PATRICK McLAUGHLIN September 19, 1923 … September 6, 2008 Patrick Edward McLaughlin, 84, of Bathurst, died Saturday, September 6th at the Chaleur Regional Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Bathurst, he was a son of the late J.J. “Paddy” and Annie (Allore) McLaughlin. He is survived by his wife, the former Mildred Robichaud of Tracadie; two daughters, Peggy (Stephen) Ogden and Claire (Greg) Bungay, both of Charlottetown; three sons, Patrick (Jill) and John (Cathy) both of Bathurst, and Danny (Wanda) of Charlottetown; three sisters, Dorothy (late Paul) Veniot of Bathurst, Marguerite (late Edgar) Normandeau of Moncton , and Connie (late Bob) MacMinn of Dartmouth, and two brothers, Bernard (Lillian) and Dennis, both of Montreal. He also leaves behind 15 loving grandchildren, Tommy, Michael and Scott Ogden, Annie, Mary and Maureen Bungay, and Ryan and Katie McLaughlin, all of Charlottetown; Patrick (Cindy), Michael and Ben McLaughlin, and Courtney, Meaghan, Mauryah and Kathleen McLaughlin, all of Bathurst. He was predeceased by a sister, Marie. He and his wife celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary two days before his passing. Mr. McLaughlin attended school in Bathurst, and served overseas during the Second World War with the Royal Regiment of Canada (2nd Canadian Division). He served in the Dieppe Raid, landed in France on D-Day +2, and saw action in France and Belgium. He was wounded in Holland in 1944. Following the war, he worked for 25 years with Revenue Canada, retiring as Area Collector of Customs in 1983. As a proud Canadian War Veteran, he assumed a lead role in the Herman J. Good V.C. Branch No. 18, Royal Canadian Legion, serving as Branch President from 1969-71, North Shore District Secretary Treasurer from 1973-75, and North Shore District Commander from 1976-78. He was awarded the Branch No. 18 Certificate of Merit and the Meritorious Service Award, as well as the Dominion Command’s highest Legion award, the Palm Leaf to the Meritorious Service Medal. In 1967 he was awarded the Centennial Medal, in 1991 he served as Chairman of the Bathurst Silver Jubilee Committee and in 2004 he received a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Bathurst Rotary Club. Mr. McLaughlin served on Bathurst City Council from 1974-77, and was elected Mayor in 1983. As Mayor, one of his most notable achievements was the twinning of his city with Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, a town in France liberated by the North Shore Regiment on June 6, 1944 (D-Day). He was named a Freeman of the City of Bathurst by Mayor Paul Ouellette in 2000. For many years he served as master of ceremonies at Remembrance Day Services and Legion Services. His was a life devoted to community service, having been actively involved in leadership roles in numerous organizations including Chairman of the Holy Family Church Parish Council, District President of the Boy Scouts of Canada, the CNIB, the St. Patrick’s Society, and the Irish Canadian Cultural Association. Over the years he participated in many choirs, community choral groups and cultural events. He was known for his quick wit, his robust humor, his caring and generous nature, and above all for his deep love of family and friends. He loved the outdoors, being an avid fisherman and hunter, and having spent many enjoyable days at his camps at Monts Brook and Portage Brook. The body will rest after 2:00 p.m. Monday, September 8, 2009, at Elhatton’s Funeral Home (www.elhatton.com), Bathurst. Visitation will be on Monday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on Tuesday from noon until time of funeral. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Family Church, St. Peter Avenue, Bathurst. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. For anyone wishing to send tokens of sympathy, the family would appreciate donations to the I.W.K. Children’s Hospital or to a favorite charity.