Paula Marie Greaser-Hayes, 63 of Waldorf, MD passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family and friend on January 10, 2019. Paula was born on February 14th, 1955 in Niagara Falls, NY. She was one of ten children born to the late Martin Greaser and Catherine (Dineen) Greaser.
Paula was a graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School class of 1972, where she graduated second in her class. She was very intelligent. During high school, Paula worked various jobs, one was at Hooker Chemicals, where her dad was a stationary engineer. Following high school, Paula attended Valparaiso University in Indiana. In 1977 she graduated with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. Thereafter she accepted a position with the government at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC, then the Naval Ordnance Station) in Indian Head, Maryland. Paula worked 42 happy years at NSWC in various positions such as, Mechanical Engineer, Branch Manager, and as a liaison officer in Contracts and Acquisitions. She managed programs for manufacture, testing and logistics of missiles for Navy ships. She was a trail blazer in all facets of her work experiences. She had the patience to dig deep! She also deposited into the lives of people that she encountered. She encouraged people to do their “best!” Even though Paula could’ve retired at 35 years with the government, she loved her career and the many friends she made over the years, so she continued to work in the acquisition department as a manager until her passing.
Paula had many hobbies which included scrapbooking, playing candy crush and watching a variety of tv shows, but her main hobby was genealogy. Paula’s family was the most important thing in her life. She was instrumental in researching the Greaser and Dineen family and also created a website for family to view and share. She was dedicated to researching and collecting family history to share at the family’s reunions. She also created a website for her father so he could reconnect with his naval buddies he was aboard ship with during the war. She brought a lot of family and friends together, even distant relatives we didn’t know we had. One of her great passions was volunteering. She volunteered at the Charles County Literacy Council for 20 years teaching adults how to read, write and also study to receive their GED’s or high school diplomas. She was also very giving and had the biggest heart. She donated to many charities and sacrificed her time to help others. She also contributed to hurricane maria relief efforts to help the family of her friend Lydia Sanchez and many others in Puerto Rico.
Paula is survived by her one daughter, Larine Greaser, age 38 of Waldorf, MD, her grandson, Queyan Robinson, age 18 of Gaithersburg, MD and her great-grandson, Noah Turner, age 1 month of Gaithersburg, MD. Alongside her immediate family, she was loved by her cat, Gizmo. She is also survived by seven siblings, Liz (Bill) Putnam, William (Donna) Greaser, Kathleen Wheeler, Julie (Rick) Wheeler, Teres (Sheldon) Charles, Mike Greaser, and John (Marie) Greaser. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews and by her 2 longtime best friends, Gloria Savoy and Cathy Berry. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Hayes III, her mother and father in law, Martha and Joseph Hayes II, her sister, Patricia Greaser-DeWitt, her infant brother and her lifelong friend/designated sister, Glenna Stafford.
The family will be present to receive friends at a memorial service in April in Waldorf, MD. Details concerning the service will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Charles County Literacy Council and the American Cancer Society.
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