Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

René Luc Morin was born to Claire Ida and Joseph Morin in 1932, in Quebec, Canada. He was raised in the farming community of Ham-Nord with 12 siblings. His father worked as a farmer, while his mother was a homemaker. René had a good childhood and learned responsibility. All of the kids had chores and helped with the duties on the farm. When he was 7-years-old, he started building his own sugar shack to make maple syrup. It was a shack that would last another six decades, until a tree fell on it. From a young age, he was industrious, creative and learned so much from his father about making things. He was an active child and enjoyed playing a little hockey. In school, he was a good student and his first language was always French. As he came from a large Catholic family, at the age of 12, René was sent to the seminary to become a brother and a teacher. He lived at the seminary full-time and earned a good education.

A local hockey game changed his life when he met a lovely lady by the name of Marie-Claire. She was watching the game with her sister when they met at the game. As they had a lot in common, he asked her out and the couple dated for the next five years. When he was 26 and she was 24, the couple married in a church service in her hometown of Asbestos, Quebec, on August 30, 1958. While traveling to Atlantic City for their honeymoon, the couple met another newlywed couple, Ann and Nelson Raymond. The two couples were from the same town but did not know each other. They became good friends and kept in touch for the next 50 years.

Professionally, René worked as a machinist. With job opportunities and a willingness to try anything, the couple moved north to the town of Schefferville, close to the Arctic Circle. When their first son, Denis, was born, the doctor told the couple that 70 below was not conducive to raising a child and they needed a warmer climate. Heeding the doctor's advice, they set out for Arizona to start a new life, but they never made it there. After visiting Rene's brother, Marius in Hawthorne, California they eventually settled in Southern California as they found the climate suitable for Denis.

René and Claire's second son, Richard, was born in Southern California. Their family was complete with two wonderful sons. Meanwhile, René's professional skills were in high demand and he continued to find work as a machinist. He also worked in the toy industry and designed how to make the toys for Eldon Industries. In 1974, René started MIT Incorporated, his own successful business also known as Morin Industrial Technology.

As a father, René was wonderful. Both René and Claire spoke French at home and taught their children the language. René was always very supportive of his sons and taught them a strong work ethic as he led by example. Denis started working in the garage at the age of 12, learning from his father. When Richard played hockey, René attended his games. During the 70s, he liked watching hockey on TV and the family enjoyed season tickets watching the Kings play hockey. Richard always knew when his father was watching him play, because he could smell the cigarettes in the hockey rink. René also took the family on amazing camping vacations by driving a big blue Chrysler Station Wagon. It really was the Titanic of cars and René mounted a storage box on the roof to hold their camping supplies. The family drove across country staying at KOA campgrounds for great family vacations.

Throughout the years, René and Claire loved getting together with extended family. They traveled to Quebec to visit family every summer. René made it a quick drive, traveling 1,000 miles a day. He'd drive without a map 3,000 miles across country as the only driver. Those times spent with the entire extended family were absolutely wonderful and memorable. Coming from a large family with so many siblings, he loved family gatherings. René enjoyed holidays and time spent at their home in the desert and their home in Quebec. He purchased the 240-acre property in Quebec from his mother in the 70s and turned it into a tree plantation with hundreds of thousands of pine trees. Maple trees also grew wild. He dredged swampland and turned the swamps into two beautiful lakes and he'd drive his Cadillac throughout the land on the roadways he created. He made trails all over the property and built a bridge over the creek. The property takes 12 hours to mow all of the green grass, but it is an absolute retreat for the entire family.

With many favorites in life, René liked country music and songs by Johnny Cash. He liked television shows such as Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Andy Griffith Show and The Three Stooges. He was self-educated by watching the history of great wars on TV specials. More recently, he followed current events on his favorite station, Fox News. In his house, he was on a first name basis with Sean Hannity. René was opinionated and independent in his thinking. He was never shy about sharing his beliefs or opinions. He liked to laugh and loved telling old stories about his family and growing up in a small town. His favorite restaurant was El Torito for the brunch and at home, he liked eating steak and potatoes. He always liked his steak well done. René was a coffee drinker, who drank coffee all day long. His favorite color was blue and he loved wearing plaid and flannel shirts every day. He loved pets and while the kids always had pets growing up, ten years ago for his birthday, Denis and Angie bought him a Yorkshire Terrier. Rene named the female dog, Freddie. One of his passions was for cars, especially his numerous Cadillacs. He also loved his 1962 T-Bird.

Known as Grandpa to his grandchildren, he was so proud of all of his grandkids. He always gave a treat of gum to his grandchildren after dinner because he always chewed gum since he quit smoking in 1986. In fact, he put his cigarette out as the paramedics were arriving to help him after a heart attack. He had an out of body experience and he saw himself in two places. Given a second chance, he went on to live another 23 years and never took another smoke.

In the 90s, he and Claire proudly earned their U.S. citizenship, but they retained their love of Quebec and pride in their heritage, always staying in touch with their families. While René came from a family of thirteen, Claire came from a family of eight. Their extended family was a big part of their lives.

