OBITUARIES

A woman of many careers — from social work to law — Paula Einbender

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Paula Dee Einbender was born in Mount Vernon to Sylvia and Jacob (Jack) Einbender.

At the time of her death, she was living with Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and died due to complications as a result of the coronavirus infection.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her older brother, Daniel Mark Einbender. She is survived by her sister Deborah Einbender, her two beloved daughters Rebecca (Nole) Wolfe and Megan (Nole) Mervilde, their spouses Elisha and Mike, as well as her four treasured grandchildren: Tristan, Naomi, Vienna and Harriet.

Over the course of her life, she had many careers in the fields of rehabilitation and mental health, social work, and finally in elder law as an attorney. Upon graduating from law school at 46, she built upon her life’s work that altogether amounted to more than 30 years professional experience in combining skills and training into use in new capacities while always taking on the role of staunch advocate for those who needed their voices amplified.

She will be remembered as a fabulous host who had a gift for making her home a welcoming place for friends and strangers alike. Her infectious laugh and warm personality made making friends easy for her, and she leaves her family with a rich appreciation and love for music and art. Ever creative in her own right, she started two businesses that reflected her achievements in fiber crafts, spinning and natural dying, and leader in beaded jewelry making.

She was a long-time resident for more than 37 years, and active community member in Riverdale, where she raised her family. While a New Yorker through and through, she relocated to the Milwaukee area four years ago, and made friends here who will miss her dearly.

She leaves behind many friends around the country who are all a little better off from knowing her, whether it be from her days at summer camp, in college, graduate school, law school, or through work, crafts circles, folk dancing, community theatre, Clearwater and more.

It was a great joy of her life to be a grandmother, and to enjoy good company while picnicking at the beach — whenever there, we will remember her with love.

The family is planning a memorial event in the New York area sometime in 2021, or when it is responsible to invite friends and family to gather and celebrate Paula’s life. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your local actions for social and racial justice, or to the ACLU in her name.

Paula Dee Einbender,