Obituary of Berenice Paoli
PAOLI, Berenice
1937-2025
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Loretta Berenice Paoli (née McElligott) on January 15th, 2025, in Peterborough, Ontario at the age of 87.
Berenice is lovingly remembered as “The Grand Matriarch” by her children, Paul (Sandra), Louise (Giovanni), Loretta (Charlie), Mark (Susan), Greg (Ingrid), and Margaret (Jorge); her grandchildren, Michael, Stephanie, Géa (Yan), Sélène (Mat), Andrew, Justin, Caius, and Mateo; great-granddaughter Émilia; sister-in-law Maureen Meloche (Richard); as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Simon Louis Paoli and siblings, Joseph, Frances, Fr. John, and Raymond.
Berenice was born and raised in Mattawa, Ontario on Aug. 25, 1937, to Bérénice Landriau, an
elementary school teacher, and Francis McElligott, a high-school principal. Berenice and her four siblings enjoyed summers at the cottage on beautiful Lake Clear, Eganville, spending time with their Goulet and O’Brien cousins. Berenice graduated from the francophone program at Mattawa Public (later named F.J. McElligott) High School, earning a scholarship to St. Micheal’s College at the University of Toronto. She studied Latin, was awarded a gold medal for academic achievement, and qualified to become a teacher. There, she also met Lou Paoli from Charlottetown, and together they loved to dance, attending St. Mike’s dances every weekend.
After marrying and settling in Belle River, ON, the couple both worked as teachers and welcomed their two eldest children, before moving to Peterborough and then Lakefield, as the family grew with the addition of four more children. Berenice valued her community connections in Lakefield, attending barn dances with Lou, contributing to St. Paul’s CWL and Youth Group, enjoying the coffee chats at Dixie Lee after Sunday mass, and spending time with friends. In her later years, she lived a quieter life in Peterborough.
Education remained central to Berenice’s life; in addition to her parents and herself, her husband, sister, brother, and two of her daughters were all teachers. After sadly losing Lou to cancer in 1984, Berenice returned to teaching French full-time until her retirement in 2002. “Madame Paoli” is fondly remembered by students at St. Paul (Lakefield), St. Joseph (Douro-Dummer), St. Peter (Peterborough), and St. Luke (Downeyville) Catholic Elementary Schools. On the first day of school in September 2002, she remarked that, at 65, it was the first day of her entire life that wasn’t a “back-to-school” day for someone in her household.
Although Berenice lived in Ontario throughout her life, she also enjoyed travels across Canada and trips to Europe. In addition to summer visits to Lake Clear, Berenice and Lou loaded the kids into the station wagon for road trips to see the Paoli and Reddin relatives in PEI, camping en route in a crowded tent-trailer. After Berenice’s retirement, she and her brother, Father John, travelled by rail to Vancouver on the Rocky Mountaineer and joined tours of Ireland, France, Italy and the Danube River. She also enjoyed adventures with family to Naples, the Grand Canyon, the Qu’Appelle Valley, Cape Kildare, and other destinations. Berenice’s curiosity and sense of wonder made her a delightful travel companion.
An avid reader and CBC radio listener, Berenice was always eager to learn, share her astute observations, and discuss her strong opinions about current events, ideas, and the world. She was in her element when surrounded by children. Berenice will be remembered for her intelligence, kindness, and warmth, but especially for her distinctive laugh, dry sense of humour, and keen wit. To the end of her life, Berenice loved to laugh and was always quick with a razor-sharp quip, accompanied by the signature twinkle in her eye. Her bright and loving spirit will be sadly missed.
Arrangements have been entrusted to THE HENDREN FUNERAL HOMES – LAKEFIELD CHAPEL. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 22nd from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at The Hendren Funeral Home – Lakefield Chapel (66 Queen St, Lakefield). A funeral mass will begin at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 23rd, at St. Paul The Apostle Church (4 Reid St, Lakefield). Interment and a celebration of Berenice’s life will be planned for the summer. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Diabetes Canada or Breakthrough T1D Canada (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) by calling (705) 652-3355 or by visiting www.hendrenfuneralhome.com.
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