PAOLETTI, Louise
1940 - 2023
Louise Paoletti (née Hardy). Died peacefully with family at her bedside, March 1, 2023, at Temiskaming Lodge, Temiskaming Shores, after a 22-year illness with Parkinson’s Disease and a recent bout of terminal cancer.
Louise was born and raised in New Liskeard, the daughter of Wilford and Lucille Hardy, sister to Noreen (deceased), Loreen and Linda (deceased). Louise attended New Liskeard Public and High School and completed her early education at business college in Sudbury. Later in her career, she would graduate from the program of Management Studies at Humber College.
Louise married husband, Fred Paoletti of Cobalt, in 1958. Her long career began at Northern Telephone and continued for many years with the civil service of the Government of Ontario, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (New Liskeard), the Ministry of the Attorney General (Haileybury courthouse) ending with her last years of employment with the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (New Liskeard).
Louise and Fred took early retirement and travelled extensively to Europe with friends and family, as well as visiting the far north hiking in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. While raising children, Louise and Fred and family enjoyed camping and canoeing trips across Canada and many places in Northern Ontario.
Louise loved music and was a member of several local choirs from childhood through later adult life, including the Temiskaming Community Choir where she also volunteered as treasurer, and as organizer of a large choir anniversary event. She also greatly enjoyed regular travel to Toronto to attend live theatre and music events.
Louise was deeply committed to her community. She served several years as the treasurer of the Temiskaming Fall Fair board, canvassed for Cancer research, volunteered on the New Liskeard Police Services Board and was part of a citizen group to advocate keeping the local police force before the New Liskeard Police Service was disbanded.
Louise had a deep love for the wilderness and outdoor life from childhood, enjoying fishing with her father, Wilf, and later with husband Fred and family. She enjoyed many years at their camp on Pine Lake where her skill calling the loons from the end of the dock became legendary. Whether arriving there by boat, or x-country skis, the camp was an important place for her. She and Fred were strong advocates for the environment and conservation, being part of the Save Maple Mountain group in the 1970s and the Stop the Adams Mine garbage dump in the 1990s, both successful citizen activist actions.
Louise was outgoing and known for her kindness and interest in people. Family, friends, neighbours, and community were all important to her where she nurtured many enduring relationship connections across the years. Nothing pleased her more than gatherings with friends and family over food, whether it was for holiday occasions, birthdays, or back yard barbeques.
Louise was also an avid gardener, having learned the love of gardening from both her parents. In her later years, her garden was source of consolation and meaning for her.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2001, Louise became involved in local fundraising for Parkinson’s Disease. She was very involved in raising awareness about the disease, speaking to media, and supporting newly diagnosed local people. Despite the debilitating effects of the disease, Louise was sturdy and stalwart in the face of it and retained her kindness and dignity to the end.
Louise is survived by husband Fred, and sons, Dino, in Toronto and Dario (Melinda), in Cap-Pele New Brunswick, as well as sister Loreen Ramey (Noel), much-loved nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends from across the years. Many thanks to the friends and neighbours who supported Louise and Fred through the difficult times of her last years of illness, including home support by the local CCAC, the staff at Temiskaming Hospital and Temiskaming Lodge.
In accordance with Louise’s wishes, there will be no funeral. A donation may be made in her memory to the Louise and Fred Paoletti fund at The Temiskaming Foundation (https://temiskamingfoundation.ca, 61 Whitewood Avenue, PO Box 1084, New Liskeard, Ontario P0J 1P0). This fund was created at the Temiskaming Foundation in 2023 by Louise and Fred to address the most significant community needs.
Somewhere, Louise is at peace calling the loons, and will never be forgotten.
