family

Gui Orleans

She stayed close to Orleans with Marc Bernard

Gui Saintflorentsurcher

They later moved to Saint Florent

 

Orientation: 1

Gui elephantvisit hluhluwe

Orientation: 1

 

Anne-Marie attending Nina`s wedding in Hluhluwe in 2019 in South Africa

 

Sophie, Tom, Cyril and Anne-Marie at Nina`s wedding in Hluhluwe

 

Anne-Marie assisted with thebetrophal

 

Sophie, Nina and Anne-Marie evening before the wedding

 

Nina treated her mother Anne-Marie and took her to the game reserve in Hluhluwe

 

Tom, Anne-Marie and Nina having breakfast at the Bonn Hotel in Richards Bay

 

Nina treats her mother to hang gliding at Balito adventure farm. From left: Nina, Anne-Marie, Tom, Cornelia and Hendrik

Introduction:

Anne-Marie Guigon was born on 18 October 1950 in Nancy, France, the eldest child of Edouard Guigon and Monique Chalnot. She grew up during the post-war years in France, a period marked by reconstruction, educational opportunity, and social change.

Throughout her life Anne-Marie experienced many different regions of France and several countries abroad. Her journey took her from Nancy to Nice, Paris, Brussels, Montreal in Canada, and later to the Loire Valley region of France. Along the way she built a successful career, raised a large family, and maintained strong family values that would remain central throughout her life.

Known for her warmth, intelligence, and dedication to her children, Anne-Marie created a close-knit family whose members today live across Europe and South Africa. Her story reflects the experiences of many modern European families while remaining deeply rooted in family relationships and personal sacrifice. Anne-Marie was the daughter of:

Edouard Guigon – Dentist and Monique Chalnot. (Former dental student, Active church member and teacher of children within the church) Children of Edouard Guigon and Monique Chalnot:

1. Anne-Marie Guigon — born 18 October 1950, Nancy
2. Michelle Guigon — born 9 August 1952, Nancy
3. Xavier Guigon — born 20 September 1956, Nice

Anne-Marie’s parents met while studying dentistry in Nancy. Although her mother did not complete her studies, the family valued education and worked hard to establish themselves despite modest beginnings. Anne-Marie spent her earliest years in Nancy before the family moved to Nice after her father completed his dental studies and established his first practice.

The family lived in a house with a garden in Nice, where Anne-Marie attended Saint Barthélemy School. During these years she sang in a choir for more than a decade, participated in scouting activities, and developed an interest in biology. Eventually the family returned to Nancy, where her father purchased a home in Laxou. Anne-Marie continued her education at Lycée Frédéric Chopin.

Her original ambition was to become a veterinary surgeon. She successfully passed the entrance examinations and was accepted for further studies. Following aptitude assessments, however, she chose to pursue studies in public relations and completed a two-year course.

While studying, Anne-Marie met André Doudou, an engineering student specialising in fluid mechanics. Their son:

• Cyril Doudou

was born during this period.

Following their studies, the family lived in Montreal, Canada, where André completed postgraduate studies. They later returned to France and subsequently moved to Brussels, Belgium, when André’s employer transferred him there. Over time their lives followed different paths. Anne-Marie eventually returned to France with her son Cyril and established a career working for a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), where she managed projects and recruited personnel.

While living in Belgium, Anne-Marie became reacquainted with Marc, whom she had known through André’s professional circle.

Their relationship led to a new chapter in her life and the growth of her family. Children of Anne-Marie and Marc:

1. Nina
2. Marine Celine Laetitia — born 10 October 1988, Orléans
3. Tom Franck — born 10 October 1990
4. Sophie Maya — born 10 October 1990

The family lived in several locations, including Boussy-Saint-Antoine, Marcilly-en-Villette, and Saint-Florent-sur-Cher. During these years Anne-Marie made the decision to leave her professional career in order to spend more time with her children, a choice she considered one of the most important decisions of her life.

In later years Anne-Marie developed a close connection with South Africa through her daughter Nina. In 2018 she travelled to Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal to visit Nina and her future husband, Jaco McCarthy. During her visit she experienced many aspects of South African wildlife and culture, including visits to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve and other wildlife destinations.

She returned in December 2019 to attend Nina’s wedding in Hluhluwe. The occasion brought together family members from different countries and represented an important milestone in the growing connection between the Guigon and McCarthy families.

Despite travel restrictions preventing a planned visit in 2021, Anne-Marie returned to South Africa in 2022 and spent a month with her daughter and son-in-law in Meerensee, Richards Bay. Her experiences in South Africa, particularly encounters with elephants, rhinoceros, lions, and other wildlife, left a lasting impression on her and became treasured family memories.

Anne-Marie Guigon’s life has been defined by adaptability, family devotion, and a willingness to embrace new experiences. From post-war France to Canada, Belgium, and eventually South Africa through her children, her story spans continents and generations.

Above all, she is remembered as a loving mother and grandmother whose greatest achievement was the close and supportive family she helped create.

2. Timeline:

3. Documents & Evidence:

Key documents and evidence discovered during the research include:

• French National Identity Card confirming Anne-Marie Guigon’s birth in Nancy on 18 October 1950
• Personal life history recorded by Anne-Marie Guigon
• Family photographs covering her childhood, education, marriage, and family life
• Records relating to her parents, Edouard Guigon and Monique Chalnot
• Birth records of her children Cyril, Nina, Marine Celine Laetitia, Tom Franck, and Sophie Maya
• Residence records and family information relating to France, Canada, and Belgium
• Photographs and records from visits to South Africa (2018, 2019, and 2022)
• Wedding photographs and family records relating to the marriage of Nina Guigon and Jaco McCarthy

These records provide a well-documented account of Anne-Marie’s life, family, travels, and her connection to the McCarthy family.

4. Open Questions

Although much of Anne-Marie’s life is well documented, several areas could still be expanded:

1. Exact dates of relocation between Nancy, Nice, Brussels, Montreal, and Paris.
2. Date of marriage to André Doudou.
3. Date of separation from André Doudou.
4. Full details of Marc’s surname and family background.
5. Employment records relating to NGO project work.
6. Further details regarding Anne-Marie’s studies in Public Relations.
7. Additional information regarding the Guigon and Chalnot family lines.
8. Identification and dating of all family photographs.
9. Expansion of Canadian and Belgian residence history.