By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

SEEKONK--Seekonk Police Officer Fred Paquin is being hailed as “the hero of the day” by the Michael family of Natick, Mass. By pulling over an erratic driver on Route 44 on Christmas Day, Paquin helped ensure the safe return of a 93-year-old woman who had been reported missing almost 20 hours before.

Ronald Michael, also of Natick, had phoned Natick police on Monday when his elderly mother, Katherine Michael, failed to arrive at his home for a Christmas Eve supper as planned.  Michael said he had spoken to his mother at around 3:30 p.m. and she told him she was planning to attend a 4 p.m. mass at St. Zepherin Church in Wayland, and would then come by his house.

Michael, a retired Natick firefighter, said he grew worried when his normally plucky and dependable mother hadn’t shown up by about 8 p.m. An all-points bulletin eventually went out, and police throughout the metro west region began searching for Michael’s vehicle.

While her family spent a heartsick Christmas Eve, a tired and confused Michael apparently just kept driving around all night, eventually making her way toward Seekonk. At around 3 p.m., Paquin spotted her vehicle weaving on Route 44 and pulled her over. She was transported back to the Seekonk Police Station, where her family was notified.

Michael said he was “elated” when he got the news that his mother had been found, and was safe and sound in Seekonk. He said the Natick police drove him and his brother, William, down to Seekonk. “When I saw her sitting there in the police station, I just couldn’t believe it,” he said. “She looked tired, but she was okay.”  He added that his mother apparently had just kept driving for about 20 hours, apparently never stopping to rest or take a bathroom break. She told Paquin hat she had been looking for a gas station, he added.

Michael said that, despite his mother’s advanced age, he hasn’t been concerned about her driving. He said she is of sound mind and health, and has never had any issues with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A widow for several years, she lives in her own home and takes care of her 96-year-old sister, he stated.

Michael told her son that she just became confused between the darkness, the road signs and the heavy Christmas Eve traffic. She told him she kept seeing signs such as the way toward West Brudgewater, where her other son lives, and the way to the Cape, where the family spends summer, but kept driving around in circles.

However, Michael said the episode was so out of character for his mother that he took her to a hospital for an evaluation. Tests showed an acute urinary tract infection, which, he was told, can cause confusion in the elderly. “I’m sure that contributed, on top of the darkness and everything else,” he said.

Michael said he and his family wish to thank all of the police and fire personnel throughout Massachusetts who helped in the search for their mother. He said he is particularly grateful to the Natick Police, and of course, the Seekonk Police and Paquin. “If he hadn’t stopped her when he did, there’s no telling what would have happened,” said Michael.

He added that the holiday “started out awful, but wound up to be the best Christmas the family’s ever had.”