Philip Marcellin Aucoin

Biography:

I'm Marcellin's daughter (Georgina) and am writing what I remember about my dad. He was age 35 when I was born and lived until age 59 (when he died of a heart attack). Therefore, I've known him for 24 years (from 1948 to 1973). I remember dad being the school janitor when I was young and us helping him with the cleaning every night after school. He was a hard worker and we learned to be the same. We used to go berry picking with him regularly but only for short periods of time. Dad was a great handyman - as school janitor, he learned to use the tools in the industrial training lab to do shelvings and tables for teachers. He also did repairs and renovations in our house. I remember him changing the archway from the kitchen to the living room from one side of the house to the other, one night when mom was out playing cards. He also did handy work for family and friends. No task seemed impossible for dad – I remember a picture frame he did, for a 1st Communion certificate, which had about 12 screws, on the face of the certificate, to hold it together. Sociable – dad used to visit relatives (uncle Hubert & grandparents) and friends (Leo a Marcellin) almost every night; and - dad was always ready to receive visitors (like relatives from Halifax and the United States). That's how we got to know Alcide (G3) and his son Jimmy from Massachusetts, as well as Marie Jane (G2) and her children from Halifax. Very competitive – I was a great student and used to compete with Rachel for 1st place. Dad's first question when I came home with my report card was whether I came 1st or 2nd,, although it usually only meant one point in the difference, like 98 & 99. Dad didn't like antiques – out with the old and in with the new. Dad liked to decorate outside for Christmas. Dad loved cars and driving – taking me back and forth to university was no problem and in any kind of weather. Alcoholism – dad gradually and slowly slipped into alcoholism and had a hard time fighting the demons. I don't remember his drinking very much as he was sober for at least 20 of the 24 years I knew him. The parish priest helped him tremendously. Generous – dad kept his two siblings (Marie Rose & Dominique) who were mentally challenged and who didn't get along particularly well with each other. He died before they did and then mom took over. I remember dad being smart with numbers in doing something like a budget - writing down how much he would spend at Christmas, by category, for example. Dad did volunteer and community work – sang in church choir, was fireman, drove around our village every week, with a loudspeaker he had installed on the roof of his car, to advertise the church bingo. Great provider – we never went without.