John J. Paquet, RIP

We lost another dear relative on Sunday. John Paquet, who was the husband of my Dad's first cousin, Ellen Fahey, died from cancer on Sunday, February 26th. John was like another uncle to us. He was inspiring. John suffered from M.S. for decades, and also had heart problems. He had a knee replaced about 9 months ago. John beat cancer several times recently, but about two weeks ago he couldn't get out of bed. He was taken to a hospital, where scans revealed that the cancer was back with a vengeance. John went into hospice, and died peacefully, alert until the end. Ironically, the last time we saw his kids was at my Dad's wake and funeral six weeks ago. Unfortunately, John was unable to attend because he was wasn't quite yet able to safely leave where he was staying. His mood at the time was frustrated that he was still immobile and unable to get out, but we didn't have a clue that the end was near. Like my Dad, John had literally beaten death so many times that you just felt he was always going to be there.

He was one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He had a deep, rolling voice and a great laugh. When we were young he would call us kids every Christmas Eve pretending to be Santa Claus. He's first ask us if we had been good, and then asked us what we wanted. It remains one of my best memories from my childhood. His wife died many years ago, also from cancer. He leaves some terrific kids and grandkids - his daughter Vanessa just had a baby girl!

I'm sure my John, my Dad, and all of our relatives are having quite a time up in heaven right now!

                                                                           

PAQUET, JOHN J., 77, of Greenbrier Road, Narragansett, and formerly of Crestwood Road, Warwick, died on Sunday, February 26, at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Inpatient Center in Providence. He was the husband of the late Ellen (Fahey) Paquet.

Born in Fall River, MA, a son of the late Joseph E. and Elizabeth (Madden) Paquet, he lived in Warwick before moving to Narragansett 8 years ago.

He received his bachelors and masters degrees from Rhode Island College. Mr. Paquet was an educator in the Warwick Public Schools for over 30 years, as a teacher of foreign languages, and as a vice-principal at Lockwood Junior High School and Warwick Veterans Memorial High School. He retired in 1990. He was a member of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Save the Bay, and an active parishoner at St. Gregory the Great Church in Warwick for many years.

He is survived by three sons, John J. Paquet, Jr. of West Warwick, Eric M. Paquet of Coventry, and Owen M. Paquet of Warwick; a daughter, Vanessa E. Strain of Warwick; a brother, William Paquet of Narragansett; and nine grandchildren.

His funeral will be held on Thursday, March 2, at 8:15 a.m. from the Peter J. Barrett Funeral Home, 1328 Warwick Avenue, Spring Green, Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Gregory the Great Church, Cowesett Road, Warwick. Visiting hours are Wednesday 4-7 p.m. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, West Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Home & Hospice Care of RI, 169 George St., Pawtucket, RI 02860.

God bless and Godspeed, John...