Paula Chappell

Paula was born November 5th, 1953 in Providence, Rhode Island, to Glen Chappell and Lottie Eberle Chappell. Last year she had a wonderful time at her 50th year reunion at East Providence High School (class of 1971).

Being a member of Tri Delta Sorority at the University of Rhode Island was a cherished time for Paula. She had fond memories of the life-long friends she made in the sorority and felt those years were some of the best of her life. She graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene in 1975 and worked as a dental hygienist for a few years.

She found dental hygiene to be unfulfilling however and searched for something more. A friend recommended she try pharmaceutical sales. This was a prefect fit for such a go-getter. She helped push the boundaries for women when she became a pharmaceutical representative with Upjohn Company in 1981. She worked in a variety of roles for them for 13 years and helped with the rollout of Xanax.

In 1985 Paula married Bob Quilitzsch, also a pharmaceutical rep for Upjohn Company. They later divorced. In 2003 Paula was married to Robert Hitchcock by the President of Palau during a romantic whirlwind tour of Micronesia.

Paula started a life-long love affair of Shelties while living in Tennessee with Robert. Her first Sheltie was Heidi and later she had Cassie and Fenway. She loved caring for them and training them to be pet therapy dogs.

Robert and Paula moved to Solivita retirement community in Florida where they played golf with a passion. Robert passed away in 2015 and in honor of his memory, she worked hard and won the Stonegate Championship Golf Tournament. He always encouraged her in her golf and told her she could win it. Paula also enjoyed volunteering with the Arnold Palmer Invitation every year.

In 2019 Paula was diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer. She bravely battled it for 3 years. Paula is survived by her brother, Lance Chappell, and her two step-children, Matthew Hitchcock and Kimberly (Hitchcock) King.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday evening, May 5, from 7 - 8 pm in the Russell J. Boyle and Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street, Providence..