Funeral Details

Paula Williams

August 15, 1934 - May 2, 2025

SERVICE INFORMATION

Date and Time

Friday, May 9, 2025 at 10:30 AM

Service

Shir Tikvah
1424 West 183rd Street
Homewood, Illinois 60430
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Clergy

Rabbi Carmit Harari
Shir Tikvah

Interment

Zion Gardens Cemetery
6758 West Addison Street
Chicago, Illinois 60634
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Shiva

Williams Residence
21204 Hunter Woods Drive
Frankfort, Illinois 60423
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Saturday, May 10 from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
7 p.m. Minyan

Memorial Contributions

Jewish United Fund
30 South Wells Street
Chicago, Illinois 60606
www.juf.org/tribute/Tribute-cards.aspx





OBITUARY

Paula Betty Williams, age 90, loving wife, mother, and grandmother-to-all, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2025.

Paula was extraordinary. She was endlessly generous with her love, wisdom, and sage advice. She was a force of nature—fueled by kindness, quick wit, and an unwavering sense of duty to family and community.

She is survived by her devoted daughter Deborah (Gene) Standish, son Joel (Rachel) Williams, and granddaughters Hannah and Lauren, in whom her humor, curiosity, and fierce loyalty live on. Her loving husband Murray, father Paul Silver and mother Pearl Schwartz-Feinberg preceded her in death.

Raised modestly by a single mother, Paula approached everyday life with a no-nonsense practicality: wear what's comfortable, invest wisely, spend wisely, and always know the difference between a need and a want.

Paula never stopped learning. Endlessly curious and worldly, Paula seemed to know something about everything—from human history and global cultures to the quirks of language and the roots of most English words. She was fluent in French and could bluff her way through Yiddish, German, and anything with Latin roots. A lifelong reader, she devoured books—two or three a week—gravitating toward historical nonfiction, biographies, crossword puzzles, and mysteries.

Paula was a full-time office manager who taught herself financial accounting and took on a second job as a bookkeeper. She also served as a kindergarten teacher, hospital volunteer, and ringleader of weekly senior luncheons—part educational forum and part comedy hour.

Known to many simply as "Grandma Paula," she extended warmth and wisdom far beyond family, embracing friends, neighbors, and anyone needing a nurturing cup of coffee and a bite of strudel.

Paula took deep joy in being a grandmother, whether babysitting, baking, knitting, crocheting, or chauffeuring her granddaughters to playdates and summer camp. Through her actions and the occasional knowing wink, she gently taught that strength isn’t loud—it’s found in showing up, loving deeply, laughing often, and staying true to what matters.

Service Friday, May 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Shir Tikvah, 1424 183rd St, Homewood, Illinois. Interment at Zion Gardens Cemetery, Chicago. Instead of flowers, memorials to the Jewish United Fund, 30 S. Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60606, www.juf.org/tribute/Tribute-cards.aspx would be appreciated. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals – Buffalo Grove Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com


GUEST BOOK

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Joel I'm sorry to hear about your mom .my prayers are with you and your family

Frank Nino
May 4, 2025
I remember Mrs Williams from the time I was very little at B'nai Yehuda.
As a, little boy, what did I know?
I knew she was a nice lady.
In my experience her kindness was sideways true.

Andrew Bransky
May 5, 2025
May her memory be for a blessing. Sending heartfelt condolences to the extended family and refuah l’lev shavur, prayers for healing your broken heart.

Wendy Braun
May 5, 2025