Margaret Helen Paquette Obituary
Margaret Helen Armitage-Paquette, cherished wife of Robert Angelo Paquette (and Bobby's best friend from Grade 12) passed away peacefully at the Queensway Carleton Hospital on February 28, 2023.
Maggie to most, and Muggsie to family, was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on December 28, 1950, to Marjorie Edith Fraser of Sydney, Nova Scotia, and Clifford Daigneau Armitage of Sherbrooke, Quebec.
She was predeceased by her parents and her brother Robert Gordon "Gord" Armitage of Ft McMurray, Alberta. She leaves behind her husband Bobby of Kanata, Ontario, her brother Blair Fraser Armitage (Jan) of New Westminster, British Columbia, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Maggie enjoyed a promising career with the Federal Government, working at the PMO and ending her public service career as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Labour. Although multiple illnesses and poor health curtailed her career ambitions, she remained optimistic and always ready to encourage others and share her positive approach to life's challenges. She remained a warrior to the end.
In the late 90s she met her best friend Lydia, an artist who taught Maggie how to paint and fuelled her passion for fine artwork and, some suspected, a fondness for vintage wines. She had a sharp wit, was a voracious reader, a history buff and a political junkie who loved a spirited discussion of current events. She enjoyed basic cooking but was happiest when she combed through all types of cookbooks to create menus, to design formal place settings and to serve meals for large dinner parties. Muggsie especially loved, and her husband Bobby will always treasure, their autumn road trips to Northern Ontario, Atlantic Canada, the US East Coast and especially throughout New England with their beloved furry companion, L'il Daisy Mae.
Muggsie's husband Bobby still recalls 1st Corinthians 13: 4-8, a passage his 8th grade teacher, Phillip Forsey, insisted his class at Ottawa's St. Leo's Catholic School memorize.
4. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
To Bobby and all who knew her, love and Margaret are synonymous.
According to Margaret's wishes, there will be no formal service after cremation, but we'll look forward to small informal gatherings in the next year to celebrate the wonderful life of Margaret Paquette and all that she meant to us.
Donations may be made to the Ottawa Heart Institute, the Ottawa Humane Society or the charity of choice.
4. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Condolences from family and friends.
