Catherine Sophie Paquin

Catherine Sophie (nee Cottle) Paquin, 79, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2022, at the hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, where she was being treated for complications of kidney disease. Her family was by her side in her final days.

Mrs. Paquin enjoyed visiting with family and friends for hours over cups of coffee at her kitchen table on Rabbits Back Road, and she liked thrift store shopping, especially at the St. Ignace Hope Chest, and visiting the St. Ignace casino.

She was married to Floyd “Flip” Paquin, Sr., a commercial fisherman and musician, and in the years when her husband played at many bars and wedding receptions across northern Michigan, she always enjoyed going along and listening to the band. When her children were growing up, she attended their football, baseball, and basketball games. An involved mother and grandmother, she filled her living room walls from top to bottom with school photographs of her children and grandchildren taken throughout the years.

She was a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and of Moose Lodge 999 in St. Ignace.

She was born in Sault Ste. Marie June 9, 1943, to Vern and Mary Jane (nee Moses) Cottle of St. Ignace. She attended school in St. Ignace.

Mr. and Mrs. Paquin were married March 8, 1959, and they reared eight children, Floyd Jr. “Sonny,” Cathy, Edward, John, Cindy, Robert, Andy, and a grandson, Joe, who Mr. and Mrs. Paquin raised as their son. Over the years, the family lived on Portage Road, Marley Street, West Spring Street, and then finally Rabbits Back Road, where Mr. Paquin kept chickens and rabbits in the backyard.

In earlier years, Mrs. Paquin worked for a time in Head Start preschool in St. Ignace and on Mackinac Island, in a preschool class offered by the Catholic Church, and later in housekeeping for various motels in St. Ignace.

She is survived by children and their families Cathy McNeely of St. Ignace, Ed and Ellen Paquin of St. Ignace, John and Pam Paquin of Hessel, Cindy and Doug Miller of Belding, Robert and Kate Paquin of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Andy and Brandi Paquin of St. Ignace, Joe and Heidi Paquin of St. Ignace; a daughter-in-law and her family, Patty Paquin of St. Ignace; 19 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren; sisters and their families Helen and Otto Hyslop and Ruth Clark; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and their families, Logan Jarrard, Ron and Molly Paquin, Sally Paquin, Leonard Paquin, and Betty Marshall.

She is preceded in death by her husband, who died December 7, 2013; a son, Floyd Jr.; a granddaughter, Melissa McNeely; a son-in-law, Patrick Lafreniere; a sister, Bonnie Jarrard; an infant brother, Clifford; her parents, and her husband’s parents, Alexander and Theresa (nee Carson) Paquin. She is preceded in death by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Thomas Paquin, Donald Paquin, Donna and Don Corp, Jerri and Charles “Sonny” Huyck, and Carol Paquin.

At her wishes, no formal services will be held, but the family will greet callers at a celebration of life for Mrs. Paquin at her home at 147 Rabbits Back Road Saturday, August 27, beginning at 1 p.m. A private family burial service will take place the next day at Weyquayoc Cemetery.