Paula Farrell Obituary

Paula Anne Farrell R.N., Attorney at Law, passed away at her home on November 22, 2011. Born December 12, 1954, Paula lived in the San Francisco Bay Area her entire life. Paula graduated from St. Luke's Nursing School in San Francisco in 1977. Her first job out of nursing school was at the Emergency Room at San Francisco General Hospital. Subsequently, Paula was a career Kaiser Permanente Nurse and Legal Nurse. Paula graduated from Sonoma State University in 1992 with a degree in English Literature. Paula graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1997. Paula was admitted to The State Bar of California in June 1999. Paula was devoted to her family, friends, and colleagues. Paula will be remembered for her tremendous love for dogs and horses. Paula is survived by her mother, Patricia Gilbert, and her siblings, Carla Kruger, Joseph Kruger, John Kruger, and Catherine Kohmann, as well as 15 nephews and nieces. Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service on Friday, December 2, 2011 at 11 AM at Resurrection Parish, 303 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Reception will follow immediately at the parish hall. Inurnment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: SPCA of Solano County, P.O. Box 356, Vacaville, CA. 95696.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Nov. 28 to Nov. 30, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Paula Farrell

6 Entries

Kara Roberts

June 29, 2018

She is a beautiful soul.. Loved humans, children, animals, just the same....love everything under the sun. Supportive, funny empathetic, lovely, I miss her.

December 2, 2011

I met Paula on August 9, 1982, at New Employee Orientation at Kaiser-Oakland. The fact that I remember the date speaks to the place she held in my life. Although words rarely fail me, I can't write about Paula yet. When I do, the title will be "The Sacrament of a Life."

Theresa Stephany

Kris Wildes

December 1, 2011

Paula, We have been sharing many fond memories of working with you over the years, both in the ED and Program Offices. You were an exceptional nurse and patient advocate and taught so many so much. You will be missed. A donation in your honor has been sent to the Solano County SPCA. You are in all our thoughts...

Michele Taylor, Linda Erb, Dave Blumgart, Kris Wildes, Helen Zakow, and Larry Bolton.

Gregory Isom

December 1, 2011

Paula Thank you for being such a wonderful friend, I will mis You. Paula God lives in all of us and even though we may sense his devine work we have to accept his final say. Paula I can't say thank you enough for being such a wonderful friend you touch me in so many ways. God send us here to work for him,Paula Job well done.Your neighbor and friend....

Joseph Kruger

November 29, 2011

Paula had a glow of decency that made people want to be better humans.

I guess we would call it spirituality these days, this profound belief of Paula that humans are linked to all animals, whether they be the horses or dogs that she rescued; or the pampered pets of her mother, siblings, nieces, and nephews.

Paula always loved dogs and horses.

Even as a girl, Paula was intrigued by dogs.

Paula could never quite take dogs for granted.

Why were dogs so devoted to the human race?

Why should dogs delight in our company?

Dogs come in so many different shapes, sizes and colors, yet they all had the same fundamental characteristics. Why, Why?

Paula was content to lie on cold stone floors to treat downed horses and muck around in stables so she could spend part of most days caring for her rescue horses.

Paula was content to allow the rescue dogs, at times, to create chaos and havoc in her home, so she could nurture and rehabilitate these rescue dogs.

Paula had no formal training in raising and training horses. Nor did Paula have any formal training in dog rearing.

However, there was probably nothing for her to learn; Paula did it instinctively.

Now, death has stilled Paula.

However, we can take comfort in the fact that she believed she would be reunited with all the dogs and horses she loved.

In his story “The Card Over the Bed,” James Herriot writes of an old woman whose only fear is that she may never be reunited with her animals after death because some people say animals have no soul.

Holding the old woman's hand, Herriot replies: “If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans. You've nothing to worry about there.”

On days when I miss Paula, I comfort myself with a childish vision of a heaven where there are endless fields and woods in which to run, and St. Francis sits beneath a tree surrounded by every animal who ever lived.

Who could doubt that Paula Farrell is sitting with them?

Joseph Kruger

Helen Zakow

November 29, 2011

Paula, I will miss you. You will always be in my thoughts. I am a RN because of friends like you. You gave me confidence. You showed me there was much more to nursing than just taking care of task. As nurses our job was to care for the whole person and their families. I am a seasoned nurse in part because of your expertise and kindness.

Helen (A KAPON) Kaiser Permanente Old Nurse Savant

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