Ralph was born in Biddeford, Maine on December 26, 1939 a son of the late Raoul C. Petrin, Sr. and Marie Reine (Goulet) Petrin. He attended elementary school at St Andre, and high school at St Louis School, both of Biddeford. While there he spent many years as a member of the Boy Scouts of America. Ralph furthered his education with an associate’s degree in Electronics from SMVTI in 1968. Ralph proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army.
Ralph had a passion for music, especially classical and organ music. This passion followed him his entire life, singing as a member of the St. Martin Church Choir, and at one point serving several semesters singing with the Seacoast Choral Society. Ralph loved fixing things around the house; fixing almost anything that broke. He was especially adept with electronics, and once assembled his own color television. When not singing or fixing things around the house, Ralph could be found relaxing while reading Newsweek or Popular Mechanics. More than anything else, Ralph loved spending time with his family; he especially cherished the time he could spend with his grandchildren.
Ralph is survived by: his loving wife of 53 years, Cecile (Brunelle) Petrin; sons, Daniel Petrin, and Andre Petrin and his wife, Gwen; daughters, Monique Keller, and husband, George, and Anne-Marie Horvath, and husband, Joseph; brothers, Michael Petrin, of Buxton, Marc Petrin and wife, Karen, of Hudson, New York, and Ronald Petrin of Cleveland, Ohio; sister, Janice Norton, and husband, Craig, of Fayette, Maine; grandchildren, Heidi, and husband, Jimmy, Lea, and husband, Sheldon, Abbey Keller, Laura Horvath, and Baylor Horvath.
Ralph was preceded in death by: his parents, Raoul and Marie Reine, as well as his brother, Norman Petrin.
Visiting hours will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2017, at Bernier Funeral Home, 49 South St, Somersworth, New Hampshire. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Martin Church, 120 Maple St, Somersworth, New Hampshire, on Friday, March 10, 2017, at 11 a.m. Online condolences may be made by visiting bernierfuneralhome.net.
In lieu of flowers, family has requested donations may be made in his memory to the St Ignatius of Loyola Parish for the organ maintenance at St Martin Church, or to the Assumptionists for the Education of Priests. Care for the Petrin family has been entrusted to the Bernier Funeral Home.
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