Laila Paus

passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 21, 2009 in the evening at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton, Washington with her loving family around her. She was born on October 6, 1931 in Oslo, Norway to Asbjorne Andresen and Inga Bunes Andresen. She was 78 years of age. She was a resident of Bainbridge Island, WA for the past 15 years. They had moved from Wilton, Connecticut where they had lived for many years. Laila was raised during WWII and grew up directly affected as a child experiencing bombing raids and the horrors of war. In 1939, when she was eight years old, the Germans invaded Norway. They occupied Norway for the next six years until the war ended. During that time the Germans took over all schools forcing the children to be moved almost everyday to any open place. She was in a class of twenty-five students. Laila was a witness of the atrocities of WWII. If any family blinds were open just a bit you could easily get arrested. "All the time", she said, "I heard people being shot". Her father and older brother were in the underground trying to spread information about the war. Her father was captured and sent to an internment camp that would be his home for the next year. Finally after six painful years the war was over. Laila remembers parties all around. She was married to her husband Jack Paus in Niagara Falls, New York at age 21. They were together for 57 wonderful years. Throughout their life together, they lived in New York, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maine, Ohio, Connecticut and Geneva, Switzerland. She was a homemaker. Laila is survived by her beloved husband Jack Paus of Bainbridge Island, Washington, her children; Lisa Paus Rose of Bainbridge Island, WA, Mark Paus of Norwalk, CT, Linda Paus Floyd of Fort Collins, Colorado and Michael Paus of Issaquah, WA. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, many loving friends from the Wing Point Country Club and her dear family and friends in Norway. Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Memorial Service on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 1:00 PM at Rollingbay Presbyterian Church on Bainbridge Island, Washington. A reception will follow at Wing Point Country Club at 2:30 PM.Memorial contributions can be made to The Helpline House on Bainbridge Island,WA.