Paula Pust

Paula Maria Pust, 93, of Glendale Arizona, passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 16. 2023. She was born July 15, 1930 in Zwischlern, Gottschee, Yugoslavia. The daughter of Johann Stine and Maria Hutter. She was married February 5, 1955 to Alfred (Freddie) Pust in New York. Freddie was her true soulmate and together they shared over 68 years of marriage.

Paula enjoyed a full and interesting life. As a young girl she experienced the chaos and suffering of WWII. When she was 11 years old, her family was forced from their German Gottschee homeland and the family fled to Austria, to a small town called Thal.

Paula and her sister Erna immigrated to America March 13, 1951, leaving behind her parents and her brother. They came to the United States as stateless refugees and were welcomed into the home of their Tante Mitzi. They both found work in a paper factory and attended night school to learn English.

Paula loved living in the city. She loved to shop and go out with her friends. It was while spending time with friends at a German-American night club, that she met her future husband, Freddie, who had recently immigrated to America after escaping from East Germany. They made their home in New York and welcomed two daughters. In 1961, Paula and Freddie moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they purchased their first home and raised their family. In l966, they opened a wood finishing business, where they worked side by side. Eventually they purchased land in Mormon Lake, Arizona, where they built their dream home and retired. They also raised money and helped build a volunteer fire department for Mormon Lake residents. Paula helped raise money to support the fire department by selling her baked goods and working at the annual rummage sale.

Paula loved to cook, and she was known for her rolls, apple strudel, Christmas stollen and homemade pizza. She was also an accomplished seamstress and made clothing for herself and her daughters. She could also knit and crochet, and she made jam and pickles. She also loved to play Bingo.

She is survived by her husband Alfred, two children: Margaret Roberts and Birgit Tyre, two grandchildren Sarah Pollack and Stephen Roberts, and six great-grand children: Elizabeth, Nicholas and Luke Pollock, and Matthew , David and Rachel Roberts.

In addition to her parents, Paula was preceded in death by a sister, Erna Ritter and a brother Johann Stine.

A graveside funeral service will held Monday, September 25 at 12:30 PM at Resthaven Park Cemetery.