Paula Marie Avanzino

1936 - 2025

Paula Marie Avanzino, loving Mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025. She was surrounded by family and friends and passed peacefully.

Paula was born on September 8th, 1936 to Alice Martin Peters and Paul Peters. Paula attended Beverly Hills Catholic School and later graduated from Saint Monica's Catholic High School. In high school she worked on the school newspaper and was a class officer. She loved working summers at Neeny's Famous Weenies on Santa Monica beach. In 1954 Paula's mother took her three children on a tour of Europe, where they lived in Lausanne, Switzerland for 2 years. There she developed a love of skiing and also learned to speak French.

Paula later attended Dominican University in San Rafael, California. She graduated with a teaching degree and began her career teaching at Neil Cummins Elementary School in Corte Madera. In 1961 Paula met Ronald Avanzino and they married and had three children, Peter in 1962, David in 1964, and Susan in 1966. In 1973 Paula and the children relocated to Napa, California to be closer to the children's grandparents. At this time Paula began teaching Title 1 math at Anna Kyle School in Fairfield, CA. She spent 23 years there, developing many life-long friendships with her colleagues, and being a favorite of many students.

She was part of the Social Committee at the school and helped throw some legendary parties for the staff. On Halloween she would dress in elaborate costumes that wowed her students. During this period she also earned her Master's Degree in Education from Cal State Sacramento. Both at work and at home she set the standard for high achievement, personal responsibility, and throwing incredible parties, a standard that all three of her kids have followed to this day.

Paula's house on Ora Drive was always a hub of activity. There was an endless series of Christmas parties, birthday parties, movie nights, bridge and bunco games, play reads, and newsworthy martini parties with neighbors. She embraced every opportunity to take her kids to plays, musicals, concerts and museums. In 1976, at 40 years old, she loaded them all into a Winnebago and drove across the entire United States for six weeks to celebrate the Bicentennial. The trip included a wagon train in Kansas, visits to Boston, Washington DC, New York and many more stops. All with only a paper map to guide her.

After retiring, Paula was able to travel the world with friends and family. Her journeys included Russia, China, Morocco, Europe and Australia, visiting every continent except Antarctica. At age 70 she whitewater rafted down the Salmon River in Idaho with her daughter and two friends. She also loved North Shore, Lake Tahoe where she spent winters skiing and summers playing.

As a breast cancer survivor, Paula participated in the AVON 3-Day Walk where she walked 60 miles and raised thousands of dollars for cancer research. Her generosity and care for others never diminished. For many years she was a reader and Eucharistic Minister and regularly brought food for charity events at her church. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels and at Queen of the Valley Hospital. She was a docent at Copia and worked for many years with Kitchens in the Vineyards. She also was a life-time blood donor for the Red Cross.

Paula is survived by her three children, Peter Avanzino (Bohnie), Dave Avanzino (Wendi), Susan Avanzino, (Robert Preston), her grandchildren Rob, Tom, Amy, Andrew, Nicholas, Katherine, Natalie, great grand-children Marissa, Nora and Caleb, and her brother Martin (Mary).

Her life was rich with family and friends who loved her and enjoyed being with her up to the end. Hers was a life well-lived and well-loved and she will be deeply missed.

A Celebration of Life Luncheon will be held on June 7th, 12pm at Napa Valley Country Club. Family and Friends welcome.

She will be interred at San Diego Holy Cross Cemetery. Family Service Only.

In lieu of flowers, donations to an organization close to Paula's heart are welcome:

Dominican Sisters of San Rafael (Order of nuns related to Dominican University)

https://sanrafaelop.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/

Molly's Angels (Napa non-profit serving seniors)

https://www.mollysangels.com/giving

For inquiries contact Susan Avanzino at nocalprestons@comcast.net Paula Marie Avanzino