Laura Florence Paul

Laura was born on September 20, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois where she grew up and graduated from Kennedy High School. She married James Paul on February 6, 1971. She worked for many years at Homer Junior High School in Homer Glen, Illinois.

Laura is preceded in death by her parents, Roland and Bernice (Miller) Pisoni

Laura is survived by her spouse James Paul; her children Thomas (Julie) Paul and Jennifer (Patrick) Ruettiger; grandchildren Elizabeth Paul, Emily (Cooper) Bartholomew, Anthony Paul, Paige Ruettiger, Alex Paul, Allison Ruettiger, and Erin Paul; great-grandchild James Paul; brother Roland (Sharon) Pisoni; nephew Jason Pisoni, and niece Natalie Johnson.

A celebration of life memorial to follow. Private interment at Good Shepherd Catholic Cemetery in Orland Park, Illinois.

Laura Paul was truly one of a kind. To know her was to love her.

Laura loved talking about her family and friends, and the way she spoke about them was a true reflection of her big heart and deep love for others. She not only loved sharing stories about the people she loved, but she also treasured simply being in their presence. Family time was precious to Laura. No matter where she lived, she always made it a priority to show up for her children and grandchildren. She was there for sports games, shows, graduations, birthdays, holidays, and every special moment in between. Distance never kept her from being present in the lives of the people she loved. Her presence was always felt, and it is something we all continue to feel today.

Laura found so much happiness in her retirement in Tucson, Arizona, where she discovered a love for jewelry making, volunteering, spending time with friends, and taking in the beautiful scenery around her. She loved the simple joys of life such as shopping, getting her nails done, enjoying a nice Italian dinner with a sweet treat afterward, listening to a good tune, sipping on a Diet Coke, carrying her favorite Vera Bradley purse, a cute pair of clip-on earrings, and relaxing in a comfy nightgown. She loved a trip to the hair salon, a random lunch date, playing Words with Friends and Solitaire, memorable trips to Sunset Plaza in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, sharing and receiving photos, laughing and striking up conversations with people wherever she went. She loved watching her children grow and build lives of their own, being a part of her grandchildren’s lives from the very beginning and staying connected to the people who meant the most to her. She could spend hours talking on the phone with an old friend or sending messages back and forth, never allowing time or distance to create a barrier between her and those she loved.

Laura remembered the little things. She remembered the details people shared with her and kept them close to her heart. She never missed sending a birthday card. She never missed an opportunity to check in, share a story, make someone laugh, or remind someone that she loved them.

Laura made an impact on everyone she met. Sometimes it was through a small act of kindness, sometimes through a story that made you laugh, and sometimes simply through the deep and genuine love she showed. She had a way of making people feel remembered, valued, and loved.

Laura's greatest gift was the way she loved people with her whole heart, without hesitation, and without letting time or distance stand in the way. Her stories, her laughter, her kindness, and most of all, her love will live on in everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. We will carry Laura with us in the stories we tell, the laughter we share, the traditions she made special, and the little things that remind us of her. We will carry her love in the way we show up for one another, the way we stay connected, and the way we never miss an opportunity to tell the people we love just how much they mean to us. She will always be a part of us, in our hearts, in our memories, and in the love we continue to share because of her.