Joseph Florian Quirion

Waterville-On November 30, 2014, Joseph Florian Quirion, 91, died peacefully at Inland Hospital, exactly eight weeks after the death of his wife on October 5th. On that difficult October day, he held the hand of his “Darling Julie” and asked God to take him too so that they could be together again.

Ten years ago Joe suffered a spinal cord injury following surgery, but always managed to rally after many life threatening complications, so that he could keep a watchful eye on his wife of 66 years, who was in failing health and had dementia.

Joe lived a life dedicated to serving God, family, country and community.

He was born on January 2, 1923, in Winslow, Maine. He was one of seven children and the only son of Osias and Alma (Rodrigue) Quirion, French immigrants from Canada.

He attended St. John the Baptist Elementary School and graduated from Winslow High School in 1941, where he played baseball, basketball and football all four years. He especially enjoyed football and at age 91 could still remember the score of the last Winslow-Waterville game he played in his senior year.

Since a very early age Joe was a hard worker. At age nine, he chopped off one of his fingers and severely injured another while cutting wood to help support his family. While he was a student, he ran several miles a day to his grandparent’s farm so that he could help them with their chores and care for the animals. He did this twice a day, before and after school. When he left Winslow to begin his career, he continued to send money home to help with the support and education of his sisters. Until the day he died, Joe continued to put the needs of others before his own.

With the advent of World War II, Joe tried to enlist in the service, but was rejected because of his hand injury, so he joined the Merchant Marines. He considered himself fortunate to have survived his war experience, with only a case of cholera, as the ships he served on were easy targets as they navigated enemy infested waters, delivering oil to the troops.

He graduated from the U.S. Maritime Officers School at Fort Trumbull, New London, Connecticut and continued as a Maritime Engineer until returning to Maine with Julie prior to the birth of their twins in 1951.

In addition to a long career at Scott Paper Company, he also owned and operated Quirion Housekeeping Camps on McGrath Pond in Oakland for over 30 years. He renovated six camps, built two new ones and maintained the property himself.

When he retired in his sixties, he took on a new project and built a log home. He enjoyed working with wood and stone and being outdoors.

He was an avid sportsman and lover of nature and, well into his seventies, would spend hours walking through his woodlots, tending to his trees and observing the wildlife.

Joe also had a keen interest in the stock market and spent many nights burning the midnight oil reading the Wall Street Journal and various business reports. Even his brokers were amazed at his wealth of knowledge and understanding of the markets.

Although Joe did well with his investments, he felt it was far more important that he lead a life doing good. He rarely spent money on himself, but was quick to write a check for the church, catholic school, a charity or someone in need.

He took an active part in raising his two grandchildren, attending their school and athletic events and helped fund their education at MIT and Cornell University.

In 2004, Joe’s active life came to a sudden halt when he became completely paralyzed following surgery, losing even his ability to swallow. He did not become angry, bitter or depressed, but rather relied on his faith, his humor and never give up attitude. He was hospitalized for an entire year and when he was not engaged in his own exercises he would go about the spinal cord unit in his motorized wheelchair encouraging the other patients to eat, get out of bed and participate in their care.

After a year of intense therapy, he returned home in 2005, able to feed himself and even walk several yards with a walker.

Over the past few years, he hired caregivers so that he and Julie could remain together at home. He encouraged his caregivers to bring their pets, children, grandchildren and friends to work with them. As a result, the house became a home which was again filled with love and laughter. Many of his caregivers thought of Joe as a second father or grandfather and not just an employer.

Joe was a member of Corpus Christi parish, the American Legion, Knights of Columbus and the Small Woodlot Owners Association.

He was predeceased by his wife, Julie Rydzy Quirion; sisters: Theresa Loubier, Palmyra Frost, Estelle Pelletier and Delores Pelletier.

He has two surviving sisters, Yolanda Hale of Vernon, CT, and Cecile Bart of South Windsor, CT. Also surviving are his three children: Kenneth, Kathleen and Joseph of Winslow, Maine and two grandchildren: William Fedus of San Diego, CA and Kathryn Fedus of New York City, NY.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Kamlesh Bajpai and all the staff who cared for him at home and in hospitals in Maine and Massachusetts. We are especially grateful to the physical and occupational therapists who never gave up and worked against all odds to get Joe back on his feet again.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s memory to Food For the Poor, 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33073 or www.foodforthepoor.org.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. John’s Catholic Church in Winslow on Saturday, December 27th at 11:00 AM. Immediately following the Liturgy, there will be a celebration of life reception at St. John’s Catholic School.

“Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”

Matthew 25:21

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Veilleux Funeral Home, 8 Elm Street, Waterville, ME 04901. www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com