In brief
With the passing of Annette Dionne, the last surviving member of the Dionne quintuplets, the world remembers a significant piece of history. Born during the Great Depression, the quintuplets captivated the public, leading to a life of controversy and media attention. Annette's work championing children's rights and preserving their legacy is honored as her story and the story of her sisters continue to impact generations.
Annette Dionne, the last surviving sister of the Canadian quintuplets, has died at 91, the Dionne Quints Home Museum has announced.
The five identical sisters, born in Ontario at the height of the Great Depression in 1934, were the first known quintuplets to survive past infancy.
They quickly became a global sensation during their childhood - starring in feature films, appearing on the covers of magazines, and endorsing products from toothpaste to syrup.
Much beloved, Annette had championed children's rights, the museum said in a statement announcing her death.
The museum, which seeks to preserve their legacy and educate the public on the quintuplets' controversial upbringing, added: She believed it was important to maintain the Dionne Quints Museum and the history it provides for the future of all children.
The quintuplets - Annette, Yvonne, Cécile, Émilie, and Marie - were taken away from their parents by the Ontario government when they were infants.
For several years, the authorities displayed the children in a compound dubbed Quintland, which became a popular tourist attraction. The children were constantly examined and had limited contact with their parents.
As adults, Annette, Cécile, and Yvonne sued the Ontario government over their childhood experiences, eventually receiving a settlement in 1998.
Annette was the last surviving sibling out of the 14 Dionne children. Prior to Annette and Cécile's deaths this year, Émilie died in 1954, Marie in 1970, and Yvonne in 2001.
