Clarence J.F. Sirois Obituary (1926 - 2016)

AUGUSTA ~ Clarence Joseph Fernand Sirois peacefully passed at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Augusta on September 17, 2016, where he had been a resident for five weeks. Fortunately, up until August 15, Mom had been able to care for Dad at home. He was born in Van Buren, Maine, on October 17, 1926, to Alma (Thibodeau) and Henry V. Sirois. Clarence and his Family lived in Keegan until they moved to Augusta when he was age 13, where he attended Cony High School. He left school to work at the Hallowell Shoe Company. Clarence joined the Navy Seabees in 1944 and served until 1946; stationed in Okinawa. In 1951, Clarence met Marilyn at the Hallowell Shoe and they were married October 18, 1952. Clarence worked at the Hallowell Shoe, then located in Hallowell, in what is now the Cotton Mill Apartments, until the factory’s temporary shutdown in 1962. That year he was hired at the Veterans Administration, Togus, as a dishwasher. This was a huge pay reduction from the piece-work job at the shoe factory; where he was a master at laying the soles on shoes. However, through hard-work, perseverance and with the help of his supervisor, a dietician who recognized his abilities, Clarence was able to quickly rise up the ranks to Kitchen Foreman. During his many years as Foreman, he developed and instituted an apprenticeship program for kitchen employees to upgrade their positions while on the job; as he had been able to do. For the last 50 years, Dad has suffered with a cancer called Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. Over all these years, Dad, Mom and Dr. Kinney of Waterville, have diligently worked to control this disease with cutting-edge treatments offered at Beth Israel, Boston; Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston; Dartmouth Medical Center, New Hampshire; and the University of Florida Shands Cancer Hospital, Gainesville, Florida. The severity of this illness was at times excruciating for Dad; he never complained, ever. And, neither did Mom; she has always been his devoted care giver. One of Dad’s fondest accomplishments was building a 12 x 20 porch on the Pleasant Pond Camp for $1.17; he salvaged everything but a few nails! He was frugal; which over the years enabled Mom and Dad to raise five kids, have a camp, vacations to Florida; and happily winter in Florida from the Fall of 1986 through the Spring of 2014. For many, many years, Dad and Mom played Michigan Rummy nearly every Saturday night with Family and Friends. Pancake Sundays were a regular event at Dad’s house for all the kids, grands; sometimes to include aunts, uncles and cousins! Dad never sat down until everyone was fed! Dad was a quiet man and always sought out the people he thought needed a kind word. He loved children and felt especially successful if he got them to go to sleep in his arms. Dad had a ready smile and a good sense of humor – he had to have with 27+ direct descendants! Clarence is survived by his wife of nearly 64 years, Marilyn Parkhurst Sirois. Their Five Children and spouses: Deanne Lavallee and Russell Charette; Mike and Sally Sirois; Janet and Steven Downes, Margie and Lynn Scott, David and Tammy Sirois. Ten Grandchildren and spouses : Karen (Lavallee) & Greg Murphy, Vinnie & Colleen Lavallee, Michelle (Lavallee) & Ben King; Holly (Sirois) & Brian Murray, Alice Sirois, Benjamin & Samantha Sirois; James and Kelsea Downes, Dylan Sirois, Gabrielle Sirois and Emma Sirois. Seven Great Grandchildren: Thomas and Oliver Murphy, Keira Lavallee, Arletta and Evelyn King; Paige and Parker Gagnon. Sister and In-laws: Mona (Sirois) & Lucien Berube, Lucien Labbe, Thelma Sirois, Connie and Edwin Barba, Kathie and Dick Chapman, Richard and Janet Parkhurst, Nashly Parkhurst and Patricia (Parkhurst) Schneyda along with several nieces and nephews. Clarence was pre-deceased by his Parents, Sisters and Spouses: Corrine (Sirois) and Charlie Gilbert, Connie (Sirois) and Larry Pare, Theresa (Sirois) and Larry Lambert, and Angela Labbe; Brothers and spouse: Pete (Leo) and Maxine Sirois, and Bertrand Sirois; Sons-in-law: Colin Hubbard and Thom Lavallee; as well as, Marilyn’s Family: Harold Parkhurst, Sandra (Parkhurst) Oakes, Helen and Chet Farrington, Sonny and Lorraine Rowe. Special thanks goes to Bertha Sirois, who was the first to assist and is still helping our Family with home, shopping and appointments; and Uncle Lou Labbe, who has generously taken Dad and Mom to appointments and checked on their house through the years. Also, each of the Bridges Home Care Ladies, especially Amy, who was with them much of the time; Androscoggin Hospice Care, Holly House and the many folks who attended to Dad’s needs; and Maine Veterans Home Staff - a wonderful facility –with an exceptionally caring, compassionate, and always friendly staff. Visiting hours will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, at Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church Street, Augusta. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 22, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Church, 75 Northern Avenue, Augusta. Immediately following will be Military Honors at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. Pall Bearers: Michael Sirois, David Sirois, Lynn Scott, Greg Murphy, Vincent Lavallee, Benjamin Sirois, Dylan Sirois, and James Downes. In lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to the Augusta Food Bank, 9 Summer Street, Augusta, Maine 04330. Dad’s greatest joy was feeding people – especially chocolate cookies for the kids! Memories, condolences, photos, and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com