1933 – 2004

AUGUSTA – Raymond Arthur Delorme, 70, of Parkwood Drive, passed away Sunday, Feb. 15, after a brief and brave fight with pancreatic cancer.

“Ray” was born on Dec. 26, 1933, in Lewiston, the son of Wilfred Delorme and Marie (Poulin) Delorme. He is a graduate of Bentley College, and returned to Maine, in 1973 to become controller of Kirschner Foods in Augusta.

In 1992, he retired from working as an auditor for the State of Maine. After retirement, however, his work did not end.

A Rotarian, he became an active volunteer for many different organizations in this community.

For many years, he was the bookkeeper for St. Mary’s, where he was a lector and eucharistic minister. He often brought Holy Communion to home-bound people in the community. He also was very active with RCIA.

He was always quick to help, and as Father Mike Gendreau often said, “if you need something done, call Ray Delorme.”

He also volunteered as a bookkeeper for many years for the Diocese of Portland. He was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, both here in Maine and while living in Hanover, Mass., during the 1960’s.

He was a very active member of the Catholic Charities of Maine, and was a member on the board of the Chestnut Community Credit Union.

For almost five years, he was the president of the Cecilia Club, a local group which raises money to grant scholarships to young, aspiring and talented musicians.

He was very well-respected for the caring he gave as a Hospice Volunteer for the last three years here in Augusta. He also volunteered his accounting expertise for six years as the Treasurer for Maine Right to Life. In fact, he was recently awarded for his unrelenting efforts at the Hands-Around-the-Capital rally held at St. Mary’s School on Jan. 17.

Whether in a crowd, or at a family gathering, you could always count on him to gather everyone together for a toast, or to make an announcement. He will be best remembered for being a devout Catholic, whose faith followed him everywhere.

He not only spoke the words, he lived by them. A great father, Pepere, Grampy, husband, neighbor, and friend, he leaves behind a large and loving family who will always miss him, and an even wider community of faith that will never forget him.

He is survived by his second wife of almost 14 years, Constance Crawford Delorme; his sons, David Delorme and wife Patricia of Bolton, Conn., Tim Delorme and wife Angela of Auburn, and daughter, Suzanne Delorme Nason and husband Robert of Saco; he also has five stepchildren, James Crawford of Augusta, Mary Petrini of Sydney, Carole Crawford and husband Chris Morrison of Portland, Jane Bureau and husband Tom of Litchfield, and Eileen Hussey and husband Richard of Winthrop; one brother, Benoit Delorme and his wife Helen of LacEtchamin, Canada; one sister, Bernice Powers of Santa Anna, Calif.; together, he and Connie have 19 grandchildren.