Born Dec. 10, 1942 in Worcester, she was the fourth daughter of the late Paul and Margaret (McKeon) McGrail. Raised in Shrewsbury, her family lived on the Green Acres Farm on Main Street. While attending Norte Dame Academy, she worked for the family business Richard Healy Clothing Co. in Worcester where she met the love of her life, John C. Fisher. They later married Oct. 10, 1971 at Our Lady of Loreto Church.
After graduating from Notre Dame Academy with the class of 1960, she worked at New England Telephone Company for 18 years before staying at home to raise her two daughters. When she returned to work, she was a familiar and welcoming face at the former McQuale’s Restaurant on Lake Quinsigamond. Up until her passing, she was still working with some of her best friends in food services at The College of the Holy Cross where she had been for over 21 years.
Paula was a dedicated wife and mother to her family and they meant everything to her. With her husband and children, she spent many winter weekends skiing at Okemo Mountain where they maintained a home. Summertime brought memories at the beach, especially Hampton Beach and vacations spent at the Jolly Captain in Dennis.
She was deeply loved by her five grandchildren and was affectionately known as Nana. Nana always made it a point to be at hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball games and was her grandkids faithful cheerleader. She was a talented cook and was known for her signature seven-layer bars, brownies, meatballs and spinach squares. Paula had an amazing green thumb and always had a way of keeping her yard and gardens in beautiful bloom.
Paula was also a courageous survivor of breast cancer which she conquered 11 years ago.
In addition to her parents, she joins in heaven her three sisters, Frances Shinksie, Sandra Tierney, and Gertrude DeMaria.
She leaves behind her beloved husband, John; their daughters, Caren (Fisher) Sande and her husband Craig of Shrewsbury and Amy (Fisher) Collette and her husband Michael of Holden; her much adored five grandchildren, Matthew, Ryan and Logan Sande and Olivia and Julia Collette; a sister, Mary Price of South Yarmouth; brother-in-law Edward Shinskie of Texas; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Peter and Janet Kunigonis of Worcester; brother-in-law Paul Kunigonis of Worcester; many nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends and neighbors.
Her funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 18 at Saint Anne’s Church of Shrewsbury, with burial at Mountain View Cemetery.
The family wishes to extend their profound gratitude to the 2 Lakeside Neuro ICU doctors, nurses and staff at the UMass Memorial University Campus. Their compassion and care for Paula and her family will be forever remembered.
Memorials in Paula’s name may be made to the American Stroke Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.
