Paula Kay Russell

Paula's services will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click here to view the service.


Paula Kay (Reed) Russell, 60, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away peacefully at home with daughter, Kay by her side on March 13, 2024, at approximately 4:30 am. Born on October 20, 1963, in Laguna Beach, California, she married Brian on March 16, 1990, in Westerville. Everyone has a story about how much Paula meant to them--from her hundreds of friends to extended family and coworkers. Paula never met a stranger and she cared deeply about humanitarian causes. She took it to heart when she was told at Avalon Elementary school, where she worked from 1995 to 2015, that she might be the only positive interaction a student had that day, and went out of her way to form bonds with the children. She loved planning events and fairs for them and finding ways to help them to excel. A graduate of Westerville South High School and Columbus State, Paula worked as an administrator at Columbus City Schools in Avalon Elementary school. Paula lit up when she was planning a trip or a party or an outing, whether for work or for friends. She loved bowling, parties, concerts, Tom Petty, Angela Perley, and adored going to the beach with friends.

Paula is survived by her husband of 34 years, Brian; daughter, Kaylee (Bhas) Russell; son, Ian (Angela) Russell; daughter, Jennifer (Geneva) Russell; daughter, Tara Brzycki; granddaughter, Savannah Buskirk; grandsons, Darren Buskirk, Zach and Jordon Brzycki; brothers, Robert (Heather) Reed and Shawn (Allic) Reed; beloved nephews; father, Robert (Belen) Reed; mother-in-law, Fran Russell; sister-in-law, Elaine Russell; and best friends/partners in crime, Stacy (Nedal) Said and Jill Davidson Dempsey. She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Nanny Betty Waller, who was the firecracker in Paula's life.

In lieu of flowers, you may send a donation to ALPHA-1 Foundation at https://alpha1.org, and spread awareness of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1), a genetic condition affecting the lungs and liver that Paula lived with for 15 years.

Visitation Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 4pm until the time of Funeral Service at 6pm at Newcomer, NE Chapel, 3047 E. Dublin-Granville Rd., Columbus, OH.

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