On March 12th 2017 we lost a treasure; Irene Spencer died. Irene Spencer wrote her life’s story in a book titled Shattered Dreams. In the book Irene chronicles her life as the second plural wife of Verlan LeBaron. Shattered Dreams gives us a look inside both the physical and emotional privations of the LeBaron sisterwives living in Mexico during the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s.
Irene Spencer details not only the physical struggles and hardships, but also the mental and emotional anguish she suffered. She writes about how much it hurt her with every subsequent wife Verlan LeBaron married. She details her longing for intimacy in her marriage… intimacy that Verlan was never able to provide.
I think our sisterwives ancestors probably suffered similar emotional anguish. Regretfully these women lived in a time when they couldn’t express their feelings in writing for the benefit of posterity.
While visiting Mexico four years ago, we had the privilege to meet Irene near her home in Colonia LeBaron. We told her how much we enjoyed her book and how strong she was in enduring and finally breaking away from an abusive situation. She thanked us and asked us to her home for lunch. Unfortunately we were on our way to Chuhuichupa and didn’t have the time that day. We told her we would take her up on her offer another day, but regretfully that day didn’t come soon enough.
For anyone he has not read Shattered Dreams, it is a very good read. It is one of those books that you start reading and can’t be put down. My wife and I have lent our copy to several people (people with no ties to the Colonies) who have raved about the book.
While this book is very well written the most compelling part is you know that this is Irene’s real-life experience and not an HBO series.