Rita B Paulus

Rita Bridget Paulus, 89, of Fort Gratiot, died Thursday, April 30, 2015.

She was born at home on May 22, 1925 in Montreal, Canada to the late Francis and Mary O’Reilly. She married George Paulus on September 15, 1951 in Detroit.

We know Rita loved children because after nurturing ten of her own she spent over twenty years as a pediatric nurse at Port Huron Hospital. After she retired, Rita enjoyed making dolls for her family and friends. She also volunteered at the Red Cross and the People’s Clinic. She was a member of St. Christopher Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Marysville Council #9526 Auxiliary, the Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the Red Hat Ladies and the Michigan Doll Guild. Mom was a wonderful woman; sweet, kind, amazingly strong and incredibly gentle at the same time.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, George; eight children, Mark Paulus, Bill Paulus, Matt (Julie) Paulus, Karen Paulus, Julia (Marc) Shure, Nancy (Scott) Armstrong, Janet O’Malley and Bridget (Scot) Smith; 14 grandchildren; a great granddaughter; two sisters, SSND Mary Brigid O’Reilly and SSND Mary Denis O’Reilly; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two sons, Michael in 1990 and Daniel in 2015; a brother, Fran O'Reilly; and three sisters, Helen Schulte, Catherine Tyll and Irene Costello.

Visitation will be 2-4 & 6-9 p.m. Tuesday in the Marysville Funeral Home.

Mrs. Paulus will lie in state from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 in St. Christopher Catholic Church. The Reverend Arthur Baranowski will officiate.

The Rite of Committal will follow in Riverlawn Cemetery, Marysville. Her grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers or memorial contributions, Rita’s family would like you to honor her by appreciating someone you love - perhaps a dinner out, a poem, flowers, or just a big hug.