Paula J. Ford

Born in Westover Air Force Base, MA on October 7, 1953
Departed on April 29, 2010. Resided in North Liberty, Iowa.

Memorial

Paula J. Ford, of North Liberty, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, passed from this world on April 29, 2010 at the age of 56. Friends and family are invited to Egelhof, Siegert and Casper Westview Funeral Home in Dubuque for a visitation from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday with a wake service at 7:00 p.m. Services will be held at 11:00 .am. Thursday at Resurrection Catholic Church in Dubuque. Internment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of the local arrangements.

She was born at Westover AFB in Massachusetts on October 7, 1953 to Dick and Jeanne Ford while Dick was stationed there with the Air Force. The oldest of seven children, Paula was raised on a farm near Mason City, Iowa. She received a degree in Nursing from Allen School of Nursing in Waterloo and went on to practice nursing in Dubuque and Iowa City. While in Iowa City her interests turned to the role of women in society and she entered the University of Iowa to study Anthropology. Her studies took to her to rural and urban communities in Guatemala and Nicaragua. She was awarded a Master’s of Art in Anthropology in 1990 for her thesis Social Transformations in Guatemalan Communities: Class, Ethnic, and Gender Relations and a Ph.D 2000 for her dissertation thesis Narratives of Social Healing: Cultural Politics and the Nicaraguan Women's Movement. Following that she returned to nursing at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where she provided compassionate care to those with mental disorders, particularly eating disorders.

Paula leaves behind to honor her memory, her mother, Jeanne Ford, of Dubuque; six brothers and sisters, Pat Ford (Lynn), Dubuque, Katy Voet (Jeff Hegwer) of Mason City, Jim Ford (Joy) of Ankeny, John Ford of Austin, Texas, Jane Dolter (John) of Dubuque, and Sara Todd (Dale) of Cedar Rapids; nieces and nephews, Michael Voet (Marie), Liz and Joe Ford, Karl and Kristina Dolter, Dillon Ford, Ali and Katie Ford, and Adam Todd; and her very dear friend, Tom Chadderdon of Cedar Rapids.

She was preceded in death by her father, Richard Ford, and her grandparents.

Paula was a lifelong learner who loved a good conversation. Her caring heart and unconditional love have touched each one of us and she will live in our hearts forever.

In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations to be made in Paula's memory to The Arc of East Central Iowa, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy or TriYoga of Cedar Rapids.

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