Paula Roy

Paula passed away peacefully in her sleep during the early morning hours of September 26th, 2021. She was born on December 5th, 1951, to parents, William and Adrienne “Addie” Roy. She lived in Mansura, LA, attended St. Paul School through the 8th grade, and graduated from St. Joseph High School in Plaucheville, LA, where she was Salutatorian of her high school class. Upon receiving a scholarship to the University of Southwestern Louisiana, she earned a degree in medical technology and later obtained a certification from Charity Hospital in New Orleans, LA. Paula moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL, where she worked at Broward General Hospital and later returned home to Louisiana and resumed her employment in the medical technology field at Tulane Medical Center, as well as Ochsner and East Jefferson Hospitals in New Orleans, LA. Paula continued her studies during that time and obtained a graduate degree in Hospital Administration as well as a Paralegal Degree.

Paula was an accomplished equestrian. As her parents often said, she could ride a horse before she could walk. She also excelled at many sports, primarily softball and basketball, in which she competed at the state and collegiate level.

Paula is preceded in death by her parents. Those left to cherish her memory are her sister, Antoinette Roy Matt (Charles); her two nieces, Ashley Hearn Matt & Adrienne Angele Matt; and her great-nephew, Caleb Nicholas Carlin. In addition, Paula is survived by numerous cousins, with whom she maintained a close and caring relationship, her church friends, with whom she served, and most especially Jan and Jesse Galatas and their children, lovingly referred to as her “Metairie family”. Paula enjoyed the wonderful company of over 50 years of her two closest friends from college, Mary Lou Schmidt and Rose Marie Thibodeaux.

To her sister, brother-in-law, nieces, and great-nephew, Paula was a daily source of loving care and support. She was the epitome of what a wonderful, loving, understanding, protective “big sister” should be. She was present for every significant event that occurred in her sister’s life and transferred that presence to the lives of her nieces, and more recently to that of her great-nephew, who lovingly called her Poo-Wa. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Paula was extremely well traveled and especially proud of her numerous pilgrimages to the Holy Land, where she visited many of the areas Christ lived, culminating in her crawling up the steps memorializing Christ’s walk to Calvary. She waded along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and bathed in the Dead Sea. She walked the mountainous terrain in Turkey mimicking the journeys of St. Paul. She traveled to Rome and the Vatican numerous times and was present for the Canonization of Pope John XXII and Pope John Paul II. She visited Our Blessed Mother’s Birthplace and many of the shrines in her honor including Lourdes, Fatima, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, where she was present one year during the actual anniversary of that feast in December.

Paula’s true contentment in life came from her faith. She was a daily communicant, an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister, led the rosary before Daily Mass, and served as lector of the readings. She participated in Evangelism Activities and often served as leader of the Bible Studies. She prayed at the Adoration Chapel several times each week at numerous Catholic Churches near her home. She had a special dedication to The Sacred Heart and devotion to St. Philomena. Paula truly “lived her faith” and found much solace and peace in the phrase she prayed most often, “Jesus, I trust in You”.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Paula at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church at 4921 W. Metairie Ave. Metairie, LA 70001 on Friday, October 8th, 2021 at 2:00pm

Graveside services will take place at the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Mausoleum of Mansura on Sunday, October 10th, 2021 beginning at 2:00pm with Rev. Irion St. Romain.

Escude Funeral Home of Mansura, 6608 Porterie St. Mansura, LA 71350 (318-964-2324) has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.