Nicolle Rivoire

Nicolle Gratianne Helene Gatien Rivoire of Gulf Breeze, Florida, left her earthly body on March 21, 2022, with her two daughters by her side.  She was born September 2, 1939 to Marie-Louise Parachou and Paul Denis Adolphe Gatien in Saint-Rimay (41800), Loir-et-Cher, France.  The day she was born, was the day that France declared war on Germany.  Her father left her and her mother behind for the war that day and she did not meet him again until December 24, 1945.   Her parents were residents of Paris, but they decided to birth her in the “country” where it was safer for children and families during those uncertain times.  After the occupation of France, in the tiny town where she was born, Hitler began the construction of one of his backup Headquarters, Wolfsschlucht III or “W3,” on May 1, 1942.  My mother remembered the German soldiers in the town and of seeing Hitler’s train that had been hidden in the tunnel near her home.  Nicolle’s mother died August 17, 1943, in Paris, before the end of the war.  For the next couple of years, she was raised by her grandmother, Helene Harang Gatien in Saint-Rimay and also lived with her mother’s family members in Pays Basque until her father’s return.  After the war, her father married her mother’s sister, Catherine Parachou and they welcomed the birth of her younger brother Christian Jean George Gatien, whom she cherished.  The family lived in Paris after the war.  She met her American Air Force husband, Freddy William Rivoire, in Paris, while he was stationed at Evreux Air Force Base.  They met through mutual friends, and they loved to dance together.  They were married, as was customary in France, at the “Le Maire” on 21 April 1962 as well as in the Roman Catholic Church on 24 April 1962.  They were married until his death on February 9, 1999.  During their marriage they had two daughters, Caroline and Brigitte Rivoire.  As with most military families they lived around the world and moved often during Freddy’s military career. Their overseas assignments were in France, Tiawan and Germany. She was a devoted wife and mother.  Her happiest times were spent with her family members.  Nicki is deeply missed.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Marie-Louise Parachou, Paul Gatien & Catherine Parachou and her brother, Christian Gatien and her husband, Freddy.  She leaves behind to cherish her memories her two daughters and their families, Caroline Windham and her husband, Dr. D. Pete Windham of Panama City, FL and Brigitte Wise and her husband, Tim Wise of Pensacola Beach.   Mémé leaves behind her grandsons, Dr. Will Windham and his wife Rebecca and Chad Wise; her granddaughters Michelle Wise and Catherine Richards and her husband, Nick.  Her two great-grandsons James and Henry Windham miss her as well.  She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Nicole Gatien and her nieces, Isabelle Lozano (Manuel) and Patricia LeRoux (Olivier); her brothers-in-law Joe Rivoire, Richard Rivoire (Rosalind), Glenn Rivoire (Mona), Paul Simon and sister-in-law Sherynn Rivoire.  Also left behind to mourn her loss are her cousins Jaques Gandolfo, Mayie LaCroix, Gerard Parachou, all of France, Martin Parachou of Folsom, California and Linda Wollman of San Francisco and many other cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation will be April 11th at 11:00am immediately followed by the funeral service at noon at St. Ann Catholic Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida, with Msgr. Hunt officiating.  Interment will follow at Fort Barrancas National Cemetery where she will be lied to rest next to her husband.

Flowers will be accepted, however, if you prefer to make a memorial or a donation, please consider Wreaths Across America.  https://donate.wreathsacrossamerica.org/