Obituary for Paulette Almirall
Paulette Almirall
January 2, 1956 - June 18, 2022
Paulette was taken from us by a tragic rafting accident on the roaring Colorado River in majestic Glenwood Canyon. She was vacationing with her husband, Tony, and four other close friends. Her last vision was of the rugged beauty of the Colorado Rockies, which she loved.
She was born in Iowa and was adopted as an adorable infant by Monica and Edward Helgert. Her childhood and young adulthood were spent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she attended Catholic school and graduated from Regis High School. Many of her closest friendships today were founded in those early, formative years. She had one younger adopted brother, Michael, who survives her. The majority of her adult life was lived in Florida, in Lake Mary and for the past 21 years in Sanford. Though she didn’t like the harsh sun, sand, heat, or salt water — she stuck it out. (Thank God for air conditioning, or a lot of the nice things we are saying about her may have required editing!)
Paulette never sought “the spotlight” (unless she was being silly around the house) and always tried to “dodge” attention, yet her impact on others was profound and everlasting. The many messages we have received since her passing are proof. She allowed her “humanness” to be exposed, not concealed. She exemplified the extraordinary beauty of “A Simple, Pure Heart”.
Tony, Paulette’s husband, fell in love with her 42 years ago, the first time he met her. (He insists he married UP.) Together, they created a family and home that became a cherished sanctuary filled with laughter, nurturing, wisdom, learning, fun family activities, and powerful, unrelenting love. “Family” was the essence of her soul.
She is also survived by the wonderful children she raised, Michaela and Zachary, her precious grandchildren, Mia and Graeson, Michaela’s partner in crime, Aitor Olazar, Zachary’s beautiful wife, Leanne, and her lovely sister-in-law and kind brother-in-law Rita and Bill Bergman. Their enormous love and respect for her evidence the depth of her character, integrity, and her ability to love completely and unconditionally.
Paulette was a consummate professional as a Registered Nurse for 28 years. Her patients and colleagues benefited not only from her expertise but also from her compassion, humor, and radiant smile. If an IV was required, Paulette was your girl!
She was a beloved friend to many and the delight of any gathering she attended. Her authenticity and quirky sense of humor (and her very yellow ducky duddle crocs) made you immediately comfortable in her presence. She didn’t tolerate cruelty or harsh judgement, always seeking the value and goodness in others. Her gentle demeanor camouflaged great strength and a fierce, fighting spirit. (Be careful if you work for an insurance company.) Life provided obstacles that would have crushed many, but Paulette refused to succumb physically or spiritually. Nothing defeated her resolve to cling to optimism and hope.
Her most precious legacy is the abundant love she manifested while on this earth and the absolute importance of family connectedness she demonstrated every single day. (Unconditional love was her weapon of choice.) She taught us, with insight and openness, that good can be found in even the most painful circumstances.
Paulette would want us to forgive and find healing in that process. She would want love to bind us even closer; she would hope the pain of loss would imprint an indelible scar in our hearts, reminding us to take nothing or no one for granted, live and celebrate and love at every opportunity, and to be grateful for the abundance remaining in our lives. (She would also want us to “eat cake”, lots of cake, any flavor of cake, and say “yum” in her memory. Cake was her favorite food!)
Paulette’s “Bucket List” consisted of traveling the world with her family and friends. Ireland was the country for which she felt an affinity, but wherever she visited, she saw beauty in the landscape, art, architecture, and in the diversity of people and their culture. She believed there is much more connecting us than causing division. She would encourage us to Smile, Engage, and Experience the “wonder” the world offers. It gives us comfort to know she was living life to the fullest, in the midst of travel and adventure, as she departed this life.
In lieu of flowers (since Paulette was allergic to them) and in her honor, we hope you will do an unexpected, unsolicited “Act of Kindness” for someone of your choosing. Paulette sincerely believed in the virtue of “paying it forward”. If you would write us a note sharing your story, we would love it. It can be sent to malmirall@hotmail.com.
May we honor our beloved Paulette — Wife (Punk), Mom, Mamma, Mamma-in-Law, Nanny, Sister (seeester) — by living our lives as an expression of her most cherished values.
Paulette’s Celebration Of Life
Cindy’s Dance Studio (2nd Floor)
119 Magnolia Ave.
Sanford, FL 32771
August 6, 2022 @ 5pm
We will be gathering to share some of our favorite memories, our stories, to laugh, to cry and remember a beautiful soul who is greatly missed! We welcome you to share a story too!
A request: Prior to August 6, if you want, write a 5-10 word response to one or all of the prompts below and email to malmirall@hotmail.com.
Paulette, you made me laugh when…
Paulette, you taught me…
Paulette, I’ll always remember…
Paulette, if we could, I’d…
Feel free to wear GREEN, her favorite color!
We hope you can join us!
