Paulina Miranda Lima

Paulina was born on October 28, 1958 in Graciosa, Azores, to Manuel Reis and Maria Conciecao Lima. She was two years old when her parents, along with her seven older siblings, immigrated to the United States and settled in Turlock, CA.

Paulina’s life was unmistakably her own. She was conscientious and caring, high-spirited, determined to the core, yet remained well attuned to the cares and needs of those around her. From a young age she was drawn to the dramatic arts. A proud thespian, she found a way to channel her expressive spirit and boundless energy throughout her high school years and beyond.

Her time as a youth in Brazil held a special place in her heart, recalling many times spent at the Club de Portugal in Salvador Bahia, reveling in her fandom watching famous Brazilian singers and dancers of the 1970s. Her passion for music remained a root and expression of her zeal and the way she danced through the world.

Paulina was a class act. She had impeccable taste, a graceful way of carrying herself, radiating kindness and an effortless elegance about her that people noticed and were naturally drawn to whenever she entered the room. She loved driving her little convertible Fiat, looking as though she had driven straight out of another era into modern day. There was something wonderfully timeless about her, part old-world sophistication and glamour, entirely and uniquely Paulina.

Her Portuguese heritage was woven deeply into who she was. She understood hospitality as an art. A small gathering in her home was never merely a gathering; somehow the wine she chose was just right, the always-delicious food was prepared with care, the table looked beautiful, the music suited the occasion, and everyone felt as though they had been invited somewhere special (and they were!). She had a gift for refinement without pretension. Paulina understood that true elegance was not about extravagance, but about attention, warmth, taste, and making people feel welcome.

A lifelong learner, Paulina was well-read, intelligent, curious, well-traveled, and deeply interested in the world. She attended San Diego State University, earning a bachelor's degree in Psychology, and continuing her studies to also earn a Master of Science degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, as well as completing SDSU’s Community-Based Block Multicultural Community Counseling and Social Justice Education program. As a professional clinical counselor, she went to work for the San Diego County School District, where she helped youth and their families advocate for their needs. With utmost compassion and respect, she made it her mission to listen to struggling young people, encouraging and amplifying their voices, to help give them a fighting chance at a fulfilling life.

In 1990, while students in the same Portuguese class at SDSU, Paulina met Mark Eberlein. Married in 1995, they went on to share 31 years of marriage, during which time they built a business, a home, and a family. Their daughter, Sofia, was the light of Paulina’s life.

Paulina had a way of making life feel a little more beautiful. She possessed glamour without affectation, intelligence without arrogance, and a warmth that naturally drew people into her orbit. Wherever she went, she brought style, sparkle, and a contagious spirit of joy and celebration. She was fun, sophisticated, witty, and magnetic in that rare way that made us all love her deeply, and ache to linger longer in her company. She will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

In her honor, family and friends are invited to gather in celebration of Paulina’s life.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at Glen Abbey Memorial Park, 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, 10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108, followed by a reception at the Villa Portofino Clubhouse, 10690 Escobar Drive, San Diego, CA 92124.

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