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Obituary for Joan Paulson
Joan Paulson was born into this world on June 15, 1932. She left it on November 9, 2010. In the years in between she touched countless lives with her love and kindness and has left behind family and friends who will miss her dearly but always cherish her memory.
When Joan and her twin sister Jean made their appearance on June 15, 1932, they joined their six older sisters, Alice, Myrtle, Mildred, Martha, Betty, and Norma. Despite being twins, Jean and Joan never looked remotely alike, with Jean tall and lanky and Joan on the shorter side. With such a large family, there wasn�t much to go around, including middle names, which Joan never received. Regardless, the family was always close. Joan�s mother was always there to help her out, and the day her �Mama� died was a difficult day for Joan.
Joan married in 1950 and bore 6 children over the next 20 years: Rob, Paula, Shirley, Larry, Cindy and Kim. She lived for her children, and her life revolved around them. As her children grew, along came her grandchildren, fourteen in all (Heather, Rob, Jason, Colin, Rachael, Kristy, Jamie, Nicole, Christopher, Calvin, Bradley, Sophie, Dominic, and Adrienne), and four great-grandchildren (Samantha, Nicholas, Carson, and Makayla). Christmas Day was a special time of year for Joan � a day when the entire family would come together for a sometimes crazy but always fun day of food, presents, and togetherness.
Although her children took up most of her time, Joan worked for the family business for decades � keeping the books, doing payroll, and the like. In her spare time she could usually be found scribbling in one of her numerous crossword puzzle books or working on her crafts.
Later in life, after her youngest had left for college, Joan earned her real estate license. For the next several years, she worked part-time as a real estate agent. She enjoyed having a job to go to and the satisfaction that comes with work.
After nearly fifty years of marriage, Joan set out on her own for the first time in her life. It was scary for her, but she persevered and discovered for the first time the happiness and sense of achievement that comes from self-sufficiency. She made new friends, traveled new places, and with the help of her children and grandchildren, established a new life for herself. She even got a part-time job working at the jewelry counter at Kohl�s, where she made friends and enjoyed her work.
Unfortunately, she was plagued by health problems, including a broken hip, during the last years of her life. When her Lewy Body Dementia set in, her children knew that they were losing their mother. Her children rallied around her to be sure she received the best care and that all her needs were met, up until the end. Joan�s family, with the assistance of Hospice of Michigan, helped her live out her final days in comfort and dignity, surrounded by her loved ones.
The pangs of Joan�s death are felt sharply by those who love her. Joan was known for her kindness and selflessness, never wanting to bother or inconvenience anyone, but willing (literally) to give you the shirt off her back. She inspired those around her to be better people, and her children to be better parents. Joan also possessed an unexpected sense of humor that often caught people off guard. She made us smile; she made us want to be more like her; and most of all, she made us want for her to never leave.
Joan is survived by her children, Robert (Jackie) Paulson, Paula (Michael) Koran, Shirley (Robert) Frazier, Larry (Cynthia) Paulson, Cindy (William) Glaspie, and Kimberly (James) Avolio, 14 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and 5 sisters.
Visitation at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road (between 14-15 Mile Rds.) Friday, November 12th, 3-8pm. Funeral Saturday, November 13th at 11am with a luncheon to follow. Friends may visit beginning at 10am.
The family asks that any �in memoriam� gifts be made to Hospice of Michigan, 400 Mack Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201.
