Westfield – Richard A. Paquette, 54, passed away at home on July 15, 2017, after a courageous and long fought battle with cancer. Richard was born November 20, 1962, in Holyoke, MA, attended schools in Southampton and graduated in 1980 from Hampshire Regional High School in Westhampton.
Rich served proudly in the Army as a helicopter mechanic and a paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg NC. He was a HVAC private contractor and for many years and plowed the snow covered streets of Westfield. Rich was also the proud owner of Coast-to-Coast Motorcycle Tire Company for over 5 years. During this time, he had befriended many local riders in Westfield and the surrounding communities. Rich enjoyed riding his motorcycle and did so in every state in the continental US. He regularly attended rallies such as Laconia and Sturgis each year. He was an avid snowmobiler, and frequently rode through the trails of upper New England. He was also a NASCAR enthusiast. When not watching a race on TV he was found parking his trusty Winnebago at nearby racing events. Rich is survived by his loving daughters Monique Paquette and Roxanne Arkoette, her husband Chad Arkoette, his stepson David (DJ) Brewer, his devoted father Lucien and step-mother Sheila Paquette, his sister Gail Paquette and her fiancé Steven Laflamme, his brother Lucien and his wife Judy Paquette. He will be dearly missed by his stepsisters, Sarah Mackay and Mandy Hess, his nieces Heather Dexheimer and Kristin Paquette, his nephews Brandon and Kyle Paquette. Rich was predeceased by his mother Susan (Janik) Paquette in 2006. here will be a military honors service for Richard on Friday, July 28, 2017, at 2:00 PM at the Mass Veterans Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rich’s name to the (VA) Voluntary Service 421 N. Main Street Leeds, MA 01053 or online at https://is.gd/WdGfrX
Please visit https://www.epassing.org/RichardAPaquette
