Pauline Posthuma’s valiant struggle with cancer ended peacefully on Friday, August 28, 2015 in her home surrounded by the loved of her family and close friends. She was 79. Those whom we have loved and lose are no longer where they were before. They are wherever we are.

Pauline F. Marrone was born October 17, 1935 in Worcester a daughter of the late James and Olive (Sunderland) Marrone. A graduate of Commerce High School in Worcester with the class of 1954 she would later marry her high school sweetheart, Donald D. Posthuma on October 5, 1957 in The Cathedral of Saint Paul. They lived over 25 years in Holden and for 30 years in Northborough before moving to the Community at Westbrook Crossing in Shrewsbury in 2011.

Pauline worked as a telephone operator for Data General, now EMC Corp. in Westborough. Previously she worked at Heald Machine Company in Worcester.

Above all being a wife, mother and a grandmother was her most favorite job and she did it well. Pauline knew that family is where life began and love never ended. Her homes were meticulous and she was a great cook. She and Don wintered for years in Indian Shores in Florida as well as traveled quite extensively. Simple pleasures for Pauline were card games with her regular Thursday group, her iPad, an excursion to Foxwoods, and time spent with each of her grandchildren…they were all her favorite. Don’s interests became her interests and their friendship and marriage really was the perfect union.

Mourning her loss yet celebrating her life is her husband of 58 years, Donald; her daughters, Joanna M. Crossman and her husband, Michael of Worcester and Donna L. Twitchell and her husband, Jason of Shrewsbury; her grandchildren, Shaun P. Gillis and his fiancé, Lynne Pottle, Mackenzie L. Gillis, Emma E., Zachary J. and Adam D. Twitchell; her first great-grandson, Cameron T. Gillis; her only surviving sister, Shirley Blondin of Palmer and the late Lorraine Mills and Harold Marrone; also survived by nieces and nephews and lifelong friends, Barbara Williams of Shrewsbury and Patricia Laganelli of Boylston.

Family and friends will honor and remember Pauline’s life by gathering for calling hours at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center on Monday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and again on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Rose of Lima Church, 244 West Main Street, Northborough where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton.

Honor Pauline’s memory with a contribution to Thoracic Cancer Center, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.