Patricia Paquin and her daughter, Florence, have many things in common. At almost 10 years old, the host’s daughter has recently shown a certain interest in following in her mother’s footsteps while her brother, Gabriel, seems to be following those of his father, Louis-François Marcotte. In the midst of the magic of the holiday season, mother and daughter immerse themselves in their fondest memories of this period. The only downside: Patricia will experience her first Christmas without her mother, who died last spring. The matriarch leaves a great void behind her, but also traditions that will be perpetuated by children and grandchildren…
• Also read: Patricia Paquin would have abandoned her microphone if Marie-Eve Janvier had been fired in her place
• Also read: Patricia Paquin explains the circumstances of the death of her parents
Patricia, will Christmas have a different flavor this year, with your mom leaving?
That’s for sure. I also lost my dad the year before. Last year we experienced our first Christmas without Papitou, and this year it will be our first Christmas without both my parents. My family has a great sense of celebration and humor. We are sure to wink in reference to our mother. But life must go on and above all, we wish to perpetuate its traditions. It’s a way to keep it alive.
It’s still a big piece…
It’s true, but that’s life… She was very present for us, but also for the grandchildren. My parents were getting old. The last Christmases, my dad was there physically, but he was not present. This is what many people dealing with memory loss experience. On the other hand, this was not the case for my mother, who was there until the end. She loved parties and she had a sense of humor. Louis-François and I always teased my parents by telling them that it might be their last Christmas and that we had to take good care of them, feed them well… It made them laugh. We never know how much time our loved ones have left, so we have to take advantage of it.
Christmas dinners must be pretty memorable at your house?
My boyfriend is a hunter, so we always have game meat. Back then, my mother always made the same meal. Since I have been with Louis-François, that is to say 16 years, we have never offered the same meal. On Christmas morning, Florence and her dad cook pancakes together. She’s super good! Gabriel, who is 14 years old and in secondary 3, is already planning to study at ITHQ in restaurant management. He wants to follow in his dad’s footsteps. As Louis-François says, he does not need to become a leader, but at least he will have a basis that will serve him in life and in death. We’ll see…
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