Rita L. (Letendre) Paquin, age 83, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 at D'Youville Senior Care in Lowell after a long illness. She was the wife of the late Oscar J. Paquin.
She was born in Pawtucket, RI, December 13, 1925 a daughter of the late Joseph and Bernadette (Chouinard) Letendre. Rita was a longtime resident of Lowell and more recently resided in Dracut and Londonderry, NH.
She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Alice and Michael Azarowski of Lowell and Pauline Paquin-Sokoloff and daughter-in-law, Benet Sokoloff of W. Roxbury; six sons and daughters-in-law, Paul and Jeanne Paquin of Hull, Gerard and Diane Paquin of Londonderry, NH, Louis and Anne Paquin of Dunstable, Guy Paquin and Janey Tallarita of Medford, Ronald and Nancy Paquin of Seattle, WA and John Paquin of Portland, ME; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Terry and Paul Descoteaux of Geneva, IL, Gertrude Desroches of Harvard and Pauline Letendre of Hull; Three brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Anne Letendre of Chelmsford, Alfred and Georgette Letendre of Lowell and Edward and Sharon Letendre of Methuen; two sisters-in-law, Therese Paquin of Lowell and Sister Alice Paquin of Sound Beach, NY, a brother-in-law, Herve Paquin of Lowell; also eight grandchildren and their spouses, Michael and Betsy Azarowski of Ware, Jennifer and Alan Corbeil of Dracut, Gregory and Michele Azarowski of Lunenburg, Justin and Erika Paquin of Tyngsboro, Julia and Sean Conroy of Lowell, Nicole Paquin of Arlington and Adrienne and Catherine Paquin, both of Hull; 2 great grandchildren, Bridget Azarowski and Abigail Conroy; a daughter-in-law, Louise Paquin of Dracut; also many nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Jan Baril and Arthur Letendre
She received many recognitions and awards for her involvement in various French Canadian cultural events. She was a member of La Jeanne Mance in Lowell, MA. Among her many interests, Rita enjoyed baking, traveling, singing and performing but most of all, she loved being a mother who enjoyed spending time with and caring for her family.
Relatives and friends may call at the M. R. LAURIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 295 Pawtucket St. Lowell on Monday, Feb. 16 from 6 to 8 pm. Funeral Tuesday morning with a prayer service to be held at 11 o'clock at the Chapel of St. Joseph Cemetery. Interment to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the D'Youville Foundation, 981 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854.