Remembering Virginia Allen Paquette

By Charlotte Vincent


Each year we pause at the end of May to remember and honor loved ones lost. Nationally, patriotic songs fill the air in tribute to those who gave their lives in service to our country. Personally, songs of love fill our hearts as we cradle the memory of those who shared a part of our life story and who remain forever woven into the fabric of our lives. Like the wall plaque hanging at 2B2, this blog remembers “Virginia Paquette who graced our little airport with her southern charm and gentle ways”.

A woman and a song
What triggers a memory or a song which you can’t get out of your head? In the case of Virginia and the song “This Little Light of Mine” the two are so intertwined. It’s hard to tell if a memory of Virginia triggers the song, or the song triggers the memory. Virginia’s spirit is embodied in the song and the song embodies the spirit of Virginia.

The connection between the woman and the song first came alive for us at the celebration of Virginia’s life held this past October at our 2B2 hangar. Dianna Ouellette and the 2010 Brown School Kindergartners performed the song which we learned was Virginia’s favorite school song.

We listened to the starting lyrics: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” We couldn’t help feeling that very early in life, Virginia had taken on these lyrics as her mantra for taking on life. And yet Virginia was a very humble person. Ironically, it was Virginia’s humility that let her light shine so brilliantly. Also, the brighter her light shined, the more she ignited the light in other people.

Pot Luck Sunday at 2B2

Take for example, a typical pot luck Sunday at 2B2. Hailing from New Orleans, Virginia’s southern hospitality always lit up the 2B2 lounge and deck. She greeted friend and stranger alike with her welcoming smile. Her southern drawl, southern cuisine, and signature hats inevitably sparked lively exchanges about family roots, customs and traditions, culinary dishes, fashion trends, and cultural diversities across the world! That’s a pretty rich diet of conversation, laughter, and learning taking place at 2B2 on the first Sunday of every month. This was all because Virginia strolled in with her jambalaya in hand and her “Hi, ya’all” from her heart.

Celebrating Virginia’s Life

Back to last October and our 2B2 hangar where 150+ people gathered to celebrate Virginia’s life with stories, poems, photos, and songs.

We saw Virginia as a loving wife, the closest of sisters and sister in-law, caregiving daughter, trusted friend, respected colleague, and teacher coach.

We were reminded of Virginia’s fun-loving nature, sense of humor, mischievous streak, and Mardi Gras spirit.


We heard about her evolution from shy southern debutante to “kick up your heels” dancer, from home pet lover to stray animal caretaker, from casual doodler to talented artist.

We were moved by her compassionate caring, tender nurturing, and gentle kindness.

We were inspired by her quiet strength, her steadfast courage, and her poise and grace under fire.

Through the eyes of children
It became clear to us that Virginia’s light shined brightest when in the presence of children. For Virginia, this occurred daily as she worked as an Instructional Assistant at the Bresnahan and Brown Schools in Newburyport for the last twelve years of her life.

Through the eyes of three of her students, we saw how Virginia’s light shined in these young lives. We also saw how she ignited the little light within each of them.

One day stands out vividly for Sophie Korpics. Mrs. Paquette is standing at the finish line. She’s cheering Sophie on in this physically challenging race.
She’s shouting “You can do it, Sophie.” Sophie crosses the finish line and runs into Mrs. Paquette’s outstretched arms. Both have tears in their eyes. Bit by bit, through Virginia’s caring and coaching, Sophie begins to believe in herself. Virginia’s light shining on Sophie’s special day becomes a game changer for life!

Christian Farren delivers an emotional tribute to Virginia in his personal ode to Mrs. Paquette. We see the rhyme and reason of Virginia’s light at work in his young life.


Will Habib also speaks from the heart. He had Mrs. Paquette in Grades 1-3. With overwhelming gratitude, he states upfront that “Mrs. Paquette had a profound impact on my life.” He remembers Mrs. Paquette as a caring person, someone who extended her helping hand to anyone with a problem, someone who could make everyone laugh. It’s October, 2010, and Will has just begun his senior year at Newburyport High School (NHS). Clearly, Virginia’s impact on this young man has been far-reaching and long-lasting.

A Night of Honor
Fast forward to May 25, 2011. It is Scholarship Awards Night at NHS. Will Habib is there as class president of the 2011 graduating class. He is heading to the University of Maryland to pursue a degree in business and sports management.

