Obituary: Ernest Moreau, Janitor at Freeman-Centennial School

Ernest R. Moreau, 75, of New Castle, died Sept. 6, 2013. 

Ernie was born Nov. 10, 1937 in Milford, son of the late Ernest and Catherine (Leary) Moreau.

He spent his childhood summers working at Glen Green Farm, a saddle horse and cattle farm where Ernie fostered his lifelong love of animals.

Ernie worked Wednesdays at the Lincoln County News where co-workers nicknamed him the “good” Ernie. He was more than just a good worker; Ernie was a good listener, good friend, good to animals, and good to his family.

Ernie always showed up early, long before his shift began. He learned to bring his good work ethic to work at an early age. Perhaps it was during the four years Ernie proudly spent in the United States Navy after graduating from Walpole High School. It might have been even earlier. 

Like many young people, Ernie held various jobs until settling on a career with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections/Walpole. He retired in 1993 as a Lieutenant of Cell Block 9, respected by his fellow officers and inmates alike.

Shortly after retirement, Ernie reunited with and then married his soul mate and love of his life, Judi Carlson on Valentine's Day 1994. They dated in their teens and lived together since the mid seventies. Their marriage joined not only their love for each other, but also their combined six children.

Once retired, Ernie (never one to be idle) took a part time job as a janitor at the Freeman-Centennial School in Norfolk. He delighted the children by leaving jokes, poems, and silly questions on the blackboards for them to read in the morning.

Ernie and Judi spent many years vacationing in Maine, where they found and purchased their retirement dream home. They chose the town they grew to love, Newcastle, not because of its proximity to the coast, but because of the wonderful people who lived there. 

In this friendly environment, Ernie continued to blossom in retirement. He swam Thursdays at the Wiscasset Senior Center, worked a little part time, walked the dogs at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, and still had time to keep his yard immaculate. As recently as two weeks prior to his passing, Ernie could be seen putting the finishing touches on his manicured lawn. It was a good time to be retired.

Most days, Ernie’s constant companion was a dog with the unlikely name of Bulldozer. As befitting the humble man, Ernie shortened it to Dozer. Instantly they were inseparable. Every night they would walk and walk and walk some more. During the day they would ride, Ernie in the cab with the radio tuned to an oldies country music station and Dozer safely secured in the bed of the old red truck. Even on cold days Dozer would ride with his beloved master as they completed the business of retirement accompanied by the songs of an old Willie Nelson or less frequently a very young Patsy Cline as she would dispense life’s lessons in song to a good man who already knew the lessons by himself.

One of the lessons Ernie knew by heart was how to love life. A favorite expression of his was, “I’m high on life”, and indeed he was every day. Very few things would bring him down, even just a bit. The death of Dozer was one of those times. It was easy to understand why; he thought of Dozer constantly. Ernie was devastated when he received his terminal diagnosis a year to the day Dozer crossed over the rainbow bridge. 

You could say work was Ernie’s major hobby and it would be true, but he did love to travel, either by bus or by train. He would entertain coworkers retelling the fun he and Judi had on these adventures. One final trip eluded him, however. It was going to be Ernie’s first trip on Amtrak’s Acela Express to New York City then on to Albany for an overnight in a hotel and back to Portland all on the train. He talked about it for two years. Life intervened and the trip was postponed away.

In addition to his wife Judi, Ernie also leaves their children Allison Bickum and her husband Chris of Norfolk, Richard Dill and his wife Carol of Bellingham, Kenneth Moreau of Germantown, MD, Chrissey Loftis and her husband Tony of Wayland, Majliss Brouwer and her husband Jeff of Walpole and Roy Nelson and his wife Kerri of Plainville; his grandchildren Ryan Moreau and his wife Caitlin, Caitlin and Amanda Bickum, Victoria and Taylor Dill, Thomas, Sam, and Erik Nelson, Raymond and Roy Brouwer and Alexandra Loftis; and his great grandaughter Paige Adelle Moreau.

Ernie had a spiritual side that many may have missed. He preferred daily prayers before meals and at bedtime over organized religious services, yet he blessed himself every time he passed a church; every church, any denomination. If you asked him he would share his spiritual beliefs, and if you didn’t he would just quietly live them anyway. A coworker was in the hospital for two days and returned home to find a message on the answering machine that said, “Judi and I included you in our supper prayers.” Nobody understood better that you didn’t need to be in a church to pray. 

Even with 75 years under his belt, most expected Ernie to go on for many more. He swam, walked and was religious in his eating habits- two prunes, a bit of oatmeal and a glass of orange juice after his morning swim. He would talk about the healthy meals Judi would prepare. He couldn’t develop a taste for Kefir, even with Maine blueberries, yet he tried because he knew it was healthy. He led a simple life and deserves a simple yet poignant goodbye.

After a brief illness under the care Molly Baines, RN a wonderful hospice nurse, this good and humble man passed. 

In addition to his wife Judi, Ernie also leaves their children Allison Bickum and her husband Chris of Norfolk, Richard Dill and his wife Carol of Bellingham, Kenneth Moreau of Germantown, MD, Chrissey Loftis and her husband Tony of Wayland, Majliss Brouwer and her husband Jeff of Walpole and Roy Nelson and his wife Kerri of Plainville; his grandchildren Ryan Moreau and his wife Caitlin, Caitlin and Amanda Bickum, Victoria and Taylor Dill, Thomas, Sam, and Erik Nelson, Raymond and Roy Brouwer and Alexandra Loftis; and his great grandaughter Paige Adelle Moreau.

Visitation was held at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Ernie’s name may be made Miles & St. Andrews Home Care and Hospice, or to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.