We have been abundantly blessed with friends and neighbors who donate to our cause. We feel that those who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to Loaves and Fishes deserve special recognition. We will share their stories here.

Jacqueline A. Morin

One of the first volunteers to help Sister Lucille with the Sabattus Food Pantry and be on the board of Loaves and Fishes was Jacqueline A. Morin. Born June 24, 1929, the eldest of 6 children to William and Ida Ayotte, lived her childhood days in Lewiston and graduated top of her class at Lewiston High School in 1946. Met the love of her life, Robert M. Morin at a dance the summer she graduated and married him on July 3rd, 1948. Worked at Bates Mill office after graduation. Had their first born, Robert M. Morin Jr. on June 12, 1949, went back to work at Bates and then had 2 more children, Ronald and Donald, on May 2nd 1951 at which point she was a stay at home Mom. On October 28, 1952, had their 4th child, a girl, Dorothy. At that point, we lived in Lewiston, at 174 Ash St., a building owned by Jackie's grandparents. In 1953, she ran for Mrs. Maine, but because she would of had to leave her family to go to New York City for a week, gave up the contest, always putting her family first. Moved to Sabattus, in September of 1955 at 6 Lake St., Sabattus and continued to be a stay at home Mom until her youngest child Dot started school in September of 1957 at Our Lady of the Rosary, at which point she became a teacher at Our Lady of the Rosary School. Jackie was always involved in the school system and was instrumental in helping to get the Maxwell Gill Hall built. While teaching at Our Lady, she had her fifth child, Louise born on July 12th, 1959. Bob worked two jobs to support his family, so when September 1959 came along, she brought Louise to school and continued her teaching career. Mom and Dad started the school lunch program at the Maxwell Gill hall and also were Members of the Women and Men club and did Bean Suppers and also started Bingo at the hall to raise money for the School. Mom was President of the Women's club for years and probably gave up that position about 20 or so years ago. She was also a member of the choir for years and later on was a lector and then Eucharistic Minister. Her youngest, Linda, was born on June 16, 1965. In June of 1966, she went to work for Cote Crane and Rigging and retired from there in 1988 to take care of her grandchildren. During they lives in Sabattus, Bob and Jackie were always involved with doing things for their church community and Dad could be found at the convent, when he wasn't working one of his 2 jobs, helping Sister Monique Desrochers with chores for the animals and gardening. Mom was one of the first volunteers for Sister Lucille at the Sabattus Food Pantry, going to buy food and helping deliver it to the pantry and also distributing the food at the pantry. She was also on the Loaves and Fishes Board of Directors and helped out with fundraisers. In February of 2003, Bob was confined to home, so she had to give up a lot of the volunteering to stay home with Bob. He passed away on May 3rd, 2005 at which point, she started volunteering for Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice. Both of my parents always gave so much of themselves in helping out at the Convent, but were always well taken care of by the Sisters. The Domincan Sisters have always been there for them and the one thing that sticks in my mind the most, was the Christmas that Dad had been laid off from both jobs and had no money for gifts for us and the Sisters came over with a truckload of boxes the week before Christmas and loaded the living room with tons of boxes, something for everyone including clothes, toys and food. Having raised 6 kids, taking care of 11 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, and knitting mittens and hats and sweaters for everyone, including 12 great grandchildren and 2 step great-grandchildren, Mom started getting tired in June of 2007 and in September was diagnosed with an aneurysm and also kidney cancer and spent the remainder of her life at the hospital in Portland from Thanksgiving day till January of 2008. She went to Marshwood Nursing Home and had many trips to the hospital and in February of 2008, was told that they was nothing the doctors could do for her, and asked what she wanted to do. At that point, she stopped all medications and wanted to come came home to do her final journey. We took her home on February 28th to grant her wish, as she had done so much for us, how could we not. The Dominican Sisters offered to spend time and help out, but Mom's time home was not long, and she passed away on March 6, 2008. I am sure she is looking down on all of us and is doing her thing in heaven beside the Man of her Life. And this was her life here on Earth, and now she is preparing a place for all of us when we go to meet her when our eternal life begins.

Mom and Dad taught us to be kind and giving, and now we are continuing their work here and raising our children and teaching them the things they taught us. Louise and her son Kevin have become volunteers for Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice, trying to fill the shoes that mom wore.

Write-up by Jackie's loving daughter, Dot, who is definitely also trying to fill her Mom's shoes. The Dominican Sisters are grateful to Dot, her siblings, and the whole Morin family.