Jasmyn Gudaitis is also among the 2011 grads. Though she never had Mrs. Paquette, she shares Virginia’s enthusiasm for working with children in an educational setting. She plans to pursue a teaching degree at Boston University.

All of this talk of graduation reminds us of Stanza #2 of “This Little Light of Mine”:“I’m gonna take this light around the world and I’m gonna let it shine.” Will and Jasmyn are about to step out into the world. Once again Virginia is there with her caring, helping hand. This time her help comes in the form of a scholarship.

Will and Jasmyn have taken center stage to receive the first annual Virginia Paquette Memorial Scholarship. The award and the recipients are introduced by Mary Ellen Hoiseth, long time teacher in the Newburyport school system and close friend of Virginia.


About the Scholarship Recipients
We learn from Mary Ellen that Will is a “hard working, caring classmate, … (an) exceptional role model, … (and) a humble young man.” She tells us that Virginia “definitely saw the potential in him, even in the first grade. She often remarked that this student would go on to do great things someday.”

Mary Ellen then introduces us to Jasmyn. “Although (Jasmyn) never met the woman we are memorializing here this evening, she embodies all that Virginia Paquette stood for. As an intern at the Bresnahan School, this young lady came in everyday with a smile and kind word for each student. She was ready to take on any challenge and that attitude rubbed off on the students she worked with, giving them the confidence to try something new. She, like, Will is a role model and someone who doesn’t know the meaning of the words “I’m too busy to help.”

In Honor of Virginia
We see reflections of Virginia’s light in each of these deserving, honor students. We can’t imagine a more fitting and touching tribute to Virginia than the selection of Will and Jasmyn as the first recipients for The Virginia Paquette Memorial Scholarship.

Mary Ellen presents Will and Jasmyn with their scholarship awards. As they exit the stage, they are congratulated with a warm southern hug from Virginia’s sister, Elise Allen. Elise has flown in from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to award the scholarship which was “created by family, friends, colleagues and students to honor Mrs. Paquette’s service, sincerity, and selflessness.” Virginia’s loving husband, Don, applauds proudly from the audience, along with his sister, Denise Weir, and a few friends from 2B2.


Virginia’s Little Light
As we leave NHS, we flash back to that special October day at 2B2. We can still hear the last stanza of “This Little Light of Mine” reverberating throughout our 2B2 hangar: “I won’t let anyone (blow) it out, I’m gonna let it shine.” We’ve no doubt that “this little light of Virginia’s” still shines.

Virginia’s little light shines brightly through tangible mementos like Mardi Gras beads; drawings of the family cat, Tabasco, and turkey artwork for family Thanksgivings dinners; the ugliest holiday ornament now hanging on the wall of a close friend – a gift from Virginia to stir up her holiday decorating spirit; and two beautiful porcelain dolls on the bed of Sophie, the youngest speaker at 2B2 . One was a gift she received from Virginia; the other one was a gift she gave herself after Virginia died to keep Mrs. Paquette close at hand and in heart. She named this doll “Virginia” in honor of Mrs. Paquette.

Virginia’s little light shines warmly in the cherished memories we revisit and carry with us in our hearts.

Virginia’s little light shines dynamically within the spark of every “little light of ours” that she ignited with her “southern charm and gentle ways.”

Yes, Virginia, your heart-lived rendition of “This Little Light of Mine” will reverberate forever within every heart and every life you touched. In the words of the refrain from “This Little Light of Mine”: “Let it Shine, Let it Shine, Let it Shine.”


Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc., along with all of Virginia’s friends at 2B2, congratulates Will Habib and Jasmyn Gudaitis on receiving the first annual Virginia Paquette Memorial Scholarship. We wish you both success in your college studies and professional careers.

Don Paquette, “would like to thank everyone who has helped and/or contributed to this worthy cause. Special thanks to Mary Ellen Hoiseth, Missy Duguie, and Di Ouellette who served as the selection committee for the scholarship awards.”

Don is “hoping that this will be a yearly award. My goal is to award one every year at least until the last class that Virginia taught graduates. So a minimum of 10 years to go…”

Donations in Virginia Paquette’s memory can be made to: The Virginia Paquette Scholarship Fund
c/o Provident Bank
5 Market Street
P.O. Box 37
Amesbury, MA 01913