Paulina Toro McCullough

Maria Paulina Toro McCullough "Paulina" of Lansing, Michigan passed away on Monday, February 2, 2026, at the age of 65. She was born on September 9, 1960, Medellín, Colombia, South America, where she grew up and graduated from high school. Alongside her mother and sisters, Paulina worked in more than one family business, including a chocolate business that catered to some of the best businesses in Medellín, especially at Christmas. In her childhood, she and her family enjoyed traveling throughout Colombia, and spending time with their large extended family. The Toro and Restrepo families were a part of Colombian history and were among the early leading families of Colombia. Her families and their history were a great source of pride to Paulina.

After graduating from high school, Paulina came to the United States as part of a Youth for Understanding student exchange program and lived for half a year with a family in Arkansas. While there, she learned great southern traditions like Friday night fish fries!

A year later, Paulina returned to the U.S. and entered Johnson and Wales College in Rhode Island where she studied tourism for a year. She was called back to Colombia when her family encountered some difficulties.

For the next several years, Paulina worked in publicity, first for Bluss Publicity and then for Gomez-Chica Publicity before coming to the United States to marry her husband, Andrew S. McCullough in 1994. It was while she was working for Bluss that she recruited an American English teacher to voice part of a commercial the agency was creating. The owner of Bluss watched us interact and later told Paulina, “You’re going to marry that Gringo!” Turns out he was right!

The newlyweds began married life in Haslett, MI, where Paulina worked for Kroger for several months before gaining employment at Comerica Bank. Paulina enjoyed her work as a teller and became a teller trainer.

In 1997, Andrew became a full-time instructor at Michigan State University, and Paulina and Andrew purchased a house in Lansing. In 2001, they adopted three boys from Colombia. Paulina took a leave of absence from Comerica to raise their children and returned to Comerica when the younger boys entered first grade. Comerica eventually closed several branches in Lansing, and Paulina took a job with the State of Michigan, with whom she was employed at the time of her death.

Paulina loved knitting, working with stained glass, and many other artistic endeavors such as lighting her porch and yard for Christmas. Above all, Paulina was passionate about gardening. She worked with her neighborhood association to plant flowers in the HERO neighborhood for as long as the city supported that program. She and her loving neighbor, Mary Ely, maintained a friendly and cooperative gardening competition. The Ely and McCullough families knew that if you could not find either Mary or Paulina, it was because they were pursuing some hijinks or other, whether antiquing, buying flowers and ornaments for their gardens, or just hanging out. They called each other Matilda, or “sis”. (Yes, they were the two wandering Matildas!)

The families of the HERO neighborhood have been of great support to one another over the years, with those two women often leading the way. While the McCullough family is certainly suffering a loss, they also extend heartfelt condolences and neighborly love to their neighbors (especially the Ely’s) who have been equally impacted by Paulina’s passing. The expression “it takes a village” was and is true for this family and our wonderful neighbors.

Paulina will also always be remembered by her brother-in-law, Robin McCullough, whom she drove to numerous cancer treatments twenty years ago. They were “bro” and “sis” to each other. Paulina’s coworkers, friends and family remember her for her energy, work ethic, and willingness to help others. She lived her belief, “What are you doing sitting around when you can get up and do something?!” She was unstoppable – a force of nature!

Paulina was preceded in death by her parents, Jaime Toro and Cecilia Restrepo, and her sister, Virginia Toro.

She is survived by her husband, Andrew, and their sons Andrés Felipe (Jessica Cruz with grandsons Andrés Felipe, Jr., and Miguel) McCullough, Juan Pablo McCullough and Mateo McCullough, as well as her elder sisters Susana Toro, Adelaida (John Heath) Toro, Clemencia (Jose Restrepo and their son Sebastian) Toro, twin brother Alejandro (Monica Garcia and children Nicolas and Alejandra) Toro, youngest sister Mecedes Toro, and brother-in-law Robin McCullough. The siblings live in Colombia, California and Florida.

The family would like to thank Gift of Life, Michigan, to whom Paulina donated organs following her passing. The Walk of Honor at Sparrow Hospital was a tribute the families and friends will always remember. Thanks also to the professionals at Sparrow who made that gift and memorial possible.

A memorial service will be announced later in spring so the families can pay tribute to Paulina in her favorite environment, a flower garden. At that time, directions for donations will be made. Please do not send flowers or donations at this time.