Death Of Cornwall Priest

April 27, 2007 — A Cornwall priest has died suddenly of natural causes. Sixty-nine-year-old Father Romeo Major passed away at his home on Edward Street Tuesday. He was ordained by Bishop Brodeur in June of 1964. The funeral will be held Monday.

28 April  2007 

A well known retired priest of the Alexandria-Cornwall Diocese has died.

Rev. Romeo Major, 69, died suddenly of natural causes at his Edward Street residence on Tuesday. He was born Jan. 29, 1938, in Cornwall, the son of Alfred and Elizabeth (nee Cuerrier) major, both of whom are decreased, as is his only brother, Roger.

He is survived by his sisters, Rita Major-Duplantie (Yvon) and Juliette Paquette.

Major attended Nativity Boys' School, and Cornwall Classical College where he completed his Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy).

He completed three years of theology at Missions, then attended the Seminary of St. Paul, in Ottawa, before being ordained by Bishop Rosario Brodeur, on June 21, 1964 at Nativity Co-Cathedral.

He served as curate at Nativity, St. Francis de Sales and St. John Bosco, before taking on missionary work in Honduras, from 1969-72. Upon his return in 1972, he became administrator of Sts. Martyrs-Canadiens parish, where he served as pastor from 1975-84.

He also served as spiritual advisor to the Nativity Guard during this period.

Major then accepted a special pastoral appointment to promote le Mouvement du Renouveau Paroissial in French parishes throughout Ontario and Quebec, before returning to the Alexandria-Cornwall Diocese.

In July, 1994 he became pastor at Sts. Martyrs-Canadiens where he remained until the church closed in 2003. However, major had earlier resigned from his position in April 2000 after being charged with indecently assaulting a teenaged girl by the Ontario Provincial Police's Project Truth unit.

The charges were withdrawn in October, 2001 when the main witness in the case was reportedly unable to testify due to health problems.

He retired in August, 2003.

Visitation will be at the Boulerice Funeral Home on Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m., and from 7 to 9 p.m. The body will be transferred to Nativity Co-Cathedral on Monday at 9 a.m. with visitation until mass at 11 a.m.

Internment will be at Nativity Cemetery. Ordained by Bishop Brodeur in June of 1964. The funeral will be held Monday.

Obituary in Cornwall Standard Freeholder