Rita Marie Blanche Paquette nee Landry
June 4, 1931 – August 10, 2024
It is with profound sadness, the family of Rita Marie Blanche Paquette shares her passing on August 10, 2024, surrounded by family at Princess Court.
Arriving June 4, 1931, Rita was the eighth child (predeceased by her unborn sibling) of eleven born to Philias and Roseanna Landry in Pinewood, Ontario. As a young lady, she helped run her parents lumber camp on Lake of the Woods. At just 17 years old, Rita married Andre Paquette on June 8, 1948 in Pinewood, before moving to Dryden shortly after the birth of their first son. In addition to raising her seven children, Rita found pride in working outside the home. She worked in the laundry department at the Dryden Red Cross Hospital, as a tree planter and then a tree picker at the Dryden Tree Nursery. Later, she sold fabric at Stylerite, until the department was closed. She continued in fabric sales at Cadarios until her retirement. Once her children were grown, she served her community as a member of the Royal Order of the Moose and the Catholic Women’s League.
Rita was a talented seamstress, knitter, cook and baker. Macaroons will forever be known as “Shit Cookies” to her family. Summers were preferably spent at the family island on Thunder Lake, watching her grandchildren grow and make memories. Rita also loved to travel, spending many hours by bus across Canada and the United States.
Rita was predeceased by her parents, her siblings; Mathilda, Adelard, Adrien, Moise, Antonio, Maurice, Denis and Roger, her husband Andre and daughter Lauraine Doherty.
She is survived by siblings Andy Landry (Sharon), and Laurette Rivard (Gary), children; Claude (Sharon), Giselle Alexander (Randy), Annette Neil, Michel, Edmond (Susan), Suzanne Zoccole (Russ), 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Dr. Cortens for his exceptional attention and care over the years, as well as the caring nursing staff at the Dryden Regional Health Centre and Prince Court.
“Matriarchs plant the seeds of greatness that bloom for generations.”
A Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, August 30, 2024 at 11 a.m. with Father Alan Campeau officiating at the Dryden Community Funeral Home. Interment to follow.
Condolences may be posted to www.dcfh.ca
Arrangements entrusted to the Dryden Community Funeral Home,
249 Grand Trunk Ave. Dryden, ON P8N 2X3
