Paula Louise Fushimi

Mrs. Paula Louise (Teyber) Fushimi was born June 25, 1943 in Dayton, Ohio to Paul and Virginia Teyber. She and her little sister, Pam, were raised among a tight knit family of many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Paula was a flight attendant for TWA when she met Ray Fushimi. They lived in the same apartment building on the Country Club Plaza. They were married in 1966. They raised three children in Leawood, Kansas. Paula and Ray were active members in Curé of Ars Family Mass where they met lifelong friends and grew in their faith.

Paula adored being a wife and mother. She dedicated herself to supporting her family and did so as a Room Mother, Blue Bird Leader and swim meet timer. She did not miss a baseball, soccer or basketball game, gymnastics meet, dance or horseback riding lesson or school program for her children. Paula loved opening her home and backyard to all of the neighborhood kids. She kept the pantry stocked full of snacks ready for visitors, day or night. Paula spent so much time driving her kids to all of their events and to every practice she became known as “Taxi Mom.”

Paula loved children. She was a preschool teacher at Colonial Presbyterian for many years. She loved teaching in the 3 and 4 year old classrooms. In 1992, she completed her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in early childhood development from Avila College. Paula went on to teach for two years at St. Ann Catholic School in Prairie Village and then taught kindergarten and 2nd grade over a ten year span at Church of the Nativity Parish School from 1994-2004. Paula and Ray were founding members of Church of the Nativity in Leawood, Kansas and have loved this spiritual home. Paula’s faith was her bedrock. She loved Jesus and her Catholic faith. She believed in living her Christian values by loving, feeding, listening, encouraging, and standing up for others. She believed deeply in caring for those around her, born and unborn.

Paula was known by her grandchildren and great grandchildren as “Gramma Shimi.” She LOVED being their grandma as she doted on and nurtured them all. She is famous for sharing with them her love of children’s books, her well stocked toy room, the smell of baked goods wafting through her home especially her beloved banana bread, and the hours of shopping for just the right outfit. We will never forget her fabulous birthday cakes, candy jar, meals that always included blueberry muffins and dessert. Spending Christmas with Paula was like walking into the North Pole with her homemade/heartmade candies and cookies galore, the stuffed elves peeking around every corner and a Christmas bell for every child to always remind them of the joy of the season that Jesus came just for them.

Paula was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Virginia (Krehbiel) Teyber, her sister Polly Teyber, Yoshio and Marie Fushimi her in- laws, Allen Ostling her brother in law, and her nephew AJ Ostling.

Paula is survived by her adoring family; husband Raymond Fushimi, her three children Brent (Kim), Deborah (Dana) Nearmyer and Becky (Rob) Mullen, her sister Pam (Jerry) Brabant, her sister in law Jackie Ostling, eleven grandchildren Andy (Meredith) Fushimi, Jake Fushimi, Aidan Fushimi, Madison (Hunter) Hamilton, Blake (Hailey) Nearmyer, Tess Nearmyer, Maximilian Nearmyer, Mary Nearmyer, Annabella Mullen, Grady Mullen and Phoebe Mullen and 7 great grandchildren. Her legacy lies in the love of her family, sharing her faith and teaching children of their great worth.

Visitation will be held from 9:30am to 10:45am on Monday, August 14th, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, Kansas. Interment will be held at 1:30pm in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery of Lenexa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Angel Fund, Church of Nativity Parish School (3700 W. 119th St., Leawood, KS 66209). This fund enables children to receive a Catholic education, which was dear to Paula’s heart.