Barbara Maggio Pauley
1951 - 2026
Share Barbara Maggio Pauley's obituary with others.
Invite friends and family to read the obituary and add memories.
Stay updated
We'll notify you when service details or new memories are added.
You're now following this obituary
We'll email you when there are updates.
Please select what you would like included for printing:
Joy. Compassion. Music. Puns. Laughter. Wordsmith. Humility. Loyalty. This is how we will remember Barbara Maggio Pauley. Barbara died at home with her husband, Ron Pauley at her side on March 27, 2026 in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Born in San Diego on June 15, 1951, she was the daughter of Aquilyn and Guy Maggio, MD. Barbara attended Point Loma High School and the Convent of the Sacred Heart in El Cajon before heading to northern California to Santa Clara University, where she graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She developed lifelong friendships while growing up in San Diego and at Santa Clara. While in college, she pursued her love of music by joining the University Chorus. She worked part time as a legal secretary and after college fine-tuned her skills as a paralegal. It wasn’t long after that she went on to study at the University of San Diego School of Law, receiving her Juris Doctor in 1982. For the next ten years Barbara worked as an associate counsel in San Diego at Miller, Boyko & Bell, later at Lewis, D’Amato, Brisbois & Bisgaard and at Long & Levitt. During her solo practice, she worked on the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
In 1991, through the invitation of a friend, she was introduced to Ron. They immediately connected and developed a bond as soulmates. Barbara and Ron were married in San Diego in 1992. They spent the next 34 years living and working in Frankfort and Lexington Kentucky.
After moving, Barbara was employed for 22 years in the Kentucky State Government Executive Branch. She worked as mediator and arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau and the American Arbitration Association. Barbara was passionate about the legal profession and her public service. She worked under numerous Cabinet Secretaries within the Cabinets of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, Public Protection, Energy and Human Resources as the Chief Hearing Officer in both litigation and legal advice. She served on the Kentucky Boards and Commissions and the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, where she drafted legislation and regulations. She also served as the Cabinet Ethics Officer under numerous Cabinet Secretaries. Barbara served five governors from both the Democratic and Republican administrations. She retired in 2015.
The greatest joy in Barbara’s life was spending time with friends and family, laughing over shared memories of childhood antics and college lore while also creating memories with her many close ties in Kentucky. Among her favorite pursuits, were reading, gardening, traveling with Ron, attending concerts, playing the piano, entertaining, discovering old family recipes, going to the horse races at her beloved Keeneland, and proudly sharing Kentuckian hospitality with relatives and friends from afar. She loved her large extended family and enjoyed visiting relatives in Indiana, Florida and California. Seeing her on the stage at family weddings, sharing the mic with the band was something to behold! Joie de vivre!
As a devout parishioner at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington, she served as a Lay Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. She also attended Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Frankfort after returning there in 2016. It was because of her love of nature that Barbara proudly embraced the call by Pope Francis to “Care for our Common Home” (Laudato si'). During her career she served as in-house counsel for many years to the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund. She was instrumental in saving over 88,000 acres of forest.
Paying it forward was important to Barbara. She enjoyed an array of volunteer work throughout her life including participation in an annual literacy fundraiser spelling bee, work at the local food bank, St. Vincent de Paul, breast cancer awareness, and supporting Covenant House for homeless youth as well as St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Barbara delighted in her work at the Kentucky Talking Book Library as a proofreader and narrator of digital audio-books. Her civic duty was a priority, which led to volunteer work as an election officer for many years.
In addition to Ron, Barbara is survived by her stepson Shay Pauley, granddaughter Piper Pauley, stepson Seth Pauley, her siblings, John Maggio (Susan), Mary Rudolph (Stephen), her brother-in-law Pete Colonelli as well as her sister-in-law Susan Pauley and brother-in-law Jim Pauley (Nelly). She leaves behind 13 nieces and nephews, and 27 great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, parents-in-law, Jean and Fred Pauley, and sister Carolyn Colonelli.
