MERRIMACK - Robert J. Paquette, 58, of Jaffrey died Aug. 15, 2010, at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, following a long illness.

He was born Oct. 18, 1951, in Lowell, Mass., son of the late Rene and Mary (Sargent) Paquette. He grew up in Londonderry, N.H., and was a 1969 graduate of Bishop Bradley High School in Manchester. In 1973, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

Paquette worked as an environmental scientist for the State of New Hampshire, the Department of Defense and later in the private sector. He had been a resident of Jaffrey for the past six years and had previously lived in Utah and Maryland.

He was an avid fan of all Boston sports teams. He enjoyed fishing, playing tennis and baseball.

Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Diane (Joyal) Paquette of Jaffrey; his two sons, Jamie C. Paquette, and his wife, Kaci, of Brooklyn N.Y., and Jeremy R. Paquette, and his wife, Allison, of Brattleboro; two grandchildren, Sebastian Paquette and Dorian Paquette, both of Brattleboro; his sister, Catherine Aronson, of Glen Ivy, Calif.; his two brothers, J. Stephen Paquette of Morristown, N.J. and Thomas Paquette of Manheim, Pa.; numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth Paquette, of California.
As per the family’s request, there will be no calling hours.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick Church, 89 Main Street, in Jaffrey. Rev Wilfred H. Deschamps, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.

For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to either Hospice at HCS, Post Office Box 496, Peterborough, N.H. 03458 or to the Community Hospice House, 210 Naticook Road, Merrimack, N.H. 03054. The Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 33 River Street, Jaffrey, is assisting the family with arrangements.

To view an online memorial, send a condolence to the family or for more information, please visit www.cournoyerfh.com.