1950 – 2014
Pomfret – William “Will” Parquette, 63, of Longmeadow Drive, died Tuesday, February 11, 2014 surrounded by his loved ones. He was the loving husband of Carol (Hamel) Parquette and father of Michelle Parquette of Auburn, MA.
Will was a graduate of Pomfret Prep, and attended the University of Connecticut. He was in sales and marketing for Cargill Chevrolet, and was the “Voice of Cargill Radio”. He had also worked for Gates Automotive Group and Gibson Guitar. Will was a writer doing business writing for various trade magazines. Above all, his biggest passion was playing his guitar. He played lead guitar with many local bands in his lifetime.
Born in Gloucester, MA, he was the son of the late William and Rosemary (Tabini) Parquette. In addition to his wife and daughter, Will is survived by his brother, Larry Parquette and his wife Christine of Putnam; his sister, Linda Parquette of Woodstock; several nieces and nephews; and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Will’s family from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, February 14, 2014 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin at the funeral home on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 9:00am with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am in Most Holy Trinity Church, 568 Pomfret Rd., Pomfret, CT. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Will’s name to the Deary Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 688, Danielson, CT 06239. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.
Donald & Denise St.Onge
Carol & Michele
Our deepest sympathy goes out to you in this most difficult time. Will was loved and admired by many people and will be remembered for his warm personality.
Regards
Russ Ohsberg
Very sorry for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Angela Howell
Dear Carol, Larry & Family-
Scott (Hopkins) and I are very saddened to hear of Will’s passing. He was a wonderful, generous man and his many musician friends are going to miss him dearly.
Sending you love and prayers from NYC. If we can help in any way, please let us know. Scott has already called Larry to offer any sound or physical help. I regret that mine will have to be long-distance as I am obligated to film work here this weekend; but I will be sure to send some prayers and continued love for a man and family we cherish.
Much Love,
Angela & Scott
Keith Mosher
Will was one of the best – I will miss seeing him around Putnam.
Phillip Palonen
We are sorry to learn of Will’s passing. His passion for music is admired by many. His memory will rock on. Please accept our sympathy for Carol, Michelle, Linda, Larry and their families.
Dick and Betty Benoit
Dear Carol and family,
We were so sorry to hear of Will’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Love,
Dick and Betty Benoit
Charlie and Nancy Fulford
Carol and Michelle, we are so sorry to hear of Will’s passing. We have wonderful memories as neighbors for all those years. He will be truly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Charlie and Nancy
Eileen Kania
Carol, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Will was such a nice person. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Wish I was there to give you a hug. Eileen
Warren Bachman
I never spent much personal time with Will but I shared the stage with him a number of times …. what a kind, gentle and talented man … rock on and enjoy eternal peace Will.
Linda Cady White and Tom Farley
We are so very sorry for your loss. Will was such a gift to the musical community. His talent will certainly be missed, but his gentle manner and friendly smile are an even greater loss.
Randy Therrien
Carol & Michele,
Very sorry to here about Will. My thoughts are with you.
Brian Herlihy
My Condolences to the Parquette Family, I spent time working with Will at Cargill Chevrolet and had the chance to jam with him on several occasions. He was a wonderful man and great musician. He will missed sadly by all who knew him even briefly.
Tom and Charlene LaPreay
Dear Carol, Tom and I offer our deepest sympathy for the loss of Will. He was a very special person and will be remembered forever in our hearts and prayers.
David Burdett
I’m so sorry to hear of Will’s passing…I consider myself very fortunate to have been invited to jam in Will’s basement. A very sweet cat, and an awesome guitarist, you’ll be greatly be missed.
Mike and Denise Bates
Carol and family, We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this most difficult time. Sincerely, Mike and Denise Bates
Sue and Paul Harvey
We are deeply saddened to learn of Will’s passing, and send our sincerest condolences at this difficult time.
Betty Hale
So sorry to hear this tragic news. My condolences to the Parquette
family.
Betty Hale
Deb Bonosconi
Carol, so very sorry to hear that Will had passed. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Deb Bonosconi
Deb Miller
I had the pleasure of working with Willie at Gates, seems like a million years ago. He was always such a gentleman and I will never forget playing “Name That Tune” with him. He will be missed, Sincere sympathy to the entire Parquette family.
