Paula D. Stein

Paula D. Stein, 79, of Glastonbury, formerly of East Hartford, beloved wife for nearly 57 years of the late Robert B Stein, devoted mother and grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, April 22, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. Born in East Hartford, CT, she was the daughter of the late Angelo and Josephine (Gurka) Donofrio and was predeceased by her sister, Cathy Betz. Paula excelled in high school while also enjoying her time in chorus and taking part in plays. She attended UConn where she received a B.A. in Liberal Arts while working at G. Fox in Hartford. She then began a career as a social worker for the State of Connecticut. Paula later completed her Associate's in Accountancy at MCC while a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Alpha Beta Gamma Business Honor Society. Paula was a committed Catholic and longtime communicant of Our Lady of Peace and Assumption church. She was a talented and creative craftswoman, a natural florist, and a businesswoman. She ran her business, Country Florals, for many years and sold floral designs at craft and floral shows, as well as at home parties. With a passion for special occasion floral design, such as weddings, church events, holidays and proms, it overjoyed her to create the wedding bouquets and floral arrangements for her own daughter's wedding. Paula was a scholar, a prolific reader, and an enthusiastic educator. Her specialty was English as a substitute teacher and tutor. She worked and volunteered at Cheney Technical High School, MCC, Bennett School, the Towns of Manchester, East Hartford, Newington and Glastonbury, CT. Paula also taught summer school at Harwich Public Schools, while enjoying her summers on Cape Cod with her family, where she maintained several beautiful gardens and shared time with her husband and family at her favorite place, Nauset Beach in Orleans, MA. Paula loved to travel, especially with her family in a Winnebago camper across the US from California to Florida and into Canada and later cruising Europe. She treasured her time spent with family and friends. She loved to socialize and entertain, playing many games, such as, bonco, mahjong, dominoes, backgammon, and puzzles. Paula enjoyed attending mass, musicals, movies, trade and flower shows, church fairs, teas, garden tours and book club meetings. She was a long-time, dedicated member of the East Hartford Garden Club serving on the Scholarship Committee. She also loved antiques, jewelry, jewelry making, baking and cookie swaps. Paula was very easygoing, caring and could make anything fun. She devoted her life to her family, friends and students and as a wife, mother, sister and friend. She was loving, patient and kind, had a keen sense of humor, like her father, with a knack for telling funny stories and jokes, remembering the punchlines most of the time. Paula will forever be remembered by her beloved family, son, Robert M. of Glastonbury, son Michael of Glastonbury, caring daughter Lisa of Glastonbury and her fiancé Michael of East Hartford, daughter Beth and her husband Ian of Milton MA, her cherished grandchildren who meant the world to her Rylan, Sienna, and Mason of Milton MA, brother Robert and family of South Windsor, CT, sister Marie and family of Andover, CT, brother-in-law Barry of Kirkland WA, brother-in-law Steve and family of Clark, NJ, brother-in-law Ken and family of Parkton, NC, sister-in-law Pam and family of SC, sister-in-law Jeanne of NJ, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. A memorial mass and celebration of Paula's life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, P.O. Box 2157, Framingham, MA 01701.