Paula Suzanne Olio

God called Paula Olio, his ex-nun, back to be by his side once more on December 1, 2025 at the age of 77 years old. Her life-wrenching effort to prevent cancer’s return was one final example of where her priority always was; to be at home with her love of 51 years, Jerry Olio, enjoying the life they built with their three children, Mandy (Olio) Urquhart, Devin Olio and Dorian Olio, their son-in-law, Jeff Urquhart, daughter-in-law, Kristi Olio, and their six grandchildren, Jaxon Urquhart, Taylor Urquhart, Presley Urquhart, Ty Olio, Stella Olio and Maverick Olio.

Paula’s love filled a home that was always stocked with everyone’s favorite foods, drinks, and activities. She sacrificed having a clean and perfect house for having one that always welcomed bare feet, dripping towels, spilled cups, and toys scattered everywhere. The last to sit down and the first to stand up, and always wearing an apron, Paula was most fulfilled when she was not just caring for others, but bolstering them. No matter what your hobby or ambition, she was right there to tell you you’d be the best at whatever it was, always believing in those she loved and wanting more for others than she ever expected for herself.

Born to Donna and John Smith, Paula grew up in Fontana, California. As part of a family that went to church every Sunday, Paula’s inherent caregiving nature, faith based upbringing and her adoration for the sisters that taught her during her years in Catholic school, led her to journey toward becoming a nun with the Daughters of Divine Charity. She attended St. Joseph Academy in Fontana for grade school, and spent her high school years at St. Bernadines in San Bernardino and Cathedral Girls High School in San Diego before graduating from St. Joseph Hill Academy and then attending Assumption College for Sisters and Marymount Manhattan College, all on the East Coast. She was always proud to say she learned to drive in New York!

While Paula enjoyed her years in the convent, there came a time when she knew she was ready for the next chapter, a new chapter. After leaving the convent, she made her way back home where she finished her degree at California State University, San Bernardino. While working in health care and pursuing a job in education, she met and fell in love with Jerry who was also from Fontana, but residing in Chico at the time. It didn’t take the two long to realize it was a forever thing. Paula followed her heart to Northern California where a dirt road, Scoles Lane, led to a lifetime of memories for them both.

At the heart of those memories were Paula and Jerry’s cherished days raising their children. As a stay-at-home mom for many years, being present and active in all her kids’ school activities and serving as a volunteer member of the PTA were some of Paula’s most endearing times. Once her children were grown, she continued working as an aide at Marigold and Neal Dow elementary schools and during that time stepped into her favorite role next to mom, grandma. Her love showed up in many ways – endless plates of mini pancakes, cheers from bleachers, sidelines and theater seats, curated holiday gift packages, treasured yard sale finds, unlimited popsicles, cartoons on repeat and always an open door with the smell of your favorite meal in the oven, and a warm hug waiting.

While mothering and grandmothering, Paula always found solace in her faith. She remained connected to her religious order as a member of the Angel Crew, a group of former Daughters of Divine Charity where she helped with communication and donations for a time, attended reunions, and answered prayer calls. She continued to follow the Lord throughout her life, attending St. John’s Catholic church and Our Divine Saviour in Chico over the years, finding comfort in prayer with her Rosary, and of course, much joy in her collection of nun dolls.

As a little girl, Paula loved dolls and caring for dolls, a passion that remained a source of delight her entire life. She was a member of the Doll Doctor’s Association (DDA), and one of her personal triumphs was attending the DDA’s repair class in Virginia and becoming a certified doll repair technician, so she could refurbish and restore dolls; her way of helping to keep doll history alive for the next generations to enjoy and appreciate as much as she did.

Beyond her foundational cornerstones, like her faith and caregiving, it was truly the everyday ordinary things over the years that were at the top of Paula’s favorites list – helping Jerry tend to their two acre property and small vineyard, going on park walks, sitting on her front porch swing, watering her plants, keeping the humming birds fed and spotting them out her front window, watching a John Candy movie, sipping a cup of coffee or glass of wine on their driveway while chatting and watching the grandkids play; just relishing in the small enjoyments of life, just as her mom taught her to do. They both loved singing and laughing, and now they are together again in the Angel’s choir filling heaven with humor and song.

While Jerry knows she was merely on loan to him, he is tremendously grateful for the time he was given, and he longs for the day he can hold her hand again in the next life. In loving sentiment to his memories of being set up on their first date, a blind date, Jerry says from experience, “Make an ex-nun your wife, and be happy for the rest of your life.”

The Olio family extends their support and well wishes to all those battling cancer and enduring treatment that can come with a multitude of unexpected challenges. Through it all, we held on to hope. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving, in honor and memorium of Paula, to an organization that supports your faith, cancer research and care, education, doll history preservation or any cause meaningful to you and your fond memories of her.

If you would like to receive information regarding future celebration and service plans, please email Paula’s daughter, Mandy, at [email protected].