Kim (Boudreau) Rodriguez
Dear Carol and Michele,
I am so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.
Jayme Dandeneau
Dear Carol & Michelle,
I didn’t know Will for very long….But in that short time you and Will touched my life…On Tuesday you told me that you would always have Will’s voice…As I thought about it …That is a wonderful gift. May you always cherish and keep it alive in your heart. Praying for strength for you and Will’s entire family.
Respectfully,
Jayme Dandeneau Nurse at Day Kimball Oncology.
Brian & Johanne Bates
Our condolences to your family. Our thought and prayers are with you.
It was always such a pleasure to see Will outside grilling as we took our evening walks in the neighborhood. He will be missed sadly missed.
The Bates’
Deborah Buckner
Dear Parquette Family,
My deepest sympathy goes out to all of you.
I only knew of Will by listening to WINY but, I felt as though he definitely was a good husband and father.
He struck me as a man with a sense of humor, compassion and responsibility.
His love for music and his guitar was wonderful in itself.
I’m sure Will be missed by all–
God Bless All Of You,
Deborah
Richard Ribb
Carol, Michelle, Larry, Linda and family,
I was fortunate enough to share making music with Will. He had an incredible passion for his instrument and for sharing his music with all. Always the nicest guy in the room. Wishing you peace and love in this difficult time.
Richard Ribb
Dick Cadorath
Carol, Larry and Family,
Our sincere condolences and prayers are with you all –
Dick & Marie Cadorath
Tim Shenko
Carol and family,
Will has been a good friend since grammar school in Pomfret, he will be greatly missed. You have our sincerest condolences
Tim & Marcia Shenko
Tony Satalino
Very sorry to hear about Willie’s passing. He will be missed. I am fortunate to have been able to have played some blues with him in my home. He truely loved the blues and played like mad.
Melissa Frechette
Carol and Michelle –
I am very sorry for your loss.
May your many years of shared joy bring you comfort in the weeks and months to come.
Peter Lange
Delightful man, great musician. I was blessed to be able to play music with him from time to time. Donna and I were always charmed by Will and Carol. God gives us music; and Will was one of His players. .
Anna M.Mendes-O'Leary
Dear Carol and Michelle,
I am so shocked and so sorry for your loss. We lost your husband and father way too soon. Hopefully he is not suffering any more and is resting in peace. Although I didn’t know him very well, I knew he must have been a wonderful husband and father and will be missed by many.My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to you at this most difficult time in your lives. I am here for you both if there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sending healing love and hugs.
Anna and Michael O’Leary
Patrick and Bet
Carol and Michelle–
So sorry to hear.
Our thoughts are with you.
Patrick and Bet
Nancy Atkinson
My deepest sympathy goes out to this family and these friends.
Bet Z Smith
Will was a kind and gentle soul who seemed to have an inner peace. Our thoughts are with your family, and we wish you healing and peace as well.
“Memory can only tell us what we were,
in the company of those we loved;
it cannot help us find what each of us, alone, must now become.
Yet no person is really alone;
those who live no more echo still within our thoughts and words,
and what they did has become woven into what we are.”
~ Jewish prayer
Kay Davis
Linda and Larry –
I’m Judy Davis’s sister. I don’t know if you remember her; she was your babysitter for several years during the 50’s – she sat with you while your parents went to dinner at Pomfret School.
Although I didn’t know you that well, I remember you fondly and wanted you to know that you have my sincere sympathy.
Colleen Bishop
Carol and Michelle, words can’t express the sadness I feel upon reading of Willie’s passing….I am in Florida and just read the sad news…..We all go back a long way….My thoughts are with you at this time……Am sending my love to you, Carol and Michelle… Rock and Roll heaven just got a master musician….
Colleen Bishop
Natalie & Mark Parker
Larry & Chris, we are so sorry for your loss. We are praying for you and the entire Parquette family. Love you all very much!
