Father Marcel G. Chouinard

Father Marcel G. Chouinard, 79, of Waterville, passed away Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011 at Mt. St. Joseph’s in Waterville. He was born in Lewiston, ME on Oct. 26, 1931, the son of Georges and Eva (Maillet) Chouinard. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1956 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, ME by Bishop Daniel Feeney and after spending 55 years in the priesthood, he retired in June 2001. In his 55 years of priesthood, Fr. Marcel served as an Assistant at Holy Rosary, Caribou: Ste Marie, Lewiston: as Chaplain at St. Anne’s Indian Mission, Princeton: as Pastor at St. Agatha, St. Agatha: Holy Rosary, Sabattus and St. Francis, Greene: St. Athanasius and St. John, Rumford: Our Lady Queen of Peace, Boothbay Harbor: Notre Dame de Lourdes, Skowhegan. He also served as Chaplain in the Me National Guard and U.S Army Chaplain at Fort Campbell, Kentucky: Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and the Daughters of Isabella.

He was predeceased by his parent’s , Georges and Eva (Maillet) Chouinard, a brother, Fernand and a sister, Carmen. Survivors include four nephews: Lee Chouinard and his wife Frances of Bonita Sprins, FL: Peter Chouinard and his wife Karen of Portland, ME: Michael Chouinard and his wife Helen of San Antonio, Texas; and Wayne Chouinard of New York, N.Y.

Reception of the body and wake will be at the Notre Dame de Lourdes Church of Christ the King Parish, Water st., Skowhegan from 10:00a.m until 2:00p.m., on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00p.m at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church of Christ the King Parish. The Most Reverend Richard J. Malone, Th.D., Bishop of Portland, will be the principal celebrant of the Mass of Christian Burial; the very Reverend Paul A. Plante, Vicar for Priests, and members of Fr. Chouinard’s Emmaus Group are designated concelebrants; and Reverend Maurice Morin will be the homilist. Committal Prayers will be held at the Calvary Cemetery, Skowhegan, immediately following the Mass of Christian Burial. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Father Marcel’s name may be made to the Clergy Pension Fund of the Diocese of Portland, PO Box 11559, Portland, ME 04104-7559

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Smart & Edwards funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, ME 04976. Condolences may be made at www.smartandedwardsfh.com