Obituary of Peter F. Payette

October 2, 1934 – February 21, 2021

Peter F. Payette.  Age 86 of Grosse Ile.    

Loving father of Chris (Julie) Payette, Brian (Anita) Payette and Michele Payette.  Dearest grandfather of Anna, Christopher Jr. and Matthew.  Dear brother of Mary Jo (Bob) Luyckx, Tom (Kathleen) Payette, the late Mary Helen (Charles) Phillips and the late Paul Payette. 

Cremation will take place at The On-Site Crematory located within the Molnar Funeral Homes - Brownstown Chapel.

Memorial contributions are appreciated to Grosse Ile Goodfellows, P.O. Box 1, Grosse Ile, MI  48138 and/or Grosse Ile Sacred Heart Church.

Family Tribute

Peter was born in Detroit, MI, on October 2, 1934 to Joseph A. Payette and Ruth Blanche Payette (nee: O’Donnell).  His roots on Grosse Ile go back many generations, including the O’Donnell, Parent, Reaume, Bury, McDougall, Campau and Navarre families.  Peter is also related to the original Grosse Ile Macomb family by marriage between the Macomb and Navarre families.  Peter’s grandchildren are the 8th generation of the family continuously living on Grosse Ile.

The Payette family moved to Grosse Ile in December, 1941 and occupied Dr. Francis X. and Josephine Zinger’s (sister to Peter’s grandmother Blanche Parent O’Donnell) home at 21808 East River Road.

Peter attended Grosse Ile and St. Joseph (Wyandotte) grade schools and graduated from St. Patrick High School, Wyandotte in 1953. 

Peter attended General Motors Institute in Flint, MI in 1953 under a co-op program with Cadillac Motor Car Division.  He graduated in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in Business.

At the age of 22, Peter joined the Grosse Ile Volunteer Fire Department.  His 64 years of loyalty and selfless service to the citizens of Grosse Ile showed he was a leader, as he performed every task in a superior manner.

In the 1960s, Peter started the Peter F. Payette Company, selling fire trucks and equipment all over Michigan.  In 1982, Peter’s son Chris followed in his footsteps, taking over the business that is now known as Payette Sales & Service, Inc.  Peter worked with Chris and continued to assist the Fire Department until September, 2020. 

Peter passed away peacefully at home on February 21, 2021 with his family by his side, after a lengthy illness.  Peter is survived by his three children; Christopher (Julie), Brian (Anita) and Michelle.   Also survived by grandchildren; Anna, Christopher and Matthew, siblings; Mary Jo (Robert) Luyckx and Thomas (Kathleen) Payette and former wife Mary Lou Payette (nee: Richardson).  He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Mary Helen (Charlie) Phillips and brother Paul (Kim) Payette.

The family wishes to extend their special thanks to the many people that helped care for Peter, including the Grosse Ile Fire Department, Grosse Ile Goodfellows and Sacred Heart Church of Grosse Ile. 

The family asks in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be directed to the Grosse Ile Goodfellows, P.O. Box 1, Grosse Ile, MI  48138, and/or Grosse Ile Sacred Heart Church.