By Kate Adams
BayToday.ca
Tuesday, May 05, 2009

PALANGIO, Paula Lynn - Peacefully, at the North Bay General Hospital in the presence of her family, nieces, nephews and friends on Friday, May 1, 2009, Paula (Lechlitner) Palangio. Much loved spouse of Robert Paul Palangio of North Bay and very proud mother of Kara Lea-Ann (Jackson Clausen) of Powell River, B.C., and Meghan Alice and Andrew Stephen Robert of North Bay, Ontario. Born and raised in North Bay, Paula attended Laurentian, W.J.Fricker and Chippewa Secondary Schools. She graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University, obtained her Bachelor of Education at Nipissing University and taught History and Art for a short period at several area elementary and secondary schools. She then moved on to help manage several family businesses and will most recently be remembered as the co-owner of Cecil's Eatery and Beer Society. Full of life and abundant energy, she was able to raise a family of three, hold down a fulltime career and still devote countless hours to her passions of gardening, painting and sewing. She volunteered for twenty years in various capacities with the CFB Thunderbirds Swim Club and served a term as Treasurer for the North Eastern Ontario Regional Swim Association. Having achieved her Level 4 SNC Officials Status, Paula was quite often seen officiating at swim meets in Greater Sudbury, Sault Ste-Marie and Southern Ontario. She was absolutely thrilled to hear last week that the Thunderbirds Swim Club annual President's Award which recognizes the selfless dedication of a team volunteer had been renamed the Paula Palangio Award. Paula is also survived by parents Paul and Edwina Lechlitner, sisters Deb Lechlitner (Walter Bonderoff) of Victoria, B.C., Barb Mayor of Tofino, B.C., and brother and business partner John Lechlitner (Dawn) of North Bay. She will be sadly missed by her nieces and nephews and especially her good friend Dianne Seguin of Callander, Ontario. Paula had a tremendous capacity and ability to give. Family was most important. Her brief but valiant battle with cancer will remain a permanent living testimony to her never- ending joyful personality. A truly amazing woman, her life has left a great imprint on many hearts, especially those whom she encountered in the past month. We are extremely grateful to the staff of the Sudbury Regional Cancer Clinic, the North Bay General Hospital, Doctors Steven Steinberg, Allan Dougall and Tracey Shulman, Monsignor Normand Clement and in particular Paula's niece Alissa Palangio- Leblanc. The family will receive friends at HILLSIDE FUNERAL SERVICES, 362 Airport Rd., on Tuesday, May 5th from 2 to 4 pm and 7 until 9 pm. A private family interment will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the June 19th Relay for Life in favour of “Paula's Patriots“ or to the CFB Thunderbirds Swim Club would be gratefully appreciated by the family. Rest well dear mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend.