Rosanna C. Paquette

HIGHGATE – Rosanna Catherine (Laroche) Paquette, age 85 passed away peacefully on February 15, 2021 at the Franklin County Rehab Center in St. Albans.

She was born in Highgate on December 26, 1935 to the late Henri & Maria (Gagne) Laroche, according to her first-born nephew, Ray Lambert, her mother would call her “La Rose.” She attended Highgate schools and graduated from St. Anne’s Academy in Swanton, VT.

Rosanna married Maurice Paquette on September 8, 1956, and they had five wonderful children. She was able to stay home and provide a loving and caring home for them. She helped to support her family by doing the book work for Paquette’s Mobil in Highgate Center for 17 years. After her children were all in school, she worked as a seamstress at the Highgate Sewing Shop and once retired, sewed Teddy Bear Parts for the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory.  For many years she volunteered at the Maple Festival at the Maple Donut station, while Maurice was at the Maple Syrup Tasting station. Rosanna was a long-time member of the Ladies of St. Anne and a long-time parishioner of the St. Louis Church. When Rosanna had free time, she enjoyed reading novels, doing puzzles, sewing, and dancing. She found great joy traveling on bus tours. Rosanna was able to visit Missouri, Tennessee, and South Dakota. She adored Bob Barker on the Price Is Right and was an avid Red Sox fan! 

She is survived by her children, Danielle Benjamin and her husband Arnold of Sheldon, Ronald Paquette of Swanton, Anita Parah and her husband Kevin of Swanton, Jane Paquette and her husband Stephen Cookingham of Fairfield; eight grandchildren and their spouses, Shawn & Yurie Benjamin of St. Albans, Ashley Benjamin of Starkville, MS, Schuyler and Chasidy Benjamin of Swanton, Paige (Benjamin) and Cody Hemenway of Swanton, Zachary Benjamin and Fiancé Heather Gregoire of Highgate Center, Chad and Heather Parah of Swanton, Evan Parah of Swanton and Mollie Parah of Swanton; great-grandchildren, Mioka and Yukina Benjamin, Nhaydia Flowers, Phoenix Benjamin, Jasmyn and Carson Hemenway, Corey (Jaring) and Coral Parah; sister, Marie-Ange and brother-in-law, Roland Belanger of Bantam, CT; special niece and “5th daughter”, Pam (Belanger) McCalvin of Bantam, CT; sisters-in-law, Doris (Paquette) Laroche and Flaurette (Paquette) Godin; very special lifelong friends, Robert and Madeline Freeman; as well as many, many nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she loved and cherished.

Besides her parents, Rosanna was predeceased by her husband Maurice in December of 2009; her daughter, Joanne Paquette in March of 1980; her father and mother-in-law, Joseph and Marie-Ange Paquette; brothers, sisters, and their spouses, Lucienne (Laroche) and Homer Lambert, Leonard and Rachel (Gagne) Laroche, Laurent and Germaine (Gagne) Laroche, Alice (Laroche) and John Paquette, Florence (Laroche) and James Plant, Gertrude (Laroche) and John Cook, Marie Rita Laroche, Therese (Laroche) and Gerard Paquette, Jean-Marie and Pauline (Martin) Laroche, Yvonne (Laroche) and Armand Moreau, Clement Laroche, Father Leonidas Laroche, Jeanne Laroche; and brother-in-Law, Gabriel Godin.

Family and friends are invited to Rosanna’s Life Celebration events to include visitation on Saturday, February 20, 2021 from 9:30-10:30 AM at Goss Life Celebration Home, 89 Grand Ave., Swanton. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St. Louis Catholic Church, Lamkin Street, Highgate. Interment with follow in the St. Louis Catholic Cemetery, Lamkin St., Highgate, VT 05459.

For those who wish, contributions in Rosanna’s memory may be made to the Franklin County Home Health & Hospice, 3 Home Health Circle # 1, St Albans City, VT 05478.

Rosanna’s family would like to extend sincere gratitude for the wonderful care she received over the past several years from Franklin County Home Health & Hospice, Holiday House, and Franklin County Rehabilitation Center. 

Goss Life Celebration Homes is the area’s exclusive provider of Life Celebration events. Please visit our website to share condolences, photos and favorite memories at www.gossfs.com