Pauline “Paula” Ruth Barnes

Paula died on Monday, February 18, 2019 at the age of 90.  After living 62 years in her house on Milan Ave. S.W., she moved a couple of years ago to Vista Springs.  She enjoyed her stay at Vista Springs, with the loving and supportive care from many of the aides, activity leaders, and chaplain.  In the past year she received valuable comforting support and many visits from Faith Hospice caregivers.
Paula always enjoyed socializing and was willing to share some conversations.  These usually included “stories” about her life and family.  Travel, a pleasure to her, could be a car ride around Grand Rapids and beyond, which brought back memories of places she had lived in her younger years, work experiences, family members and friends, and special events in her life.  She enjoyed “family reunions” in Allegan, MI, Kentucky, Colorado, California, Florida and Toronto, Ontario, and often traveled to Northern Michigan.  Just before her 75^th birthday, Paula surprised everyone by travelling with her daughter, Jan and husband Mike, to visit a friend in England, then to Nairobi, Kenya, visiting an isolated refugee camp; and finally on to Eritrea, also in Africa, to see more friends.  What a wonderful experience!
Paula lived nearly 35 years beyond her husband, Gerald “Jerry” Barnes, who died in May 1984. Jerry worked with the City of Wyoming, Michigan as a very accomplished senior mechanic, maintaining the City’s fleet of trucks, cars and a variety of equipment.
Paula had many work experiences during her life.  For many years she served as church secretary for Grace Lutheran Church, Wyoming, MI with Pastor William Woldt and Pastor Noble Lach.  She and Jerry were very active at Grace, and she shared lots of good memories of friends from Grace. More recently Paula enjoyed being part of the “apple pie making events” every fall, and her family enjoyed eating those delicious pies! Yum!  Following Grace, she served many years  as school secretary for Our Savior Lutheran School [formerly Martin Luther Lutheran School] in Grand Rapids, MI.  The children and faculty always loved “Mrs. Barnes” and she loved participating in many school adventures.  The Friday Newsletter was her specialty.
In February 2005, another heartbreak for Paula was the death of her oldest son, Jerry, who had lived with her for a few years.  Paula’s final resting place at Resurrection Cemetery in Wyoming, MI, will be next to her husband Gerald and her son Jerry.
Paula always said she “didn’t have any hobbies and wasn’t a craft making person”, however she enjoyed cooking and baking.  She always made “extras” to share with family, and knew everyone’s favorite birthday cake or pie!   Baking dozens and dozens of Christmas cookies with her best friends Jean Burke and Norma Minkus was an annual event right up until a few years ago.   Another activity Paula did regularly was “painting”…her house.  Every few years she would decide to paint the rooms and freshen up her home.  For some reason she never thought climbing a ladder was dangerous, even after a couple of falls and broken arms.  She worked hard to make her home a welcoming place to family and friends.
As for her remaining children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Paula enjoyed their visits and their presence in her life.  Her youngest son, Mark, and his wife Lisa, live in Wyoming, MI and have been constant caregivers.  Especially in her later years, they have visited her daily at Vista Springs, and before that made sure all her needs were met while she lived alone in her house on Milan. Mark managed the daily affairs, paperwork and Paula’s personal needs, while Lisa, with a gift for organizing and awareness of care-needs, kept events going and looked after the care mom received.  Mark and Lisa’s children, Jennifer, and her husband Dale in Forida; Laura, a mom to Eleanor; Nathan and son, Liam; Caleb; and Zachary; and Lisa’s sister [aka Paula’s “adopted” daughter], Stephanie,  all in Grand Rapids, visited Paula often and were much loved and a vital part of her life.
Paula’s daughter, Jan and her husband Michael, lived more distant in miles in California and Toronto, ON for 47 years.  They traveled regularly to Michigan to visit, and when Paula was no longer able to travel long distances, Jan and Mike made regular monthly visits to spend time with her and the rest of the family.  Their children, Sun, and her husband Sam live in Hamilton, ON; and son Philip and his wife Stephanie, and their children Ember and Asher live in San Jose, California.  Although their visits were a little farther apart, their love for their grandmother is great, and they too knew how much she cared for each of them.
Son Jerry’s children, were often present in Paula’s life as they lived right around the corner.  She celebrated Joshua’s marriage to Dawn, with many family and friends; Amanda and her husband, and Jillian and husband Tim, have four children, and all live in the Grand Rapids area.  Amanda and Jill were able to visit, as well as other family members, which meant a lot to Paula.
During her 90 years, Paula attended many baptisms, confirmations, graduations, baseball and basketball games, choir concerts, school plays and performances, and weddings for her children and grandchildren.  She was an active part of their lives, as they were in hers.
Over the years she also maintained a close relationship to her sisters and brothers in-law, Claude and Sandy Lambert in Rockford, and Roger and Shari Lambert of Arizona.  Although Claude and Shari are deceased, she enjoyed Aunt Sandy’s many visits and telephone calls.  And it was always a joy when she could reunite with her many nieces and nephews over the years.
Besides family, Paula treasured her many friends and neighbors from her churches, school, and on Milan Street!  She even donned a bright “red hat” for a few years and participated with “Jeannie’s Jewels” her Red Hat Ladies friends.
Paula’s full and eventful life will be celebrated at her funeral on Tuesday, February 26 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 2900 Burton Street S.E., Grand Rapids at 11:00 am with a visitation at 10am.  And the family will welcome visitors on Monday afternoon from 4pm-7pm at MKD Funeral Home, 4031 Clyde Park S.W.,Wyoming.
Thank you for your comfort, prayers and celebrating Paula with all of us.