Janice Paul

Service : Tuesday, February 17th at 2:30 pm
Service Location: Shalom Chapel Service
Shalom Memorial Funeral Home
1700 West Rand Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60004

Interment:
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 West Rand Road
Arlington Heights

Shiva Information

Home of Jodi and David Gimbel
799 Highland Place
Highland Park, Illinois 60035
Tuesday following interment until 8 PM
and
Belmont Village
700 West Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Wednesday from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Janice Z. Paul, a daughter, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt who never left the house without her signature gold hoop earrings and orange lipstick, died Feb. 14 at age 96. She was known for her generosity, flair and zest for life. And red hair. She was most exemplified by her favorite saying, “Life is not a dress rehearsal!” She lived that every day. Jan had a most generous heart. She was a soft touch for every charity who sent her a donation request in the mail. She once approached an area panhandler she saw shopping in Walgreen’s and offered him a $20 bill. Jan was passionate about helping others. She regularly read magazines and newspapers to vision impaired people at Blind Services and helped organize their annual vintage jewelry fundraising sale. Perhaps her most important cause was the CAWC, Connections for Abused Women and Their Children in Chicago. She served on its board and was active in the organization for many years. She also supported Mt. Aloysius, a residence in Ohio for individuals with developmental disabilities, where her son resides. Professionally, she turned her love for fashion and jewelry into a new mid-life career. She studied hard and became a certified gemologist, then represented a New York jewelry design company. She sold their creations to major retailers around the country and was never more thrilled than when she snagged a large order. She then joined the Women’s Jewelry Association of Chicago, where she served as president, helping members advance and develop their careers. The group honored her by naming her Woman of the Year and held a celebratory banquet to present the award and lots of accolades. How she loved music! A classical radio station was always playing loudly in her Streeterville apartment. A glossy black baby grand piano was the centerpiece of her living room. She began studying the piano again in mid-life, bravely giving public recitals. She adored Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Gershwin. It was hard to make plans with her because she was so busy. Jan’s packed schedule included twice weekly bridge games, subscriptions to theaters such as Goodman and a subscription to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Earlier in her life, Jan was a lecturer for WeightWatchers, inspiring her group members to stay on the program and eat healthily. She was the queen of the nightly strawberry milkshake, made with frozen strawberries, skim milk and a bit of sweetener. Dessert in her house was always fruit, to her children’s dismay. Post Weight Watcher days, she ordered a slice of key lime pie whenever she dined out, often ordering a “dessert for the table.” Jan played a strong game of tennis, but she was an Olympic level shopper. She haunted the nearby Loehmann’s, tracking a coveted dress as the price was slashed every week until she finally pounced on a major bargain. She loved the thrill of the hunt. Shopping with her was a blast. If you liked something in two different colors, she’d say, “Get both!” She also presented fashion shows for area dress shops. She was a friend magnet, holding onto her best friends from high school and making new ones into her 90s. She always opened her heart to new relationships in her life. But not romantic ones. She was married to Albert for 59 years, a husband who adored her every day of their lives together, and that was enough for her. Jan is survived by her daughters Marla Weingarten (husband Paul) and Lisa Paul, son Mitchell Paul, granddaughter Elizabeth Weingarten (husband Anthony) and great-grandson Jacob Jones, brother Leon, sister Sashie and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mt. Aloysius Corp., P.O. Box 598, New Lexington, Ohio 43764. Chapel service Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2:30 PM at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Rd, Arlington Heights. Interment to follow at Shalom Memorial Park. For a link to view the service, shiva, and to leave condolences: www.shalommemorial.org, 847-255-3520.