Pauline "Polly" James

Beloved Mother, Grandmother, Wife, Sister, Aunt, and Friend, Pauline Florence “Polly” James peacefully entered the presence of her Lord surrounded by her family. She was escorted home by angels on Sunday, September 21, 2025. She was a very vibrant, vivacious, and young 84-year-old.

Polly was born to Paul and Florence (Staup) Poister August 11, 1941 in Galion, Ohio. She attended Mount Gilead High School where she was very active in various clubs including the scholarship team, choir and band. She was a majorette for the high school marching band for four years. During her teen years, she worked at The Inn in Mount Gilead. She graduated in 1959 and began Cosmetology School in Marion. While raising her family, she was a medical transcriptionist for Morrow County and Galion Hospitals. Always a life-long learner, she obtained her Associate Degree in Nursing from Mansfield Technical College and later was one of the first graduates from the dual Bachelor of Science Nursing/Master of Science Nursing program at The Ohio State University. She was a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Forrest General Cancer Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and at the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She retired from the James Cancer Hospital after 25 years of service. Following her retirement from OSU, she returned to work as an Advanced Practice Nurse in Palliative Care at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, until her final retirement.

Polly dedicated her nursing career to the care of oncology patients and was a mentor to many nurses who knew and worked with her. She was very active with the American Cancer Society and the Oncology Nursing Society, on a national and local level. In 2007, she received the National Excellence in Oncology Nursing Award from the Oncology Nursing Society.

While in Mississippi, Polly met the love of her life, Elby Billeaudeau and they shared 27 years of marriage together. Their home was a place of comfort and hospitality. Gatherings were always a happy affair with great food, fellowship, laughter, and card games. She loved Elvis Presley and ballroom dancing.

Polly also loved a good game of Euchre, Pinochle, and especially Bridge. She was very active in several local Bridge clubs. In 2018, she achieved the rank of Bronze Life Master Bridge Player with the American Contract Bridge League.

Above all, Polly loved her family. She will be greatly missed by her children, Randy (Jo Ellen) Braden, Dan Braden, and Torri (Jim) Curtis, grandchildren, Lindsay (Daryl) Lester, Nathan Braden (Ryan Kopycinski), Ashley (Iaasc) Chandler, Makenzie (Jake) Horne, Andrea (Dan) Husk, and Kyle (Krista) Curtis, and great-grandchildren Reagan and Keegan Lester, Evan and Ava Husk and Leo Horne. Polly is also survived by her brother, William Poister, brother-in-law Roy Billeaudeau, nieces Becky Riggs, Cindy Huddle, Angie Jeffers and Diana Landers, and many great nieces and nephews.

Her life was rich with many, many, cherished friendships. Her faithful, little dog Nala was a light and source of joy to her.

Polly is preceded in death by her husband Elby, her parents, sister Carolyn Lewis, and brother Donald Stearns.

Visitation for Polly will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Schoedinger Funeral Home, 6699 North High Street, Worthington, Ohio 43085. The funeral service will follow calling hours at 12:00 PM., at Schoedinger Funeral Home, Worthington, Ohio 43085. A graveside service will follow at New Cheshire (Berlin Township) Cemetery, 3271 Cheshire Road, Delaware, Ohio 43015.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Oncology Nursing Society, Columbus Chapter or the Stephanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.