JOACHIM, BROTHER (William Michael Andre)
"Brother Joachim came to the United States with the first colony in 1841. He was professed. Tailor by trade. During the stay of the Brothers at St.Peter's -- October, 1841 -- February, 1843 -- he functioned as cook. But 5 or 6 months previous to their removal to Notre Dame he was taken with consumption; no sooner had he arrived in the northern country than symptoms of his fatal disease became alarming. During his long illness although of a quick temper, he seemed ever resigned to the will of God and greatly edified, not only the Community, but all the Catholics, who visited him. Finally, after receiving the last year, he breathed his soul peacefully into the bosom of his Creator. His body after his death was remarkably free from all signs of pain or suffering. May he rest, as indeed we trust he does, in the peace of the Lord." SORIN MEMO: Provincial Archives
"Brother Joachim -- William Adre; died April 13, 1844. This brother, a Frenchman by birth, wasan excellent brother. He was one of the first band who came to America. A tailor by trade he had little occasion to work here, for the members of the community were few, and his life short. He died in his 36th year." GRANGER MEMO
"A tailor who came with the original 6 Brothers and Father Sorin in Indiana in 1841. Born July 9, 1809, at St. Martin de Connee, Mayenne, France, the son of a tailor. Entered March 5, 1841; received habit,June 10, 1841; professed, July 25, 1841, a few days before his departure with Father Sorin; died at Notre Dame, after an illness of 18 months, April 13, 1844; first religious of Holy Cross to die in America. He greatly edified the Community during his illness, esteeming himself happy to die at Notre Dame, and asking the members to pray Almighty God that he might hasten the moment of his departure for the heavenly country." 1844
" . . . Divine Providence saw fit to take good Brother Joachim from our house at Notre Dame du Lac in America on April the 13th at 9:00 in the evening after an illness of eighteen months, during which he was a constant source of edification to his fellow-religious. So far as one could see there was nothing outwardly extraordinary about his death, except his spirit of resignation, and calmness and,so to speak, an evident foretaste of the happiness in store for those who have left all for Jesus Christ. He had so little fear of death that he was even a bit displeased when a novena was begun for his recovery. he often asked for prayers of the Community, that God would hasten the moment of his deliverance, and he was glad, he said, to die at Notre Dame du Lac. For the rest, he had no agony, and his passage into the eternity which opened up before him was so calm and gentle that, if the Sister Infirmarian had not warned Father Sorin in time, no one would have known the moment of his departure for a better life. The doctor, a Protestant, who attended him for a year, could only exclaim on hearing of his death, 'If he is not in heaven, then there is no chance for the rest of us!'" FATHER MOREAU, June 12, 1844
"Brother Joachim: Firs to die in the United States" MOREAU, p.86