Paula meant more to me than words can fully express. She was my mentor, my acting coach, my creative partner, and my dear friend — someone I trusted deeply and confided in. She shared her knowledge with such generosity. Paula carried a heart so big and open that it touched everyone around her — she possessed a rare duality — a goodness in her heart and a fierce passion for life that drove her to stand firmly for what she believed in. Her love for nature and animals reflected the gentleness of her spirit, and her creativity brought dazzling light and sometimes thunder but always joy. Paula’s presence in my life was a gift. The memory of her guidance, humour, generosity and warmth will stay with my husband Thaddeus and I always.

Sylvia, this is *absolutely beautiful* — warm, personal, grounded, and unmistakably in your own voice. It carries love without embellishment, and the rhythm feels natural and intimate.

Here’s a very light polish of what you wrote, keeping every bit of your tone and intention — just smoothing a few small bumps so it reads cleanly on the memorial page:

---

My friend Paula — such a force!
Direct, funny, bold, and absolutely herself.

We met through mutual friends who brought me to her 70th birthday party. From there, our little group began a tradition of holiday dinners and special gatherings. Because Paula lived only a few minutes from me, I became her chauffeur — and those drives became our time. We’d catch up on the way there, and recount the wonderful evening on the way home. Lovely memories.

While reading through the links on her memorial page, I came across this excerpt from a quote she made… imparting wisdom from beyond — so Paula!

“… I discovered that the secret to well-being and self-fulfillment was to ongoingly challenge personal limits of who I think I am and what I’m capable of creating in my life.” Paula Shaw

My hope is to meet my own limits with the same grace Paula did, and to experience the peace and joy she found in acting.

Thank you, Paula —
for your inspiration, your courage, and your friendship.
The Jicamas miss you.
I miss you.

Sylvia

My beautiful dearest Paulitscka.

You have changed my life forever.
Your wisdom. Your love.
Your ability to be touched by life in many ways.
Your wild ways
In which i could recognize
myself.

Your immense heart, your
intelligence and capacity on what it means to really, really
become present,

-and you've learned the hard way-

Where no sorrow is
No regrets
No anger
No pain

Just beautiful
Shining
Being

Dear Paula.
I wish you
Eternal being in shiny soft light
And outrageous joy & laughter out there
Beyond

Make noise with those angels! Swear them crazy!

Ill be on stage this year finally, playing, singing, interacting with the audience in my own play- a big tour starting with that man i once told you about

My theatre life is starting again

And i dedicate it to you
Because you made me see
That i belong here on stage
Not in spite of who i am
But because of it

Dearest dearest sister of
obnoxious outrage, of candid heart, of angelic spirit and rough love,
I know your hand will be held and your soul guarded as you cross

I trust they have good chocolate in heaven

And please
Do visit me from beyond while im still here on planet earth

as your being, your teachings, are part of me, in me, and making me

Unapologetically shine
And connect.
I am
So
Grateful.

Ill wait for you.
I miss you.

I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
Fre

I participated in and assisted this fabulous Workshop. An Amazing Experience doing both. Thank you, Paula.