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Paula Thompson Obituary
08/28/1947 - 09/23/2025
San Francisco resident Paula Thompson, 78, passed away peacefully this week, surrounded by family after a long illness. Born in Lansing, Michigan, to Kathryn and David Thompson, Paula earned her B.S. in mathematics and a teaching certificate from Western Michigan University in 1969, then taught high school in the Washington, D.C. area. She completed a master's degree in architecture at the University of Colorado.
Paula moved to San Francisco in 1975, where she met her husband, Michael Laird. They married in 1983 and had two daughters, Kelsey and Meredith. She worked as an architect and devoted herself to raising her family.
Her eye for art and design inspired her to co-found Almost Instant Interiors with her dear friend and neighbor, Ronnie Zuckerberg. Paula embraced life as an adventure, enjoying travels with her family to destinations throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and California.
Remembered for loyalty, kindness, and devotion to family, Paula is survived by her daughters, Kelsey Laird of Berkeley and Meredith Laird of San Francisco, and her sisters, Marilyn Taylor, Debra Thompson, and Karen Brideau.
A funeral service will be held at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1270 Sanchez Street, San Francisco, on Saturday, October 4, at 1 p.m., with Pastors Rob Herrmann and Sadie Stone officiating. In her memory, Paula's family invites all to live fully, cherish beauty each day, and love without reserve.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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