Paulette Sawaya

Paulette Sawaya, 67 Years Old, of Fountain Valley, CA, passed away on February 11, 2023, in Newport Beach, CA.

Paulette Sawaya was born on September 2, 1955, in Cairo, Egypt to Elie and Mary Moussalli.  She had two younger siblings, brothers Joseph and Anthony.

Elie and Mary dreamed of a better life for their family and immigrated with their children to the United States in 1969, settling in Boston, Massachusetts.  At the young age of 14, Paulette faced the challenges of adapting to a new culture and environment and continuing her education in a new country.  Shortly thereafter, Paulette met her husband, Nadim Sawaya.  They married in 1972 and continued to live in Massachusetts for several years near her family.

Around 1975, seeking warmer weather and new career opportunities, Nadim and Paulette moved to California, first settling in Long Beach, and later moving to Fountain Valley.  Paulette continued her college education until giving birth to her first child, Emile, who was born in 1979 followed by Pierre in 1982.  She paused her career and dedicated herself to her children in their early years and was involved in their schooling and sports activities.  Paulette later became a teacher’s aide and worked in the Fountain Valley School District for over 25 years.  She enjoyed teaching and working with children with learning disabilities.

Paulette’s Catholic faith was first and foremost in her life.  She faithfully attended mass at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church and participated in several ministries.  She prayed each morning and always prayed the Rosary.  Faith guided her despite tragedies and health challenges during her life.

Paulette held strongly onto her cultural values by cooking traditional Middle Eastern dishes passed down through her family, watching Arabic television shows, and continuing to read and write in Arabic to family and friends.  She especially enjoyed gardening, working on puzzles, going for walks at the beach, her daily late morning coffee break, and staying connected with family and friends.  In her later years, she enjoyed going on cruises with her family and exploring new travel destinations.

Paulette was an amazing host and always welcomed family and friends with open arms.  She oftentimes expressed her love through cooking.  She provided support to those in need and always exhibited generosity and patience in her interactions with others.  Paulette was the definition of selflessness.

Paulette valued spending time with her children, Emile who married Kylee, and Pierre who married Odette.  She was blessed with three grandchildren, Alessia, Sophia, and Elias, children of Pierre and Odette.  After Nadim passed away in 2014, her grandchildren provided a constant source of excitement and joy in her life, and often brought out her fun and adventurous side.

Paulette’s memory will forever remain in our hearts.  May she rest in peace with our Lord.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the MDS Foundation would be appreciated at www.mds-foundation.org.