Maurice J. Cardin
March 19, 1932 — November 7, 2016
Maurice J Cardin, 84, of 556 Central Street, Leominster died peacefully at home on Monday morning, November 7, 2016. He was born in Winchendon on March 19, 1932, son of the late Albert and Mathilda (Ricard) Cardin of Winchendon Springs.
He graduated from Murdock High School in 1950. Following graduation, Maurice served in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War. He lived in Winchendon for the first 70 years of his life.
Maurice starting working at the First National grocery store in Winchendon while still in high school and moved to the Gardner store when the Winchendon market closed. He worked for First National until the chain closed. He then work for L.S. Starrett Company in Athol, where he applied his talent for precision work to the final fitting and inspection of high precision calipers.
Maurice had a good eye and steady hands for balancing and aligning things at work and, throughout his life, he contributed his time and talent to the DIY projects of family and friends. Maurice was also a generous host who enjoyed gathering loved ones around an exuberantly laden table.
Maurice’s appreciation for music ranged from classical through pop classics from the 1950s, and he was a talented improvisational piano player. Like his father, Maurice loved cars, dogs, travel and his mother and sisters. He is survived by his sisters, Alice LaPointe and Annette Duvarney, of Winchendon. His sisters, Beatrice May and Elaine Cardin, predeceased him.
Maurice, in accordance with his wishes, was remembered and laid to rest in his hometown at the Veteran’s Cemetery on November 10, 2016. Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home directed the arrangements.
His family would like to thank the Gardner Visiting Nurses Association for the care and support their Hospice staff provided to Maurice and the family. Maurice was determined to stay in his home and Gardner Visiting Nurses’ hospice division made this possible. The family is especially grateful for the exceptional care and love that Maurice received from Sue Lowthers, Hospice Nurse, and Dr. John Harrington.
It is fitting for the young man voted most courteous by his Murdock graduating class of 1950 that the last words he spoke were, “thank you.”