Paula Anne Souder

Paula Anne Souder, 64, born on May 9, 1956 in Nuremberg, Germany was a beloved daughter of the late Wilmer and Marjorie Souder, passed into Heaven on May 10, 2020. She died of complications of Alzheimer's disease.

It takes a large family to create someone as loving and kind as Paula. Wilmer and Marjorie were joined in these efforts by family and friends who lived the idea that Paula was an angel--a special gift from God. She was educated in schools designed to meet the educational and social needs of children with mental challenges. Her teachers, whose names are now mostly forgotten, were an instrumental part of Paula's life. In adulthood, Paula was employed at Developmental Enterprises Corporation's Pottstown Training Center for 42 years. Other than family, no group of people served Paula with more love and dedication. Paula retired from DEC in May 2019, but the people at DEC will always be family to those who love Paula. In her younger days, Paula was a Special Olympic swimmer and attended summer day camp at Camp Ivydale and Camp Shiloh.

Paula enjoyed many hobbies and interests. She was "crafty" like her mother, making hook rugs and drawing. She enjoyed reading (especially Harry Potter books), watching TV (especially sci fi and crime dramas), playing games like Chinese checkers (and winning), and being with her family. Her extended family of siblings and cousins fondly remember Paula at family gatherings. She was always part of the fun and the center of attention. She was especially good at giving nicknames, like "Fat Swim", "Punky", "Teddy Ruxpin", "Spock", "Fletcher", "Claire Bear" and others. It was an honor to be nicknamed by Paula and even some of Pottstown's roughest youths yearned for an alias. Paula had an amazing sense of humor, especially when miffed by one of life's small disappointments. She is legendary for such utterances as "This is a joke" and "I hate Mondays". When Paula had an audience, she did not fail to capture the starring role.

After Marjorie's passing in 2012, Paula lived with her brother Andrew, sister-in-law Mary Catherine and five children. She was the center of a second family that showered Paula with love and attention. Paula hated missing work, except to visit her siblings Stephen, Lisa and Cynthia and their families. In September 2019, Paula became a resident of Friendship House in Harleysville, a community residence run by Peaceful Living. There Paula received the care she needed to cope with her advancing Alzheimer's. The staff of Peaceful Living and Friendship House loved and cared for Paula like family.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Aloysius Church located at 223 Beech St, Pottstown, PA on Saturday July 17, 2021, at 10 am. The internment will follow at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Stowe, PA. There will be a celebration of Paula's life (but who will lead the dancing?) at The Loft at Sweet Water Golf Course, Pennsburg, PA.

Donations in Paula's memory can be made to Developmental Enterprises Corporation, online at www.decmc.org or by mail to DEC, 333 East Airy Street, Norristown, PA 19401.

Warker~Troutman Funeral Home Inc., is honored to serve the Souder family.