Paula Sue Lainfiesta of Benton

Paula Sue Lainfiesta, mother, grandmother and friend, left this world peacefully April 23, 2021, at age 74.

She was born to Paul and Lucille Moore Aug. 27, 1946. She grew up on the family farm, Maple Hill Farm. She attended Benton Consolidated High School and graduated in 1964. After graduating from high school, Paula joined the Army Nurse Corps and became a first lieutenant. She married Mario Lainfiesta in 1969. They welcomed their only child into the world in 1975. Damian Paul became her pride and joy.

After the army, she went on to pursue a very successful nursing career. She graduated from the Southern Illinois University School of Nursing in 1968 and became a registered nurse in Illinois. After graduating from the University of Evansville in 1985 with a master of science in nursing, she went on to teach in the RN program at Rend Lake College, retiring in 2002. After her first retirement, she worked at the Benton Public Library for 12 years, retiring again in 2019.

Paula loved spending time in the garden, reading a good book and spending time with her family.

Paula was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Lucille, and her friend Mario Lainfiesta. She is survived by her son, Damian (Beth); and two granddaughters, Raeann and Harper.

Paula's warm heart and smile will be missed by all her friends and family.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 11 at Jackson Grove Cemetery, 9054 Bessie Rd, Benton. A celebration of life will follow from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 11 at Jack Russell Fish Company, 106 E. Main St., Benton. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that a donation be made in Paula's honor with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, lls.org.