Renaud Oneil Collin passed peacefully on Thursday evening, surrounded by his family at home in Upton, Massachusetts. The son of Henri and Clara Collin, Renaud was one of fourteen children born in St. Hilaire, New Brunswick, Canada.

He married the love of his life, Corinne Bouchard Collin, as a young man, before immigrating to the United States and settling in Sudbury, Massachusetts, to raise two children: Tracy and Shawn. Renaud owned a flooring business in the area for many years, with both Tracy and Shawn joining him at times to make it a true family business.

Renaud was an avid outdoorsman in every sense of the word. He raised chickens and built a Koi pond at his home in Upton, even hatching and raising a peacock one year. His family is blessed to remember him by a number of mounted trophies he leaves behind, including a moose and a black bear, as well as the rifles and rods he passed down to his grandchildren.

He was at peace at the end, without doubts of where he would end up. His dogs, beloved siblings, and parents awaited him. The only question on his mind was the same refrain faced by any outdoorsman at the end — has my brother already found the best fishing spot?

Renaud is survived by his wife Corinne Collin; his children Tracy Riddle of Portland, ME, and Shawn Collin of Northridge, MA. Known, like thousands of French Canadians scattered across New England, as Pépère, he is survived by his three grandchildren — Dylan Riddle and wife Rebecca, Cameron Riddle and wife Casey, and Bailey Riddle; three great-grandchildren — Lincoln, Matilda, and Mia Riddle; four siblings — Albertine Pierce, Gilles Collin and wife Clare, Venise Michaud and husband Raymond, and Bertrand Collin and wife Rachel; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his parents and siblings Lucien, Adrien, Cecile, Rina, Ronald, Marthe, Real, Gertrude, and Norman.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association in Renaud's name.  

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 P.M. on Thursday, March 26, Renaud's Birthday, in the Pickering & Son Upton Funeral Home, 45 Main Street, Upton. 

His funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, March 27, in St Gabriel the Archangel Church, 151 Mendon Street, Upton. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery, Upton.