Paula Maria Mack VanVelkinburgh
On Friday, June 8, 2012, after a brief, courageous battle with cancer, our precious sister and beloved mother, Paula, returned to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
She was born to Albert and Karlee Mack on October 29, 1959, the sixth of eight children and their second daughter. She was named for her grandmother, whom she looked identical to at birth.
She worked as a Quality Assurance Lead person at Lamb Weston, ConAgra Foods in Quincy for the past 34 years, where she was respected and valued for her calm, professional manner and expert quality assurance skills.
Paula was love itself. She unconditionally loved everyone, as evident by the outpouring of love given to her family at the time of her passing. She was taken too soon, but because of her strength of faith, we will continue on.
Paula loved her father and her most precious wish was to return to the family farm to live. So a few years back, her dream came true, as she and her children returned to live with her brother, Ted on the family farm in Soap Lake, Washington. Under her care and watchful eye, the family turned a large, empty farmhouse into a home full of love and welcome for all.
Paula loved horses and all types of music, and reading scripture from and about her beloved Savior, Jesus Christ. Paula was a prayer warrior, and through her prayers and unconditional love, she has witnessed to many and brought many more into faith believing. She wanted all to know John 3:16 and she inspired to live by I Corinthians 13.
She is survived by her children, Jared Mack (wife Karinne), Jacob Van Velkinburgh (wife Kayci), Jeremiah and Jesse Van Velkinburgh, all of Soap Lake; the loves of her life, her grandchildren - Gabriel Mack, Zoee Thomas Van Velkinburgh, and soon be with us, Destiny Mack; her brothers and sisters, Ted Mack, Soap Lake, David Mack, Ephrata, Peggy Long (Ken) of Davenport, Albert Mack, Victor Mack (Rena), Roxanne Mack, all of Ephrata, and Karl Mack (Rebecca) of Post Falls, Idaho; nieces and nephews, Nathan, Aaron, and Phillip Mack, Kathryn Mack, Daniel and Kerry Long, Stacey Erickson, Alesha Carroll, Gary Carroll, Eric Mack, Jayme Mack, Terrah (Mack) Bicondova, Nicky (Mack) Krost, Lisa Riggs, Matt Vreeman; many friends and family of Lamb Weston, ConAgra Foods in Quincy; and many cousins, aunts, and uncles.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis; her beloved father, Albert Mack; her mother, Karlee Mack Brown; and her brother, John Mack.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 14, 2012, at the Ephrata Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Walt Wilkinson officiating.
Nicoles Funeral Home of Ephrata is in charge of arrangements. Viewing is being held at Nicoles Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 12, from 2-6 p.m.