Phyllis Paquette, SNJM

Sister Phyllis Paquette was born to loving parents Eva (Girard) and Ernest Paquette, in Amherstburg, Ontario. She was the youngest of eight children. Phyllis’ faith life was well nourished by the example of her parents.

After graduating from Amherstburg’s Saint Rose High School, she left on July 24, 1954, for Outremont, Quebec, to begin her training as a Sister of the Holy Names, eventually receiving the religious name Sister Eva Mary.

As a missionary novice, Phyllis began her teaching career at St. Lucy School, Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, and later at St. John the Baptist, Chicago, Illinois.

After her first profession of temporary vows in 1956 she continued teaching in Windsor area schools: St. Patrick’s, Saint James, Christ King, Holy Name of Mary, JA Rooney, and Holy Rosary. She completed her studies at Windsor teachers’ college 1963, followed by degrees from the University of Windsor in 1967 and from Michigan State University in 1972.

In 1976 Phyllis joined the John 23rd Centre where she co-facilitated the marriage preparation course, taught parent effectiveness training, and youth effectiveness training as well as personality human relations in local parishes. During this time, she was also director of Life Search Windsor, a joint program for young adults in Windsor and Detroit.

Phyllis began parish ministry in Windsor working first as a pastoral minister at St. John Vianney and then as co-pastor of Immaculate Conception. During these assignments, she continued her musical abilities of teaching others how to play guitar and direct choirs. Little did she know that all this experience would prepare her to be pastoral administrator of Saint Joseph Parish, Plymouth, Ohio, and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Houston, Mississippi.

Shortly after she began her ministry in Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish it became clear to her that she was not meeting the needs of the growing catholic Hispanic members. Before resigning that position, she was invited to join the staff of Saint Matthew African American Baptist Church Child Development Center. To be the only Caucasian among the African American staff and preschool children was an enlightening and enriching experience. After some time, Phyllis returned to Ohio where she was employed by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Tiffin as administrator of their renewal centre. Within two years, this contract had to be broken because she was called back to Windsor to be Community Director of Holy Names Residence.

After completing this assignment in 2002, Phyllis enjoyed retirement in Kingsville, Ontario. She became a member of St. John de Breboeuf Parish and was a member of the choir and a minister of the Eucharist to the homebound. After training with the Alzheimer’s Society of Windsor in 2004, she volunteered at Royal Oak long-term care centre leading activities among the residents with dementia and visiting residents as a member of the pastoral care and palliative care teams.

These days, as a resident of a long-term care facility she uses her many God-given talents to affirm people and spread joy through her kindness and good news stories.