SPRINGFIELD – Bertha R. (Letourneau) Paquet, age 100, a longtime resident of Redlands Street in the East Springfield section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, September 23, 2015. She passed into Eternal Life at Mont Marie Healthcare Center in Holyoke surrounded by her grandson, Francis, and all the memories she loved and cherished. She was born in Worcester on November 2, 1914, a beloved daughter of the late Noel N. and Marie E. (St. Andre) Letourneau. She was raised in Worcester and graduated from local schools. In 1932, she graduated from the former Becker Business School in Worcester. In 1942, Bertha and her late husband, Lucien, moved to the North End section of Springfield where they lived until 1956 when they moved to Redlands Street in East Springfield. While living in Worcester, Bertha was a communicant of Notre Dame Church where she was a member of La Societé Sainte Famille. In Springfield, she was a communicant of the former Saint Thomas Aquinas Church where she was a member of Les Dames de Sainte Anne. She later became a communicant of the former Saint Mary Church in East Springfield where she was a member of the Semper Fidelis Society. She was currently a communicant of Mary, Mother of Hope Church in East Springfield. Bertha was employed at the former Baker’s Extract and later was an accounting clerk at the former Mass Wholesale Drug Company, both in Springfield. For over 56 years, Bertha was a well-known Avon Representative in the Springfield area. She also was a Voting Poll Worker for over 41 years in Springfield and had the distinction of working the polls until her 90th birthday. She was always the “Life of the Party” and was well-known in the area for having the most “Distinctive Holiday Cane”. You could always count on Bertha’s cane to let you know what Holiday Season was coming. Most of all, she was a faithful woman who showered her family and friends with her love and affection which was returned to her a thousand fold. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, best friend and dance partner, Lucien L. Paquet who was Called Home on November 4, 1994. They were married on June 4, 1934 at Notre Dame Church in Worcester and were blessed with over 60 years of happiness together. Besides her parents and her husband, she was also predeceased by her loving daughter, Jeanne T. Paquet who was Called Home on May 14, 1953; her two sons-in-law, Wallace E. Plumb and Francis G. Olive, Jr.; her cherished grandson, Ronald F. Plumb who was Called Home on May 17, 1980; her dear sister, Loretta Letourneau; and her dear brother and sister-in-law, Francis Letourneau and his wife, Emma. She leaves her two loving daughters, Noella B. Plumb of East Longmeadow and Elaine Y. Olive of Chicopee; her four cherished grandchildren, Kenneth Plumb and his wife, Susan, Theresa McNeish, Richard Plumb and his wife, Tonya, and Francis G. Olive, III and his wife, Kimberly; her five cherished great-grandchildren, Scott and Daniel McNeish, Nathan and Kaila Plumb and Francis G. Olive, IV; and her many dear nephews, nieces, cousins and extended members of the Paquet and Letourneau families. Her family would like to extend their deepest thanks to the entire staff, especially the 3rd floor nurses and aides, at Mont Marie in Holyoke for the exceptional care that they provided to Bertha over the past four years during her “Journey Home”. In addition, they would also like to thank the staff at Mercy Hospice for their compassionate care over the past several months. Her funeral will be held on Monday morning, October 5, 2015 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (the funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Mary, Mother of Hope Church, 840 Page Boulevard, East Springfield, MA 01104. Her burial will be private on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at Notre Dame Cemetery, 162 Webster Street, Worcester, MA 01603. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, October 4, 2015 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Her family has requested that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Sisters of Saint Joseph, 577 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or to the College of Our Lady of the Elms, 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com