Barbara’s life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 10AM in the Chapel of Holy Cross Cemetery followed by internment at 11AM. Holy Cross Cemetery is located at 4470 Hilltop Drive San Diego, California. In lieu of flowers, Barbara’s family has requested that donations be made in her memory to Covenant House www.covenanthouse.org
Born in San Diego on June 15, 1951, she was the daughter of Aquilyn and Guy Maggio, MD. Barbara attended Point Loma High School and the Convent of the Sacred Heart in El Cajon before heading to northern California to Santa Clara University, where she graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She developed lifelong friendships while growing up in San Diego and at Santa Clara. While in college, she pursued her love of music by joining the University Chorus. She worked part time as a legal secretary and after college fine-tuned her skills as a paralegal. It wasn’t long after that she went on to study at the University of San Diego School of Law, receiving her Juris Doctor in 1982. For the next ten years Barbara worked as an associate counsel in San Diego at Miller, Boyko & Bell, later at Lewis, D’Amato, Brisbois & Bisgaard and at Long & Levitt. During her solo practice, she worked on the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
In 1991, through the invitation of a friend, she was introduced to Ron. They immediately connected and developed a bond as soulmates. Barbara and Ron were married in San Diego in 1992. They spent the next 34 years living and working in Frankfort and Lexington Kentucky.
After moving, Barbara was employed for 22 years in the Kentucky State Government Executive Branch. She worked as mediator and arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau and the American Arbitration Association. Barbara was passionate about the legal profession and her public service. She worked under numerous Cabinet Secretaries within the Cabinets of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, Public Protection, Energy and Human Resources as the Chief Hearing Officer in both litigation and legal advice. She served on the Kentucky Boards and Commissions and the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, where she drafted legislation and regulations. She also served as the Cabinet Ethics Officer under numerous Cabinet Secretaries. Barbara served five governors from both the Democratic and Republican administrations. She retired in 2015.
The greatest joy in Barbara’s life was spending time with friends and family, laughing over shared memories of childhood antics and college lore while also creating memories with her many close ties in Kentucky. Among her favorite pursuits, were reading, gardening, traveling with Ron, attending concerts, playing the piano, entertaining, discovering old family recipes, going to the horse races at her beloved Keeneland, and proudly sharing Kentuckian hospitality with relatives and friends from afar. She loved her large extended family and enjoyed visiting relatives in Indiana, Florida and California. Seeing her on the stage at family weddings, sharing the mic with the band was something to behold! Joie de vivre!
As a devout parishioner at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington, she served as a Lay Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. She also attended Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Frankfort after returning there in 2016. It was because of her love of nature that Barbara proudly embraced the call by Pope Francis to “Care for our Common Home” (Laudato si'). During her career she served as in-house counsel for many years to the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund. She was instrumental in saving over 88,000 acres of forest.
Paying it forward was important to Barbara. She enjoyed an array of volunteer work throughout her life including participation in an annual literacy fundraiser spelling bee, work at the local food bank, St. Vincent de Paul, breast cancer awareness, and supporting Covenant House for homeless youth as well as St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Barbara delighted in her work at the Kentucky Talking Book Library as a proofreader and narrator of digital audio-books. Her civic duty was a priority, which led to volunteer work as an election officer for many years.
In addition to Ron, Barbara is survived by her stepson Shay Pauley, granddaughter Piper Pauley, stepson Seth Pauley, her siblings, John Maggio (Susan), Mary Rudolph (Stephen), her brother-in-law Pete Colonelli as well as her sister-in-law Susan Pauley and brother-in-law Jim Pauley (Nelly). She leaves behind 13 nieces and nephews, and 27 great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, parents-in-law, Jean and Fred Pauley, and sister Carolyn Colonelli.
Barbara’s life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 10AM in the Chapel of Holy Cross Cemetery followed by internment at 11AM. Holy Cross Cemetery is located at 4470 Hilltop Drive San Diego, California. In lieu of flowers, Barbara’s family has requested that donations be made in her memory to Covenant House www.covenanthouse.org
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Barbara Maggio Pauley, please visit our flower store.
Barbara Maggio Pauley's Guestbook
Visits: 23
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors