Maurice "Moe" A. Desrosiers, 87, passed away on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital with family and a priest from his church at his side.

He courageously battled Alzheimer's disease while being faithfully cared for at his nearby home in Chapin, SC, by his beloved wife of 66 years, Rose Desrosiers, and supported by his eldest son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Virginia Desrosiers, who live down the road with his grand dog, Teddy, who brought him great joy.

Moe is also survived by his sons Dr. Stephen Desrosiers (Sandi) of Sidney, ME and Jeffrey Desrosiers (Paula) of Winslow, ME; grandchildren, Kimmie Kern (Jake) of Seattle, WA, Rachael Bean (Caleb) of Sidney, ME, Sarah Desrosiers of Waterville, ME and Bethany Desrosiers of Portland, ME; great-granddaughter, Genevieve Bean of Sidney, ME; sister, Claire Gosselin and goddaughter Nancy Cassidy of Bradford, MA; and lifetime friend, Yvonne Arlequeeuw of Lawrence, MA.

He was predeceased by his sisters, Germaine, Violet, Rolande, Noella, Julie, and Theresa; and goddaughter Valerie Earnshaw.

Born on March 9, 1936 in Lawrence, MA; he was the son of the late Rosilda L'Abee Desrosiers and stepfather Charles Deschene and he was the youngest child with seven older sisters whom he always remembered fondly.

Moe was a proud graduate of Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, MA, where he was an outstanding football player. He later returned as assistant coach of their varsity football team. He was a longtime member of St. Lucy's Catholic Church in Methuen, MA, where he formed and coached their drill team which marched and performed in local parades and events. Moe also served in the US Naval Reserves and enjoyed hunting.

"Captain Moe" had a long and very rewarding career as a firefighter. He loved serving for 32 years with the Methuen, MA Fire Department with his last 19 years at the Central Fire Station headquarters, while having worked at all their stations over the years. Throughout his service, he was highly respected and held a variety of positions within the department including ambulance attendant and driver, engine driver, training officer and personnel officer, and he rose through the ranks retiring as Captain. He was the Methuen Fire Department's very first union president from 1967 through 1970. In 1972, he received the Firefighter of the Year award and was honored by the MA House of Representatives for performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a small boy rescued from a fire and thereby saving his life.

After retirement in 1997, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, Rose, camping, playing golf, and spending time with family, especially his granddaughters, whom he adored. They also enjoyed spending 15 winters in Osprey, FL, far away from the snow at their son's and daughter-in-law's, Mark's and Virginia's, condo.

Moe was also a first-rate carpenter and all-around handyman and do-it-yourselfer. In fact, after purchasing a fixer-upper starter home for his young family with his wife, Rose, he devoted the better part of his life to working on, improving, expanding, and maintaining it himself, all while working full time at one and two jobs. He literally "made" that house into the "home" that his family grew up in and returned to for family gatherings over the course of 50 years; and they all fondly remember 41 Torino Street and its creator, whom they love dearly.

Moe and Rose moved to Chapin, SC, in 2019 to get away from the snow once and for all and to be near Mark, Virginia, and Teddy for their twilight years. Upon moving, they joined the Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church family where they faithfully attended 8:00 Mass together every Sunday and made many dear friends. Moe also joined Mark as a member of the Men's Club.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Dennis Willey on Wednesday, November 15th, at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Chapin, SC. It will also be livestreamed. A link for online viewing will be shared here. A repast will follow in the Family Life Center. Private inurnment in the Our Lady of the Lake cemetery will be held on December 20th.

Memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church Men's Club or Leeza's Care Connection in Columbia, SC.