Obituary
Print Obituary
Donat Leonard Paquette, known as Don, of Abbotsford, B.C., born in Las Pas, Manitoba on September 9th, 1931 to Leonard and Lena Paquette, passed away peacefully at Abbotsford Menno Home East 1 on July 12th, 2020 at the age of 88.
Don was one of 7 children. He leaves behind Grace, his cherished wife of 65 years, children Darryl (Linda) and Wendy, as well as grandsons Bryce (Melissa), Jerrdon and Mitchell, great-grandchildren Robert, Genevieve and Cohan.
Don met Grace, the love of his life, in Creston, B.C. and married on November 19th, 1955. Previous to their marriage, Don joined the RCMP in 1952 and was posted in various communities throughout B.C., where he had a very successful career for 27 years. Don was a dedicated member who took his job seriously, but was known for his ready smile, his big laugh and joking ways. After Don retired from the RCMP in 1979, and a short working break, he worked for 10 years as an Inspector for the B.C. Motor Carriers Division of the B.C. Government before retiring a second time in 1990.
Don was an ardent supporter of baseball and started up many local baseball associations in some of the areas he was posted to during his RCMP career, including Princeton and Abbotsford. Don also was an Executive Board Member of “B.C. Minor Baseball” for 36 years. He also coached many different minor levels of baseball teams in these same towns.
During Don’s time in Abbotsford, he was also heavily involved in the Abbotsford Badminton Club for many years. In his retirement, Don enjoyed woodworking, rounds of golf, coffee with his cronies, picking blueberries at Paul’s farm, making perogies with Bill and Emily Ruzicky, and watching his grandsons play baseball.
We will miss Don’s big smile, his penchant for teasing and his love of a good joke as we say good-bye, rest in peace, to a much beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.
Thank you to the kind staff at Menno Home East 1 for caring for Don with such kindness and dedication.
There is no funeral at Don’s request and his ashes will be laid at a family gathering at a later date.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Donat Don Leonard Paquette September 9 1931
July 12 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Abbotsford, Province: Colombie britanique