Ronald A. Paquette

Ronald A. Paquette, 68, passed away peacefully after a long illness on March 26, 2017 in Pittsfield.  He was born on September 7, 1948 in Westfield, MA.  He graduated from Springfield Trade School in 1967 and with great joy spent his life working as a bus driver for PVTA in Springfield, MA. 

 He was pre-deceased by his parents Marjorie and Lawrence Paquette, his brother Larry, and his wife Vicki Paquette.  He is survived by his former wife Marilynn Easton, his companion Claire Girard, his daughter Jennifer Volin, her husband Michael, and his grandchildren Alex and Emily.   He also leaves behind his dear cousin Shirley Bogdan and multiple other cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. 

 Ronnie always knew how to have a good time and lived life to the fullest.  He absolutely loved driving his bus.  He got great pleasure from being out on the road and spending time talking with his passengers, and he always had a funny story to tell at the end of the day.  Ronnie could talk to anyone.   He once spent two hours on the phone with what turned out to be a wrong number.  In typical Ronnie fashion, it turned out that he had graduated with the brother-in-law of the cousin of the person on the phone, or some such craziness, and so they knew people in common and apparently had quite a lot to talk about. 

 Ronnie travelled extensively and had an incredible sense of direction.  He could get dropped anywhere, including a foreign country, and find his way with no problem and no map, just a vague sense of which way to turn.  Ronnie was always up for a road trip.   He was known to drive several hundred miles out of his way just to give someone a ride.   He loved driving and competing in the bus company’s ‘roadeos’.  His own daughter’s complete inability to parallel park baffled his mind. 

 Through the years he enjoyed camping, taking trips with his motorcycle cub, and square dancing.

 Some of his happiest times were spent with his grandchildren.  He adored being a grandfather.  Grampa Ronnie could always be counted on for a good time.   He always knew where to take the kids for the best doughnuts.

 Ronnie will be most remembered for his infectious laugh and his generous heart. 

 Family and friends are invited to a visitation at Westfield Funeral Home and Cremation, 4 Princeton St, Westfield, MA on Monday April 3, 2017 from 11AM to 1PM, followed by a Funeral Home Service at 1PM.   In lieu of flowers,  Ronnie requested that donations be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104.

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