An Extraordinary Life: Mokena woman put her faith into action.

At the end of 2021, members of St. John’s United Church of Christ of Mokena were asked to write their faith stories to share with the congregation during advent.

Paula Forester of Mokena was one of the members who wrote her story. She wrote about becoming a Christian 17 years ago after following no religion for 35 years. She talked about her first mentor at her first church, St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Frankfort, and her second mentor when she joined St. John’s.

Of her first mentor, Paula wrote: “I could always call with questions and she was always there to answer. She became a true friend and we still talk to this day. That’s where the hope and love comes in.” And of her second mentor, Paula said, “We still keep in touch through emails and cards. This is where the joy and peace come in.”

The church published Paula’s story on Dec. 13, 2021. That same day Paula also unexpectedly died, according to Rebecca Ann Rosignolo of Chicago, Paula’s granddaughter.

Rebecca said the coincidence felt surreal but the timing was perfect.

“She was just so devoted to her faith,” Rebecca said. “God came first in her life; her church came second. She was the bright light in the dark for some many people. I was very, very lucky to call her my grandmother.”

Service

Paula just didn’t “feel” her faith – she lived it. At St. John’s, Paula participated in the following organizations: women’s circle, missions team, communion committee, usher team, the congregational care group, Ladies Night Out events and a bunco night to raise money for a local nonprofit that helps people in need, Rebecca said.

In addition, Paula volunteered for Neat Repeats (which supported the Crisis Center of South Suburbia), Meals on Wheels in Frankfort Township, volunteered regularly with other members of St. John at Daybreak Center’s Shepherd’s Table in Joliet, Rebecca said.

Paula was also active with a regional group of women called KWIL. The women met once a year for an educational and spiritual event that included a speaker, lunch and fellowship, according to Cathy Prokop, church secretary at St. John’s. Paula helped to organize the event on those year’s St. John’s hosted it.

“She was a fantastic person, a very giving and caring person, always doing good for others,” Cathy said.

Rocky Sheneman, pastor at St. John’s, said Paula “was a joy to have around and was really engaged in the life of the congregation.”

“She was a person of very deep faith,” Rocky said. “Some of the stories I learned, at Bible study in particular, is that she was very intentional about her devotions and daily prayers.”

Gail Flatness, who recently retired as the kitchen coordinator at Daybreak Center, said Paula was “one of those people who are so good you think they aren’t real but they are.”

“She was so kind,” Gail said. “I got along with her and our clients did, too. I would tell her if they needed something and she would find a way to get it. She did not have to do that. She would collect items for the food pantry and put it [the announcement] in the church bulletin. I was devastated when I heard she passed away. She was one of those people you like to be around- nothing phony. But that’s who she was. I like people like that: straight-talking, honest, shows her emotions.”

Family

Rebecca said Paula always asked others how they were and listened to their answers. Paula always made time for family and family activities. Rebecca said she is sad that Paula won’t be part of her birthdays anymore. But others mattered to Paula, Rebecca said.

“She touched the lives of so many people,” Rebecca said.

And, of course, Paula missed Christmas with her family this year, Rebecca said. Christmas was Paula’s favorite time of the year, Rebecca said.

Paula loved to cook for family events, and Rebecca is certain no one will never make potato salad as good as Paula’s, even though Rebecca has Paula’s recipe.

“You could tell the love and care that went into that potato salad,” Rebecca said.

Sure, Paula liked to “talk and talk” about her church activities, Rebecca said. But that was natural to Paula.

“God was the biggest part of her life every day,” Rebecca said.

Rebecca said Paul took care of her husband Charles Forester (deceased) during his 10-year cancer journey and trusted God through any life challenge.

“She would always say, ‘Put it into God’s hands; leave it with God. You’re just going to have to let God do His work,’” Rebecca said. “That was her motto.”

Prayer

Paula was also an avid reader and often exchanged books with other family members. But Paula also was deeply committed to reading the Bible and her devotionals. According to Rebecca, Paula often said, “You know, I enjoy my reading every day.”

However, Rebecca did not immediately understand Paula was referring to her devotionals. Nevertheless, Paula was that dedicated to her spiritual reading.

“She read every single day,” Rebecca said, ‘no matter how she was feeling or what was going on.”

Rebecca said Paula was the family’s “golden girl” because she was so “fiercely independent,” Rebecca said. She finds it ironic that Betty White, who starred in the TV show “The Golden Girls” also died in December 2021.

But Rebecca knows that, however unexpected Paula’s death on Dec. 13 at the age of 81 was for Paula’s family, Paula prepared for it every single day.

For every one of her devotionals was marked with a bookmark. And those bookmarks held the next day’s reading in place: Dec. 14. So Rebecca knows Paula had read the Dec. 13 entries at some point before she died.

“She was very much the type of person who said, ‘When God calls me, I’ll be ready,’” Rebecca said. “It kind of gave me a little bit of comfort to know that she was at peace with it.”

• To feature someone in “An Extraordinary Life,” contact Denise M. Baran-Unland at 815-280-4122 or dunland@shawmedia.com.