Rosa Paulus

Rosa “Rose” Paulus, born March 8, 1937, in Lorain, Ohio, to Carlo and Augusta Raponi, Italian immigrants who instilled in her a deep pride in her heritage, lived a life defined by music, family, faith, culture, and joy. Her family celebrates a woman whose spirit will long endure in the lives she touched.

Rose is survived by her loving partner of 32 years, Joe Todaro; her brother Ted Raponi and sister Filly Oroz; and her three children, Gloria Borchert, Carey Paulus, and Greg Paulus. She was a devoted and proud grandmother to seven grandchildren — Eric and Anna Borchert; Nathan, Andrew, and Christopher Paulus; and Joe and Bibi Paulus. She was further blessed with five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Paulus, whom she married in 1957 and who passed away in 1991.

After meeting Glenn while attending Kent State University, she married, started a family, and moved from Ohio to Michigan. Married over 34 years together, they raised a family and developed many life-long friendships, which endured long after Glenn’s death. As Rose and Joe started their life together, her family expanded. The Todaro’s viewed Rose as an integral member of the family, celebrating milestones, births, and gatherings together for over 30 years.

Music was the heartbeat of Rose’s life. An accomplished pianist, she played beautifully for family and friends and professionally accompanied weddings and special events. She volunteered her musical gifts at Angela Hospice in Livonia, offering comfort to patients nearing the end of life. She also shared her voice for many years with the Ford Chorus, performing in concerts and musicals that brought joy to audiences and fellow performers alike. A lifelong Catholic, Rose always sang in or accompanied the choir, most recently at St Aiden Catholic Church.

Later in life, Rose embraced the visual arts, taking up watercolor and acrylic painting. She proudly exhibited her work in juried and private shows — yet another expression of her lifelong creativity.

Rose was full of life and rarely missed an opportunity to gather people together. She hosted holidays, family dinners, and social events with warmth and enthusiasm. Her joyful approach to living brought out the best in others. Highly intelligent and endlessly curious, she was always ready with insight, advice, or a well-informed opinion — whether requested or not. Her sharp wit and wonderful sense of humor remained with her until her final days.

As a mother, she was intentional and devoted. She ensured her children experienced the beauty of the United States through annual family vacations and instilled in them an appreciation for culture, knowledge, and the wider world.

Deeply proud of her Italian heritage, Rose was a lifetime member of the Livonia Italian American Club, where she and her partner Joe celebrated the traditions and community that shaped her life. Rosa even self-published a book of her early life titled; Growing Up Italian.

As her near-term memory faded later in life, she learned to live vibrantly in the moment. Often quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, reminding us to remain firmly rooted in the here-and-now she would say, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.”

Her family takes comfort in knowing that a life lived with joy and passion, leaves a melody that never truly fades.

The funeral services for Rosa Paulus will be held at St Aidan's Church, located at 17500 Farmington Rd, Livonia, MI 48152, United States. The Funeral Instate will occur on February 26, 2026, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. This will be followed by the Funeral Mass, which will take place on the same day at 10:00 am. A funeral luncheon at the Italian American Club is to follow at 11:15 am.