René and Claire celebrated all of their wedding anniversaries except for the one they forgot. They were reminded of the date when their relatives showed up as a surprise to help them celebrate. Last year, the family held a wonderful 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Quebec and it was perfect to share the same event with the newlywed friends who they met on their honeymoon 50 years ago.

René always believed he would beat the latest challenge and he always wanted to be home with his family. When he was at the hospital, René told his family, "I love you," in English. He talked to his brother by phone and when the chaplain came to visit he thanked him. In his final moments, he was surrounded by his wife and sons as he passed away peacefully. René will be remembered as a very intelligent man, whose family was always his priority. His family will miss everything about him now. Claire will miss his companionship and partnership every day. Richard will miss his good, solid advice that saved him from learning things the hard way. Denis will miss his father's stories and hearing about his incredible family history. With René's strong beliefs in God and Heaven, the family believes he is at peace.

René was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings Edgar, Rachel, and Denise. He is loved and remembered by his wife Marie-Claire; son Denis and daughter-in-law Angie; son Richard and daughter-in-law Kathy; grandchildren Brooke, Laurel, Brandon, Shaye, and Sean; step-grandchildren (Kathy's) Kaitlin, Ashley and Cameron Robison; siblings Maurice, Bernadette, Jean-Paul, Marius, Bruno, Mariette, Gaston, Odette, and Jacques; extended relatives and friends all over the world.

Dearest Dad,

My father, my best man, my mentor or my best friend. However I describe you or whatever title I apply one thing remains constant, you have always been there for me. Whether I needed a pat on the back or a kick in the butt I could always count on you to know what was required. Thank you for your love, guidance and positive influence in so much of my life. Thank you for the love and support you shared with our family. I cherish the time we had together and will always miss you. I'm sure someday when it is my time you'll again be there to help guide my way. Until then rest well. I love you.

Proud to be your son,
Denis

Dear René,

I will miss many of your idiosyncrasies' and mannerisms…like our greetings at work when I would ask you "How are you doing today?" Your answer was either comme-ci comme-ca (with one hand motioning this way and that way) or your other answer would be, "Like the weather". Every once in a while, I'd come back with "Then you feel pretty good today because it's a nice, sunny day!" Another is the way you would shrug your shoulders and do the lip moue' when asked a question you were noncommittal to.

I want to thank you for being a wonderful father-in-law. You have always been very kind and generous to me and I appreciated that very much. Most of all, I want to thank you for my husband, Denis. Because of you and your strong sense in family and tradition, he has become a very loving, caring, attentive, devoted and dedicated husband and father. Your traditions will continue to live on through your sons and your grandchildren.

I am thankful I had you in my life for 30 years. God Bless You.

Much love, your daughter-in-law Angie

Dear Grandpa,　

I'm sorry I didn't get to spend more time with you than I did. I just didn't know what to say or how to react to everything. Before I went back to base you told me to do my best and I told you I'll see you later, because part of me really hoped you would. I hoped you would get better and live to see your great-grandchildren. Instead I should've said I love you. But I will tell you Grandpa I will do my best. I will not be content with my life until I know I have done everything in my power to do my best and make you proud. There is nothing more I want in this world than to know that you are proud of my accomplishments and know that I did my best to bring honor to you and the rest of the family. It is with great sadness that I say these words now when the timing is so wrong. I love you Grandpa and I will miss you very much. May you fly with angels and watch over us all.

Your Grandson
PFC Brandon Joseph Morin United States Marine Corps

Dear Grandpa,

Thank you for everything you did for me through the years…from birthday parties to graduations, you were always an important part of my life. I will miss you more than I can express. I will always remember your calling me, Laurel & Shaye "Ma Belle" and how you would offer the grandchildren gum after each meal. I also have other special memories of you that I will keep with me forever. Hopefully, they have the Spearmint Extra Gum and a big comfy rocking chair where you are. I promise to make you proud while you watch over me and the other grandchildren. I miss you and love you so much.

Brooke

Dear Grandpa,

Thank you for being such a good influence on the family. I think back to our many memories and I will treasure them forever…like how your face would light up whenever we came around. Even at the end, you would always seem surprised and happy when we visited. You meant a lot to us. I know we will all meet again and I can't wait to hear more of your awesome stories…the ones you told my Dad Denis, and those, which he raves about! They sound amazing! I love you and miss you.

Laurel

Grandpa,

What can I say? You've been around my whole life, and I am so grateful for that. I wish I would have had more time with you here, but I know you're having loads of fun in heaven. I want you to know that I love you so much and will miss you forever. I can't explain in words what I want to tell you, and in a way, I think you already know what I want to say. I know that this world will never be the same without you, but that just means heaven is now that much better. I love you grandpa, with all of my heart. I love you so much.

Love, Shaye

Chere Mon Oncle René:

Our last conversation on Father's Day will stay with me forever. I love you so much, and you have meant so much to me throughout my life. Your strength, tenacity, loyalty and love are something I will cherish and remember. You were, in essence, my second father, and I felt like I could count on you at all times. When my parents moved back east and I stayed in Los Angeles to go to university, I know that they felt more secure knowing that you and Ma Tante Claire were close by watching over me and making sure all was well. You're a part of my heart, a part of my family, and I will miss you always.

Love Always,
Boo-grin (Sonia)