Dr. Vicente C. Pacheco

Vicente C. Pacheco, age 85, of Canton, passed away on May 8, 2025. He was born on March 15, 1940 in Legazpi City, Philippines; son of Isaias B. and Teodora (Calleja) Pacheco. He was united in marriage to Donna L. Koschen on June 28, 1968; devoted to their love for over 56 years.

After marrying Donna, Vicente spent 21 years building a home together in the Northville and Plymouth area. He recently moved to Canton from Metamora, having also lived in Dryden, North Muskegon, and South Bend, Indiana.

Vicente earned his medical degree from Far Eastern University in 1963. He began his pediatric residency at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, then transferred after one year to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He went on to complete a two-year adult psychiatry residency at Detroit General Hospital through Wayne State University, followed by a child psychiatry residency at Hawthorn Center through the Michigan Department of Mental Health.

Vicente was a dedicated child psychiatrist who made a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of children throughout his career. Known for his compassion and generous spirit, he had a true calling to help others. In addition to his clinical work, he served as a consultant for South Redford Schools and Kingswood Hospital in Ferndale and later established a private practice in Plymouth. After decades of devoted service to youth in Michigan and Indiana, he ended his career as staff psychiatrist for Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer, retiring at the age of 82.

Vicente was an enthusiastic model train collector and a talented woodworker - from artful yard sculpture to large-scale DIY landscape projects. He had a deep love for travel, happily planning vacations for his family. His favorite destination was Hawaii, especially the Big Island and Kauai, which he cherished. Vicente also found joy in the beauty of Michigan, often taking scenic drives along Lake Michigan with his wife. He took great pride in maintaining his property, whether it was mowing the lawn, protecting the dune, or plowing a meandering driveway. Vicente was a lover of animals, dutifully caring for many family pets throughout the years. A devoted Detroit sports fan, Vicente stood by his teams—especially the Lions—even during tough seasons.

Vicente is survived by his loving wife Donna; his children, Michael (Heather) Pacheco, Antonio (Stefania) Pacheco, and Theresa (Charles) Harris; and his grandchildren, Aaron, Daniel, Nina, and Martin Pacheco. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 West Dunlap, Northville. Rev. Florence Ernzen will officiate the service. Hawaiian shirts are encouraged.

Memorial Contributions to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan (wish.org/michigan) or Association for Children’s Mental Health (www.acmh-mi.org) would be appreciated.