Juliette D. (Corbin) Payette

Juliette D. (Corbin) Payette, 92, a long time Dracut resident passed away peacefully Monday January 7, 2013 at Westford House Extended Care facility after a brief illness.

She was born in Lowell on September 12, 1920, the daughter of the late William Corbin and the late Alphonsine (Beaudry) Corbin.

Juliette was educated in the Lowell public schools and for several years she worked as a seamstress in the local mills. During this time she sewed parachutes for the defense department during World War II.

She was known throughout her life as a talented artisan. Her pursuits included sewing, knitting, crocheting, crewel and needlepoint. She was very proud of the many Irish knit sweaters and crocheted afghans she made for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and crafts up until the end of her life.

She was a communicant of St Francis Parish in Dracut and was member of the Dracut Senior Citizens Club, St. Louis de France Ladies' Auxiliary, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Dracut Knights of Columbus, council 4225, and Le Cercle Jeanne Mance, an organization to maintain Franco American heritage in Lowell. Juliette was also well known for being the treasurer of the Dracut Ladies' Friendship Luncheon for many years, during which she made many long lasting and cherished friendships. She was also very proud of participating in the Boston University Health Outreach Program for the Elderly (HOPE) to help find a cause and cure for Alzheimer's.

"Memere", as she was known to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, was very proud of her French Canadian heritage and often regaled the family with stories of her family, usually interspersed with great humor, and her hilarious homespun French expressions. Many thought that she had enough material to write a book.

She is survived by a daughter, Jacqueline D. Garvey, two sons and daughters-in-law, Roger Payette and his wife Mary, and Michael Payette and his wife Patricia, all of Dracut; seven grandchildren, Aaron Garvey and his wife Amy, Daniel Garvey and his wife Hannah, Scott Payette and his wife Jodie, Krista Petruzziello and her husband Joseph, Matthew Payette and his wife Cara, James Payette and Alicia Payette; four great-grandchildren; Isaac and Lucas Petruzziello, Anders Garvey and Ian Garvey, and a fifth great-grandchild due in March.

She also leaves a sister, Violet Daigle of Lady Lake FL, a brother, William Corbin and his wife Jean, of Manchester NH, a sister-in-law, Patricia Corbin of Plymouth NH and a brother-in-law, Russell Kierstead of Nashua NH, in addition to 4 nephews, 3 nieces and 4 grand nieces.

She was also the sister of the late Therese Torri, Doris Kierstead and Richard Corbin. She was pre-deceased by her husband Gerard Payette in 1999. She was the sister-in-law of the late Leon Payette and his wife Jeannette (Berard) (Payette) Lacourse, the late Maurice Payette and his late wife Marie (Dutile) Payette, Lucille and Therese Payette.
She was also the aunt of David Payette, Louise Payette, and Helen (Payette) Maynard .

She brought joy to many lives and will be sorely missed.