Jodi Markworth

Obituary of Jodi Paquin Markworth

 

Markworth, Jodi Paquin

On Sunday, August 4, Jodi Paquin Markworth of Plymouth, loving mother and devoted educator, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Jodi was born in South Korea on March 17, 1967 and at the age of five was adopted into the Paquin family of Mankato, MN. Assimilating into a new culture and language with grace and resolve, Jodi grew up in Mankato and graduated from Mankato West High School. After a stint living on the East Coast in her 20s, Jodi returned to Minnesota to begin her career in education, earning certificates and advanced degrees from the University of St. Thomas, Augsburg University and Minnesota State University, Mankato. Jodi derived her greatest satisfaction working with kids from underprivileged environments. Her career as a teacher and administrator spanned the Robbinsdale, Richfield, and Eden Prairie school districts, and she was most recently Director at the Minnesota Excellence in Learning Academy (MELA), an elementary charter school in Maple Grove. Jodi held her Korean roots close, and in addition to proselytizing the joys of kimchi she mentored Korean adoptees and served on the Board of Directors of Theater Mu, a theater company dedicated to celebrating and empowering Asian Americans. Jodi and her former spouse Tim raised two sons, Joshua and Jakobe, who were her greatest joys, and whom she continued to mother even from her pajamas in hospice ("Josh, when is your open enrollment?"). Jodi's friends and family remember her as an indomitable spirit strong-willed, fiery and fun. As an educator and administrator her door was always open, and she remained a tireless friend and counselor even as her own health and energy were flagging. She was the aunt who took you for mani-pedis while grilling you about college and career plans, the Principal by day who dragged you out dancing at night even though you claimed to be tired, the ball of energy who went to the hip-hop show regardless of chemotherapy, the softie who drove cross-country to adopt her Teddy Bear puppy Cooper, the surprise foodie from a non-foodie family who praised excellent cuisine but heaven help the restaurant if her meal came up short of its promise. Jodi was preceded in death by her father Roger Paquin and nephew Noah Paquin. She is survived by her sons Joshua and Jakobe Markworth; mother Lucy; siblings Mike (Sharon) Paquin, Jill (Marc) Tullemans and Steve (Stephanie) Paquin; nieces & nephews Morgan Roe, Caila Paquin, Miles and Simon Petrick and Chantelle and Nick Tullemans. At Jodi's request a non-traditional Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, August 18th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Honey Lounge, 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. 1:00-1:45, Visitation 1:45-2:30, Celebration Ceremony 2:30-4:00, Dance Party with Open Mic Remembrances Memorial donations may be sent to the Minnesota Excellence in Learning Academy at 9060 Zanzibar Lane N., Maple Grove, MN 55311. A PayPal link is also available at mnela.org/…. Please indicate on your check memo or PayPal special instructions that the donation is in memory of Jodi Markworth so the Academy can use the funds to fill a lasting need that will be specifically dedicated in Jodi's name.

Sunday
18
August

Celebration of Life

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Honey Lounge
205 E Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
(612) 746-0306

Service Details

Visitation 1:45-2:30 Celebration Ceremony 2:30-4:00, Dance Party with Open Mic Remembrances