Paula Fisher

1950 - 2023

Paula Joan Fisher, 72, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on April 11, 2023, with her family by her side.
Paula was born to Henry and Jacqueline Bristowe on September 23, 1950, in San Francisco, California. She grew up in Stockton, California and graduated from Lincoln High School before leaving home in 1968 to attend the University of California at Davis.
When Paula decided to pursue her master's degree in early childhood education at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California, she found her life's true calling. Always a firm believer that children learned best when gently guided rather than bluntly instructed, Paula was instantly drawn to the hands-on learning focus of the Montessori method. She received her teaching credential and Montessori certificate in 1973 and spent her career teaching pre-K and kindergarten.
In August 1978, Paula married David Fisher on what turned out to be the hottest day ever recorded in Stockton, which made the ceremony as unforgettable as the couple themselves. In 1983, they welcomed twin sons Daniel and Thomas, and in 1986 their family was complete with the arrival of their third son, James. Paula was as natural a mother as she was a teacher and filled every day with adventures for her boys. She returned to teaching kindergarten at Stockton's Taft Elementary School in 1996 where she remained until the family relocated to Acampo, California in 2001.
During her retirement Paula focused not only on creating a happy home for her family, but also making sure she always did something unique to connect with each of them individually. She loved visiting National Parks with David, spending time with him in Montana, taking extended trips to visit Daniel while he lived out of state, conquering countless escape rooms with Thomas, and travelling internationally to explore Europe with James. That was the essence of Paula, she was many things to many people because she enjoyed connecting with others by sharing and nurturing their interests.
Her own passions included exploring religious and spiritual practices through books and seminars, learning about the healing powers of crystals, staying in shape by working out multiple times a week with her trainers, taking day trips with friends, grabbing lunch with girlfriends, and going to dinner with David when she wasn't unwinding at the end of a full day by watching a Hallmark movie. She excelled at thoughtful gestures and loved to surprise friends and family with small gifts or unexpected cards in the mail just to let them know she was thinking of them. Her generosity extended far beyond friends and family as she worked tirelessly for decades to raise money for many children's charities, including the Children's Home of Stockton and the Red Rhino Outreach Project orphanage in Kenya.
Paula is survived by her loving husband David Fisher, her devoted sons Daniel Fisher, Thomas Fisher, and James Fisher, and her sister Libby Peterson. She will be forever missed. A celebration of Paula's life will be held on Sunday May 7, 2023, at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi, with doors opening at 3 p.m. and the celebration beginning at 3:45 p.m. As Paula's most recent passion was supporting His Little Feet orphanage, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to His Little Feet, 1540 Main Street Unit 218-290, Windsor, CO 80550 or hislittlefeet.org/give