KENNETH MAURICE CANTIN -

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KENNETH MAURICE CANTIN 1939 - 2004 Kenneth Maurice Albert Cantin, of McCreary MB, passed away January 10, 2004. "Maurice" was born in North Bay, ON, September 23, 1939, the 3rd son of Lionel and Edith Cantin. He was predeceased by his father in December, 1986 and is survived by his mother, with whom he had been living for the last eighteen years. He is also survived by two older brothers, Rob (Judi) in Los Angeles and John (Siegi) in Kamloops; two younger sisters, Katherine (John) Kaye in the Dugald area and Elizabeth (Gilles) Tardiff, in the Kemnay area and their respective families. Maurice took all his grade schooling in McCreary. He was a member of the Legion Band, the Boy Scouts and later Cadets. After high school he attended the Manitoba Technical Institute in Winnipeg taking courses in the food service industry. He worked as a cook in several towns in Manitoba, and in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba and at the Hotel Fort Garry. When the pace of that work became too demanding, he worked for many years in the furniture industry. Maurice was a very conscientious worker, who rarely missed a day of work, using holiday time to book medical or dental appointments. Maurice had a life-long struggle with ill health since contracting and almost dying from Spinal Meningitis at a very young age. In spite of the damage caused by the illness, he lived life as fully as he was able and took great pride in doing the most thorough job of which he was capable. Following the death of his father and suffering ill health himself, he decided to retire from Winnipeg to McCreary, where he has been helping his mother run her household and garden. Maurice was well liked by every one who knew him. He was an avid reader, had read all of the Zane Grey novels and knew all of the remarkable stories by heart. While he was physically able, he attended Mass regularly at the Roman Catholic Church, where he had been an altar boy during his grade school days. He also had a keen interest in politics and world affairs, which he enjoyed discussing with his Dad. During his final struggle with the devastating effects of ALS, Maurice often expressed how much he missed his father who had been gone for over 17 years. Just as he stepped in to take his place then, he has now gone to join him, but not without great concern for the well being of his mother. Always a caring and considerate person, he will be missed by his family and community for whom he was an inspiration in his struggle to keep active and independent. Funeral Services will be held at the McCreary Catholic Church, Saturday, February 7 at 2:00 p.m., Rev Father Paul Tinguely presiding. In lieu of flowers, Maurice requested a Memorial Scholarship Fund in his memory. This fund will be used to provide scholarships for deserving students from the McCreary area and to assist with ALS research in the future. You are invited to contribute to the K. Maurice Cantin Memorial Fund through the Winnipeg Foundation: 1350 One Lombard Place, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0X3. Dobchuk Funeral Home, McCreary entrusted with arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 31, 2004