Father Francis Paquette

Father Francis Paquette, 86, passed away on November 23, 2018. He was born on December 24, 1931 to Frank and Emily (Godbout) Paquette. He attended high school at St. Jean Baptiste in Duluth; college at Crosier Seminary in Onamia, Minnesota; Philosophy and Theology at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas Welch at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Duluth on June 1, 1957. Over his 61 years of priestly ministry, Father Paquette was assigned to St. Francis, Brainerd; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Cloquet; Our Lady of Lourdes, Virginia; St. James, Swatara; St. John, Hill City; St. Mary, Meadowlands; St. Louis, Floodwood; St. Raphael, Pike Lake; St. Joseph, Crosby; Immaculate Conception, Cromwell; St. Francis, Carlton; and St. Mary, Silver Bay.In additional areas of service, Father Paquette was chaplain at Virginia Municipal Hospital, the Federal Correctional Institution in Sandstone, Miller Dwan and St. Luke’s hospitals in Duluth. He was also very active in the Cursillo movement and at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay, and the Knights of Columbus.He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Emily, sister Vivian, brothers Leon and Paul Sr.He is survived by his sister, Louise Frettem, sisters-in-laws Elaine and Florence Paquette all of Duluth; many nieces, nephews, great, and great-great nieces and nephews.The family of Father Paquette would like to extend a very special and heartfelt Thank You to all the staff on the second floor of Superior Rehabilitation Center in Superior, Wisconsin for their outstanding and loving care.Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at St. James Catholic Church, 715 North 57th Avenue West, Duluth, Minnesota, from 4 to 7 p.m., with wake prayers and rosary at 6:30 p.m.  Visitation will continue at St. James Church on Thursday, November 29, 2018 from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial with Bishop Paul Sirba officiating.