Paula's early years were in Otorohanga before she moved to Auckland attending boarding school there. In her twenties she moved to Sydney, Australia where she eventually met her husband Eduard, they married and soon moved back to Auckland where her son Alexander was born. In the early 80s she again moved to Sydney (this time with a husband and child) where she lived for the next 25 years. In 2009 having spent many years fighting against cancer she and Eduard again relocated, this time to Perth, Australia to be closer to her son and grand daughter. Paula is buried in Fremantle Cemetary, her grand daughter remembers her fondly.