Maurice William Desrosier, 87

Peacefully on Thursday August 16, 2007 at the Rainy River Hospital Rainy River, Ont, Maurice W. Desrosier passed away at the age of 87.
Maurice was born on May 16, 1920 on the family homestead in Atwood Township, Ont. He was the second son of Laura and Alberic Desrosier. He attended school at the Atwood number twelve school until in his own words he got smarter than the teacher at the age of thirteen. At that time his father gave him a choice between school and work. He chose work. He was given a saw and an axe and his father took him to work in the bush. Much to his dismay he had to pay for the saw and axe and room and board from his first pay. He had no money left. Thus he began his adult life. Three years later his father died of pneumonia. Because his older brother Albert had left home to seek his fortune in the world, Maurice found himself the head of the family at the age of sixteen. His mother, Maurice and two younger sisters continued to scrape a living from the family farm and Maurice supplemented their income working in the bush.
In early 1941 the Desrosier children lost their mother to tuberculosis. Later that year Maurice was conscripted into the army. With heavy heart he made arrangements for his sisters to be cared for by relatives. All the farm animals were sold or given away except two. His faithful dog and work horse. With all the courage he thought he had left in him he put them to sleep and reported for duty at Fort William on December 17, 1941. He served in the United Kingdom Central Mediterranean and continental Europe. He was discharged on December 12, 1945. He met Edith Mary Keam in 1947. After a whirlwind romance of three months they were married on November 27, 1947. They came to Rainy River back to the old farm that he had left so many years ago and together they raised two daughters. He worked for the CNR for a number of years. Then he started to farm and supplemented income by working in the bush, and working for the municipality for many years. Then he was hired as janitor at the Catholic School in Rainy River. When the school closed he was hired on at the Red Cross Hospital as maintenance man. He worked there until retirement in 1985. At that time the farm was sold and Maurice and Edith built a new home at the river. As long as their health permitted they pursued their dream of summers here and winters in Arizona.
Maurice was predeceased by his wife Edith, brother Albert, sister Mae Kreger and grandson Ross Irvine. He is lovingly remembered by his daughters Laurel Desrosier and Marg (Eunice) and husband Sid Irvine; seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, sister Frances Treflin and numerous nieces and nephews, and his special friend Marlene McNally.
Friends and Family were received at the Northridge Funeral Home on Sunday August 19, 2007 from 7-9 p.m. Funeral mass was held on Monday August 20, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. from Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Rainy River, Ont. Father Dan Debano Celebrant. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery, Rainy River, Ont. Pall Bearers were Marg Irvine, Ab Desrosier, Bob Desrosier, Trevor Katona, Andrew Mezey, Bob Irvine. If desired memorial donations may be made to the Rainy River Riverside Health Care Facility. Online condolences may be left at www.northridgefuneralhome.com