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Paula Michaud Obituary
During her time in Boston, Paula met the love of her life, Dr. Hank Simms and they were married in 1987. They have been blessed to live in and grow together in many different states including Maryland, Rhode Island, New York and Pennsylvania. Paula and Hank have three wonderful children whom they've always put first. While Paula had many interests, she always made family a priority and was an extremely involved, loving, and caring mother and wife.
Paula's professional life was centered around nursing and was extremely lengthy. She worked as a case manager for home care, and hospice patients while in Providence, R.I., Washington D.C., and Randallstown, Md. She worked throughout the Boston area in many different hospitals as a staff nurse for patients with critical care needs in the SICU, MICU, CCU, RICU, as well as working as a clinical specialist in orthopedics and rheumatology at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. She also taught as a primary nurse and clinical preceptor for new nurses coming into the hospital. Additionally, she was a staff nurse in medical/surgical units at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Since she spent the last 16 years of her life in Pennsylvania her work over the past 10 years has largely been dedicated to the Villanova College of Nursing and the Einstein Medical Network Home Health and Hospice organizations. Paula loved teaching nursing at Villanova and always looked forward to taking her students out into the field for real life experience. She coupled teaching at Villanova with nighttime and weekend work for Einstein doing home healthcare visits. Paula loved learning about her patients in all aspects of their lives and never left a stone unturned when it came to her patients. She was able to not only teach but mentor many of her students as they went on to choose which part of nursing they would pursue for their careers.
Paula was part of various associations during her professional life including American Nurses Association, Massachusetts Nurses Association, Maryland Nurses Association, Rhode Island State Nurses Association, New York Nurses Association, Sigma theta Tau, Gerontological Society of America, America Public Health Association, National Association of Orthopedic Nurse, and the Arthritis Health Professionals Association. She was an extremely involved and intelligent woman in many aspects of the nursing profession.
Paula's view on life was always about helping others and putting the needs of others before her own. She always had a smile on her face and was a glass half full kind of woman. She was extremely involved in volunteer work but also had many interests and hobbies. Aside from nursing, she loved to cook, bake, dig in her fabulous garden, go to museums, travel, go to the theater, play bridge, pickle ball, dragon boats, host wonderful parties and dinners, just to name a few. She was full of life, there was never a dull moment with Paula.
Paula passed away on Wednesday Oct. 16, 2019 at home with immediate family. She will be sorely missed by all who loved her, but always remembered.
Paula will live on through her husband, Hank Simms; daughters, Elizabeth and Renee Simms, son, Benjamin Simms; parents, Merle and Reina Michaud; sisters, Jan Michaud and Donna Maynard, brothers, Edmund, Jim, and Steve Michaud; and nieces and nephews, Kate, Kevin, Anne, Emma, Abigail, Nathan, Nicholas, Christopher M., Christopher B., and Jack.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Paula Michaud's name can be made to either the Villanova College of Nursing or the Einstein Medical Center Home Health and Hospice Center. The links are, www.villanova.edu/makeagift and https://secure.einstein.edu/site/Donation2
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Paula Michaud
4 Entries
Scott Burns
January 20, 2022
When I awoke today Paula's name and memories popped into my mind. When I searched for her I came across this sad article of her passing I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and getting to know Paula when she was a freshman at BU living in The Towers on Bay State Road. We got to be good friends and was immediately impressed by this beautiful and intelligent young woman. While we hadn't stayed in touch over the years , thoughts of Paula always brought a smile to my face. We'd always compare her upbringing the small town of Hallowell, ME versus the city of my upbringing in Brooklyn, NY. Two cities couldn't be more different yet we saw similarities in one another. One lasting memory of Paula was that we were sitting in my dorm room and she was looing through my high school yearbook. Paula asked me how I spelled my middle name. I thought that was an odd question but she pressed me so I said "J-E-F-F-R-E-Y", at which time Paula says " The spelled your name wrong in the yearbook". They had transposed the E and the R. In three years of having the yearbook I never noticed, but Paula's attention to detail and her thirst for learning picked it up in a matter of a minute! I shall mention Paula in my prayers tomorrow at Sabbath services. My deepest heartfelt sympathies go out to her extending family. I always knew she'd have a large family!
James Coan
November 5, 2019
I have been a long time friend of the Michaud family. Paula was one of the most gracious and amazing people I have ever met. My best to the family.
Chad Foye
November 3, 2019
To the Michaud Family,
I was sorry to read of Paula's passing. Please know you will be in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
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