St. Onge, Maurice R. – It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dearly beloved son, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, Maurice R. St. Onge at the age of 86.
Born in Sudbury, Ontario, he was the eldest of ten children. Maurice left home at the young age of 17 to join the Royal Canadian Navy. He was accepted into the Navy’s Technical Apprentice Training Plan in 1954, completed new entry training and then two years of basic trades training. After initial coursing, he graduated as a P2ER and was posted to the Fleet and stationed in Halifax.
Over the next 21 years he served onboard HMC Ships St. Croix, La Hulloise, Bonaventure, Ottawa and Skeena. He also enjoyed his time spent as an instructor at the Damage Control School.
After an eventful career, where he attained the rank of CPO2, he decided to retire from the Navy to spend more time with his family. A new opportunity arose when he applied for and was successfully hired by Ontario Hydro Nanticoke GS. He began his new career in 1976 as a Shift Mechanical Maintainer, helping to commission the station and within three years he was a Trades Management Supervisor. Throughout his tenure he supervised, instructed and mentored countless people before retiring in 1994.
An attack of appendicitis landed him in the hospital where he met his future bride, Gloria “Honey”. With her parents’ blessing, they were married in 1959 followed by the arrival in 1960 of the first of their four children. While raising their children he was very involved in all their sporting and extracurricular activities. He enjoyed playing and coaching hockey, playing baseball, guiding Cubs and Scouts, teaching Sunday School, operating the skate shop at Shannon Park Arena, volunteering as a baby rocker at the IWK, and carpentry.
He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Gloria (Wirrell); sons, Rene, Andre (Jeannette), Marc (Susan); daughter, Lisa (Heith) Klaassen; grandchildren, Kaleigh, Steven, David, Jessica, Craig, Amanda, Peter and Zachary; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Maurice was a very loving and kind man who appreciated the love, care and support of his family during his time of need. His family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the medical staff at both the Dartmouth General and Twin Oaks Memorial Hospitals, Palliative Care team and Continuing Care Nurses.
A very humble person, Maurice has requested that, in lieu of a funeral, his family gets together to celebrate and reminisce on a loving life that they all shared. Cremation has taken place.
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