Natalie & Mark Parker
Joe & Cheli Barie
Larry and Chris…we are so sorry to hear of your loss. Cheli and I have you in our thoughts and prayers.
bob miner
Great sadness at the loss of such a gentle, gifted guy. He showed up in woodstock at quassett cemetary when we buried my brother Kit next to my mother, Nettie Tubini Miner, years ago. I hadn’t seen him much but of course saw him often on fb, heard the music which will always be there from now on.
Anyway, missing him and thinking of you. And you can be sure I intend to show up at his grave to say farewell sometime this Spring when I come over from Upstate New York.
robert g. miner, jr.
Ingklis Hale Sellick
Dear Linda and Larry, I am so sad about your losing Willy. What a shock to get the news after being away, I ran into him at a restaurant in Putnam last summer and he said that you were playing music together and he seemed so happy. I wish I could have heard you two play. Such memories we all have of growing up in Pomfret, seems like yesterday sometimes, it was a good place to be children. I really loved your parents and think of them and the Hale Bowl often. Maybe we can get together in the summer when we’re up there, I’d like that. lot’s of love and my thoughts are with you, Inglis
debra brodeur [lussier]
carol,
so sorry to hear about will’s passing. i have fond memories of years ago of the “band chicks” sitting at the table listening to “lion’s share” and “coachmen ” play at the speedway,berris’s and amoungst other places. so sorry.
debbie brodeur [lussier}
Ted Babbitt
Carol,
I was Willie’s roommate at Pomfret. I was horrified to learn of Willie’s death, and I wish to to convey my sincere sympathies. He was such a good guy. I remember when he got his first electric guitar – that is how long ago that was. He would lie on the upper bunk, and just play. He had a band with Eddie, Lenny, and for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the bass player. Good music. Good times.
I am so sorry for your loss, and please accept my most sincere sympathies.
Ted Babbitt
Bryan Kirkpatrick
My deepest sympathy and condolences to Will’s family. He was my classmate at Pomfret (1968) and his father was one year my English teacher, and his mother Rosemary was a great supporter of chamber music and a good friend of Ben Morgan and Alice Dunbar both of whom inspired me to explore that avenue as a student. I saw Will and his band at our class’ 45th reunion last May, and had no idea he was not well.
Best wishes,
Bryan Kirkpatrick, Pomfret Class of 1968
Jay Simpkins
I am truly sorry to hear of Will’s untimely passing and wish to express my condolences to all of his family.
Will & I were 3rd Form room mates and I have always suspected that we got the best room in Upper 2 because he was PQ’s son. Also it was so helpful to me to have him there to show me the ropes as I negotiated the transition from home to Pomfret.
As Bryan said, it was fortuitous to have a chance to see Will at our 45th reunion last May.
Regards, Jay Simpkins, Pomfret ’68
Greg Melville
Carol & Michelle, Larry & Christine, Linda and members of the extended Parquette family,
My deep sympathies to you all on Will’s passing. I have to confess that I didn’t know he had been ill.
He was a fellow student in my class at Pomfret and I remember his kind way – along with his passion for music – not only from our days together on the Hill, but his attendance at many, many Alumni(ae) gatherings in the years since. Quiet fellow but always there…
(His father taught me the one course in journalism @ Pomfret that I ever took; and, he did that well enough that it served as the foundation of a long career in the field.)
I will miss them both now…
Greg Melville, Pomfret ’68
Frank Long
I had only been in touch with Will a few times since school, but he always had such a solid and stabile presence as both a roommate and a classmate. Will would get behind that guitar and so many other students just wanted to be him. He made it look so easy.
My dearest heart-felt condolences to all of Will’s family and close friends. I know he will be missed.
Peter Pease
Dear Carol –
This is very hard to hear, and all of Will’s Pomfret classmates will miss him. We shared some very interesting times together, and Willie PQ’s musicianship and easy smile were often front and center. It’s been a treat to see each other over all these years, sharing new tales and chewing on some of the old chestnuts.
Best wishes from the class of ’68. I’ll be thinking of you, and remembering Will, as I try to play a few licks he tossed off so easily. There was joy there for him, and it radiated out to us so nicely.
Best wishes,
Peter Pease