Paula Sue Burns Barnes
Paula Barnes, long time Washingtonian, died on August 20 at the Rockville Nursing Home. She was 84. The cause was complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
Paula Sue Burns was born in Newark, New Jersey on December 10, 1930 to Louis J. Burns, Sr., and the former Margaret Benton Finnegan. She spent her early years in Nutley, New Jersey. In 1940 her family moved to Washington, DC when her father who worked for AT&T was transferred.
Paula attended Nativity Grammar School on Georgia Avenue, and then attended Notre Dame Academy on North Capital Street. In 1947 she graduated first in her class and as a senior was awarded the Soroptimist Award for being one of the outstanding high school students graduating in the District of Colombia
In 1947 she matriculated at Trinity College, Washington, DC. While a student at Trinity, Paula was active in the National Federation of Catholic College Students. She held several major posts with that organization including National Travel Chairman and Regional President. In this position she had the opportunity to meet President Harry Truman at the White House. She was also a member of Who’s Who for College Students. Throughout college Paula also worked as a fashion model for the Garfinkel’s Department Store. She was graduated from Trinity College 1951 with a degree in Economics.
Immediately after college Paula worked in publishing including several years as Managing Editor of Signal Magazine, the official publication of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.
In November 1955 Paula married Paul D. Barnes, MD, a graduate of Georgetown University and Medical School who upon completion of his training would spend his entire career affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry at Georgetown. Her first child, David, was born in 1956, and she resigned from publishing and became a full-time mother. Mrs. Barnes had three more children: JoAnna (1960), Susan (1963), and Stephen (1966). During these years she was active in her community and church.
Since 1965 she has been a member of St. Elizabeth’s Parish in Rockville, Maryland, and was active in church and social affairs. She taught CCD, and served on numerous school committees. She was President of the St. Elizabeth’s Home & School Association, and she was also Co-President of the Georgetown Preparatory School Home & School Association.
In 1977 Mrs. Barnes’ life took a new turn when she began to work at the Academy of the Holy Cross, Kensington, Maryland, as a Resource Mother. She remained at Holy Cross until 1996, and held several positions, including Senior Project Coordinator and Freshman Guidance Counselor. During this time she took graduate classes at Trinity College. She had a special interest in students with learning differences, and she developed and implemented one of the first programs for students with learning differences at a college preparatory high school in the Washington Archdiocese.
Mrs. Barnes, who lived in Rockville, Maryland, is survived by her loving husband of sixty years, Dr. Paul D. Barnes, and her brother, Richard S. Burns, now of Tuscon, AZ. She is also survived by her four children: David C Barnes, M.D. (Ann Lapham Barnes), JoAnna J. Barnes (David M. Margolis, M.D.), Susan M. Barnes (Pat Antonietti), and Stephen P. Barnes (Suzy Roth Barnes). She is survived by nine grandchildren: Connor Barnes (Laura Fox Barnes), Ashley Barnes, Sara Margolis, Daniel Margolis, Kammie Murphy, Caroline Murphy, Andrew Murphy, Matthew Barnes, and Evelyn Barnes. And, one great-grandchild, Lily Kathleen Barnes. She is pre-deceased by her brother, Louis J. Burns, Jr. Her kind heart and gentle spirit will be missed by all who knew her.
Relatives and friends may call at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, 917 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852 on Tuesday, August 25, from 9 to 10 a.m.; where Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. Interment private at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff and administrators of the Rockville Nursing Home for the care they provided to Mrs. Barnes during these past four years.
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