Ronald Morin led ‘completely happy lifetime of journey,’ household says at capturing sufferer’s funeral
By all accounts, Ronald Morin was a person who lived to snigger and make others snigger. So it solely appeared proper that his son Eric Morin drew an outburst of laughter as he recalled highlights of his father’s life throughout Ronald Morin’s funeral Mass in Lewiston on Friday.
Morin’s funeral was one in every of two deliberate on Friday, the firsts for the 18 victims of the biggest mass capturing in Maine’s fashionable historical past. He, together with seven others, had been fatally shot when Robert R. Card II opened fireplace at Schemengees Bar and Grille in Lewiston on Oct. 25. Ten others had been killed by Card at Simply-In-Time Recreation the identical evening.
“He was an unbelievable man and the entire world is speaking about him,” Eric Morin mentioned of his father. “Regardless of what individuals have mentioned, he did have some flaws, and I’d wish to share them with you.”
Eric Morin then pulled a roll of paper from his pocket and allowed it to unfurl to the ground. A whole bunch of Ronald Morin’s household, buddies, co-workers, members of his softball workforce and first responders from the Lewiston space burst out in sustained laughter.
That was one in every of a number of lighthearted moments all through the funeral that started in silence as a material overlaying was laid on his casket by household and buddies.
Earlier than following the draped casket because it was taken from the again of the church to the altar in entrance, Ronald Morin’s widow, Lynn Morin, gently smoothed a fold within the material, letting her hand relaxation there a second.
Laughter outlined Ronald Morin’s life, in response to Matt Lunt, who labored with Morin for greater than 20 years at Coca Cola New England.
“He was simply a tremendous man,” Lunt mentioned. “The sort of man who would provide the shirt off his again, and humorous. He was all the time making you snigger — he was only a actually good man.”
Rev. Daniel Greenleaf, pastor of Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Higher Church who officiated the service, even acquired some laughs at Ronald Morin’s expense when he stopped midsentence to notice the tall Paschal candle — the candle used for each baptisms and funerals within the Catholic Church — was leaning a bit crookedly in its holder.
“I must straighten that,” Greenleaf mentioned. “I do know Ron is laughing at that proper now.”
Greenleaf referenced “The Brothers Karamazov” by Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky.
“‘If you wish to discern a person and know his soul, you will need to look, not at how he retains silent, or how he speaks, or how he weeps, and even how he’s stirred by the noblest concepts,’” Greenleaf quoted. “However you had higher take a look at him when he laughs.”
Ronald Morin was remembered as a person who beloved individuals, past simply making them snigger.
“He cared for everybody,” Greenleaf mentioned. “He acknowledged everybody.”
That was echoed by his youngsters, who mentioned their father was all the time prepared to assist anybody who wanted it as a result of he might by no means say no.
Morin’s daughter, Amy Puciaty, mentioned she satisfied her father to go whitewater rafting together with her final summer time on the Kennebec River. The river, she mentioned, was working particularly excessive and quick on the time because of a mix of heavy rain and launched water.
“Throughout the rafting everybody on the raft wished to go swimming [in the river] besides my dad,” Puciaty mentioned. “So you already know what he did? He went swimming.”
He ended up swallowing plenty of river water within the course of, however couldn’t cease laughing, she mentioned.
“I’m so grateful for all of the occasions he by no means mentioned no,” Puciaty mentioned. “It was a cheerful lifetime of journey.”
Household and buddies escorted Ronald Morin’s casket out of the church into vivid daylight, accompanied by a single bagpiper enjoying “Superb Grace.”
Earlier within the day, Tricia Asselin, who was fatally shot whereas working for a telephone to name 911 at Simply-In-Time Recreation, was celebrated at a non-public service in Auburn.
