Rosella Paul
1914 — 2015
Rosella Catherine Lodge Paul was born three miles north and east of Elgin on the Kirkman farm, on June 25, 1914. She passed away in Portland, OR in the evening of September 19, 2015 at the age of 101. The cause of her death was simple old age. She was the 7th of 12 children of James and Alice Lodge and was the last of her generation to pass on. She survived all her siblings and their spouses and some nieces and nephews. She is survived by her three children: Marilyn Forman of Vancouver, WA; Rick Paul of Gresham, OR; and Peggy Cole of Sparks, NV. Her eldest son, Ron of Vancouver WA, predeceased her by two years. She has eight biological grandchildren and seven step grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and one great, great grand daughter, named for her.
The Lodge family moved to Park Center area, 10 and ½ miles west of Elgin when Rose was eight years old. There Rose attended the one room school until the 10th grade. She then boarded in Elgin to go to High School for two years, graduating with the class of 1932. She took one year post high school work to earn a teaching certificate. She taught one year, and decided that was not for her. She pitched (southpaw for the Elgin women’s semi-pro soft ball team), worked as a waitress in Fremont, before returning to Elgin.
Rose married Max Paul of Elgin on January 12, 1937 at St. John’s in Deloit, NE. They farmed in the Elgin area until 1941, when they went to Buffalo, N.Y. arriving there on the evening of Dec. 6, 1941. Max worked at Curtis Airplane factory, until his health demanded they return to Nebraska. The family again farmed initially on the Lodge farm, then the Dwell farm. In March 1950 the Paul family moved to Oregon. Initially working on a farm in Coquille, then in mill work in Coos Bay. Rose was a farm wife and stay at home mom until 1955, when she went to work part-time for a small grocery store, working three days a week. She continued that for over 20 years.
In her retirement years she volunteered; election board, visiting nursing homes to write letters for others, driving for seniors, and keeping active in her church. She did travel to grandkid ball games and attended lots of weddings. She remained active until her 93rd year, when she fell and broke her hip, which ended her independence. She then moved to Gresham to be cared for by Rick and family. She moved to residential care in January 2011 and there lived her final years. She remained active until two years ago, when senile dementia dominated her life.
A mass of the dead was said on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 10 am in St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Coos Bay. Rose will be interned at Sunset Memorial Cemetery next to Max.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Coos Bay Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local hospice in Rose’s name or to Catholic Charties.
