AUBURN – Maurice J. “Mo” Begin, 78, of 33 Martin Drive, Lewiston, died of cancer on Friday, Sept. 22, at the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice.

He was born in Lowell, Mass., on Oct. 18, 1927, the son of Albini Begin and Rose Rioux Begin. At the age of 7, his family moved to Lewiston to work and raise their family. He attended Lewiston schools and served in the U.S. Army with the 49th Ordinance Medium Maintenance Co. during the occupation of Japan at the close of World War II.

Upon his return he began his career-long employment at Knapp Shoe Co., where he worked as an edge trimmer for 37 years.

On Nov. 24, 1955, he married Constance Dionne, celebrating their 50th anniversary on Thanksgiving Day 2005. They are members of Holy Cross Parish.

He was a life-member of the Knights of Columbus Council 106, Third Degree of Lewiston. He was an avid golfer, who especially enjoyed playing with the senior league at Prospect Hill Golf Club. Over the years, he was a member at Summit Springs, Apple Valley and Prospect Hill Golf Clubs. During his retirement he wintered in Florida with his wife and enjoyed fishing and golfing.

He is survived by his wife, Connie of Lewiston; one son, Daniel Begin and his wife, Susan Robitaille Begin, of Lewiston; two daughters, Catherine Begin Foley and her husband, Sean Foley, of Biddeford and Pamela Boudreau Kemp and her husband, Alexander Kemp, of Cumberland; seven grandchildren, Priscilla Begin of Washington, D.C., U.S. Army Specialist Patrick Begin and his wife, Jillian Madore Begin, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., Michelle Begin of Lewiston, Kelly Boudreau of Colchester, Vt., James Boudreau of Cumberland and Keenan Foley and Rory Foley, both of Biddeford; and one brother, Richard Begin and his wife, Janet, of Union City, Calif.

He was predeceased by a sister, Georgette J. Begin; and a brother, Ronald Begin.