With gratitude and immense love, always and forever,
Her Family
January 2, 1956 - June 18, 2022
Paulette was taken from us by a tragic rafting accident on the roaring Colorado River in majestic Glenwood Canyon. She was vacationing with her husband, Tony, and four other close friends. Her last vision was of the rugged beauty of the Colorado Rockies, which she loved.
She was born in Iowa and was adopted as an adorable infant by Monica and Edward Helgert. Her childhood and young adulthood were spent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she attended Catholic school and graduated from Regis High School. Many of her closest friendships today were founded in those early, formative years. She had one younger adopted brother, Michael, who survives her. The majority of her adult life was lived in Florida, in Lake Mary and for the past 21 years in Sanford. Though she didn’t like the harsh sun, sand, heat, or salt water — she stuck it out. (Thank God for air conditioning, or a lot of the nice things we are saying about her may have required editing!)
Paulette never sought “the spotlight” (unless she was being silly around the house) and always tried to “dodge” attention, yet her impact on others was profound and everlasting. The many messages we have received since her passing are proof. She allowed her “humanness” to be exposed, not concealed. She exemplified the extraordinary beauty of “A Simple, Pure Heart”.
Tony, Paulette’s husband, fell in love with her 42 years ago, the first time he met her. (He insists he married UP.) Together, they created a family and home that became a cherished sanctuary filled with laughter, nurturing, wisdom, learning, fun family activities, and powerful, unrelenting love. “Family” was the essence of her soul.
She is also survived by the wonderful children she raised, Michaela and Zachary, her precious grandchildren, Mia and Graeson, Michaela’s partner in crime, Aitor Olazar, Zachary’s beautiful wife, Leanne, and her lovely sister-in-law and kind brother-in-law Rita and Bill Bergman. Their enormous love and respect for her evidence the depth of her character, integrity, and her ability to love completely and unconditionally.
Paulette was a consummate professional as a Registered Nurse for 28 years. Her patients and colleagues benefited not only from her expertise but also from her compassion, humor, and radiant smile. If an IV was required, Paulette was your girl!
She was a beloved friend to many and the delight of any gathering she attended. Her authenticity and quirky sense of humor (and her very yellow ducky duddle crocs) made you immediately comfortable in her presence. She didn’t tolerate cruelty or harsh judgement, always seeking the value and goodness in others. Her gentle demeanor camouflaged great strength and a fierce, fighting spirit. (Be careful if you work for an insurance company.) Life provided obstacles that would have crushed many, but Paulette refused to succumb physically or spiritually. Nothing defeated her resolve to cling to optimism and hope.
Her most precious legacy is the abundant love she manifested while on this earth and the absolute importance of family connectedness she demonstrated every single day. (Unconditional love was her weapon of choice.) She taught us, with insight and openness, that good can be found in even the most painful circumstances.
Paulette would want us to forgive and find healing in that process. She would want love to bind us even closer; she would hope the pain of loss would imprint an indelible scar in our hearts, reminding us to take nothing or no one for granted, live and celebrate and love at every opportunity, and to be grateful for the abundance remaining in our lives. (She would also want us to “eat cake”, lots of cake, any flavor of cake, and say “yum” in her memory. Cake was her favorite food!)
Paulette’s “Bucket List” consisted of traveling the world with her family and friends. Ireland was the country for which she felt an affinity, but wherever she visited, she saw beauty in the landscape, art, architecture, and in the diversity of people and their culture. She believed there is much more connecting us than causing division. She would encourage us to Smile, Engage, and Experience the “wonder” the world offers. It gives us comfort to know she was living life to the fullest, in the midst of travel and adventure, as she departed this life.
In lieu of flowers (since Paulette was allergic to them) and in her honor, we hope you will do an unexpected, unsolicited “Act of Kindness” for someone of your choosing. Paulette sincerely believed in the virtue of “paying it forward”. If you would write us a note sharing your story, we would love it. It can be sent to malmirall@hotmail.com.
May we honor our beloved Paulette — Wife (Punk), Mom, Mamma, Mamma-in-Law, Nanny, Sister (seeester) — by living our lives as an expression of her most cherished values.
Paulette’s Celebration Of Life
Cindy’s Dance Studio (2nd Floor)
119 Magnolia Ave.
Sanford, FL 32771
August 6, 2022 @ 5pm
We will be gathering to share some of our favorite memories, our stories, to laugh, to cry and remember a beautiful soul who is greatly missed! We welcome you to share a story too!
A request: Prior to August 6, if you want, write a 5-10 word response to one or all of the prompts below and email to malmirall@hotmail.com.
Paulette, you made me laugh when…
Paulette, you taught me…
Paulette, I’ll always remember…
Paulette, if we could, I’d…
Feel free to wear GREEN, her favorite color!
We hope you can join us!
With gratitude and immense love, always and forever,
Her Family