Paula Hernandez

Now in the hands of the lord, Paula Hernandez passed away on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at home in Hemet, California, when her weakened heart finally gave out. Paula was born on June 2, 1949 in Arizona, to her late father Wilbur Stratton (from Columbus, Ohio), and her late mother Margret Stevenson Stratton (from El Paso, Texas).

Paula grew up in Arizona, Texas, and Orange County, California, where she was raised with her eight siblings: Charlie, Bertha, Mary, Helen, Bobby, Harry, Sarah, and Gladys. She was close to each at different points in her life, and often spoke of their influence. Gladys Stratton (who died in the 1980s) and Bertha Reese (and her husband) were particularly influential in Paula's life. As a pregnant teen, she lived with foster parents, Alice and Norm, who remained in her life well into adulthood.

Paula had four great loves in her life, three of whom were named Bob, including her late husband Bob Hernandez, and the father of her second daughter, Bob Postel, with whom she remained friends until her death. With her first husband, Keith K. Anderson, she had her first daughter.

Paula was the mother of Diane Anderson-Minshall and Wendy Cruz, and grandmother to Diana and Joanna Cruz, and was close with her daughters' spouses, Jacob Anderson-Minshall and Jose Cruz. She was also the biological mother of Scott, whom she gave up for adoption as a teenager. She and Scott, who lives in the Midwest with his wife and kids, were reunited years ago.

In her younger days, Paula loved Olivia Newton-John music, traveling to Ensenada, Mexico, cooking, dancing, and watching Little House on the Prairie reruns. A devout Christian, she was rarely without her Bible, and spent much of her life searching for a deeper relationship with God.

Despite coping with her own mental health issues, Paula was understanding, forgiving, trusting, loving, and affectionate. A survivor of great trauma and abuse, Paula remained trusting and searched for the good in everyone, trying to reconcile Christian teachings with her own experiences. In her late 40s, she became a foster mother to two teenage girls, themselves survivors of abuse, and helped one through a pregnancy. It was like coming full circle from her days with Alice and Norm.

Paula will be truly missed. No flowers needed, but if you would like to honor her, please consider a donation to the National Domestic Violence Hotline (www.thehotline.org) or a women's shelter near you.

For online condolences visit www.miller-jones.com.