Edna Mary Pauly was born on February 28, 1932, to Edna and Leo Price. She grew up on Dover Street in the heart of Chicago, in what she called an “Irish Ghetto,” surrounded and loved by her immediate family and many doting aunts. Edna went to Immaculata, a Catholic high school in the neighborhood. Although Immaculata was an all-girls high school, she spent much of her time hanging out with her brothers, Leo (Bud), John and Edward (Eddie) and we have heard many stories about her adventures with them on and around Dover Street. According to Mom, her older sister was a little less rough and tumble than Edna and her brothers, but Mary Beth hung the moon for her, nonetheless. The story we grew up with about how our parents met was that Edna got to know our father, George Pauly, through her brother Bud who went to high school with George. They fell in love and married, and for a time continued to live in Chicago. Then one summer George’s friend Cecil Johnson decided to pack up and move his large family to
the wilds of Wisconsin and asked for help. George and
Edna were all in and they made the trek to Wisconsin
to help the Johnsons move. Once there, they loved it so
much that they never left. Edna and George raised
four children - Elizabeth, Mary, Kathleen and Sean.
As a parent Edna was calm, affirming, loving, and challenging. As a grandmother, Edna brought a sense of
peace to her grandchildren. She offered companionship
in a world that didn’t always make sense. She was proud
of and deeply cherished those relationships. Edna
saw the individual beauty in her grandchildren but was
never shy to challenge them. She was intentional in the
ways she sought to connect to her grandchildren and did
so through writing, art, travel, card games, gardening, cooking and above all else, quality time.She found a haven on Frenchtown Road in the Northwoods of Wisconsin
and named it Paulyhaus, a mecca for anyone who might
need her insights and attention. Edna was good with her hands - she began with skills traditionally labeled as
“women’s work” - gardening, canning, sewing, and later became a skilled carpenter and carver, building everything from furniture to sets for the ShowCase Players to Christmas tree ornaments. She was insatiably curious and deeply spiritual a combination that led her to question everything and everyone. She taught us that being part of a community and contributing to it was essential, and she lived those lessons. An active member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, she was on the decorating committee and contributed to Christmas Tree Lane for many years, taught
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), served as
a lector and as a Eucharistic minister - all roles that were
incredibly important to her. It was at Holy Rosary where Edna met her lifelong friend, Sister Margaret Trzebiatowski. Over the years Margaret and Edna worked,
ministered to the community, studied, and traveled together, and Margaret became an integral part of our
family. And when Edna was no longer able to live by herself, Margaret cared for her, making it possible for
Edna to remain at her haven, Paulyhaus, until she died on
November 17. While Edna told people that she liked being alone, she loved deeply and treasured her family and her
friendships. We will miss her, but we are who we are
in part because of her and we will carry her with us always. Edna is survived by her four children, Elizabeth
Pauly (William Waddington) of Minneapolis, MN, Mary
(Keith) Isaacs of La Crosse, WI, Kathleen (Danny) Rorabeck, of Hudson WI, and Sean Pauly of Joliet, IL, her
eight grandchildren, Margaret Waddington, Patrick
(Tressa) Isaacs, Cassie Isaacs, Jake (Devin) Rorabeck,
Mallory (Nate) Hildebrant, Kelsey Rorabeck (Kevin
Olson), Nicholas and Logan Pauly, her nine great-grandchildren, Murphy, Bodie and Maxine Rorabeck, James, Hayden and Peyton Hildebrant, Oliver, Vail and Thea Isaacs, and best friend and caregiver Margaret Trzebiatowski, SSJ-TOSF. A funeral service was
held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Owen, WI on
December 5, 2024. In lieu of flowers, memorials are
suggested to your local food bank or homeless shelter.
