Reverend Merlyn ETHIER

ETHIER, Reverend (Lawrence) Merlyn Priest of the Diocese of Pembroke Parish Priest of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Astorville, Ontario and Chairman of the Council of Priests for the Diocese of Pembroke. At North Bay General Hospital on Tuesday February 17, 2004, at the age of 64 years following a brief illness. Father Ethier was born in Westmeath, Ontario on November 25, 1939, the son of the late Lawrence Ethier and Louise Chevrier. His life was greatly enriched as a son of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, LaPasse, Ontario and through the education he received at R.R. #1 Westmeath, LaPasse and St. Columba's High School,. Pembroke. Loving brother of Alda (George Sniderhan) London, ON, Dillon (late Doreen) Shelburne, ON, Denzil (Mona) LaPasse, Carl (Marjorie) Toronto, Arlene (Victor Lacroix) Pembroke, Gwen Devine, Nepean, Philip (Dawna) Mississauga and Melvin (Debbie) Kanata. Uncle of many nephews and nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces as well as many cousins. Nephew of Mrs. Ida McGuire, Pembroke and Rose Chevrier, Ottawa. Following secondary school graduation, her entered St. Peter's Seminary, London, Ontario, in training for the diocesan priesthood. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1965 by Most Reverend William J. Smith at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, LaPasse. Following ordination to the priesthood Father Ethier generously and selflessly served as assistant at Saint Alphonsus Parish, Chapeau, Paroisse St-Pierre, Fort-Coulonge and St. Theresa Parish, Temiscaming. Early in his priestly career he began studies in summer programs at Laurentian University, Sudbury & St. Paul University, Ottawa in the field of catechetics. Fr. Ethier also served as assistant at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Renfrew and eventually as assistant at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Renfrew. It was at this time that he began a long and distinguished career of service at St. Joseph's High School, Renfrew where he was a teacher, chaplain and friend to many over a span of 19 years. Father Ethier is remembered as a faithful and dedicated priest who supported and guided not only many hundreds of students but also the staff of the high school. His service and leadership was evident and appreciated during many challenging years when the high school had yet to receive full funding. Father Ethier also served as a dedicated spiritual leader to the Catholic Prayer Group in Renfrew and to the Charismatic Prayer Group of the Diocese of Pembroke. Father Ethier was pastor of St. James Parish, Portage-du-Fort, and of St. Elizabeth Parish, Vinton. He undertook studies at St. Paul University and completed a Master's degree in Theology, St. Paul University, Ottawa. He served as parish priest of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Campbell's Bay, Quebec, Immaculate Conception Parish, Bryson and Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish, AStorville where he has faithfully served up to the time of his illness last Fall. He was also chaplain to the Knights of Columbus Council #6664, Corbeil, Ontario. Well loved and respected by his brother priests, Father Ethier served them not only as Chairman of the Council of Priests, but also as Director of the Ministry to Priests Program and a member of the Clergy Fund board of directors. He will lie in state at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Astorville, on Thursday, February 19 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., and Friday February 20 beginnning at 9:30 a.m. until the Concelebrated Mass of the Resurrection with Most Reverend Richard W. Smith, Bishop of Pembroke, at 10:30 a.m. with and for his parishioners of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Astorville. Solemn translation following the liturgy to St. Columbkille Cathedral, Pembroke where he will be waked on Friday from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday February 21 from 9:00 a.m. until the Concelebrated Mass of the Resurrection with Most Rev. Richard W. Smith, Bishop of Pembroke, at 10:30 a.m. Spring Interment Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery, LaPasse. In memoriam donations to St. Thomas Aquinas Church Fund, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery Memorial Fund or The Canadian Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated. Funeral arrangements entrusted to McGuinty Funeral Home, North Bay and Murphy Funeral Home, Pembroke.