Nancy Joann "Penny" Paulsen

Nancy Paulsen, 75, of Tampa, FL passed away Monday August 29, 2016 at Woodbridge Health and Rehabilitation Center in Tampa Florida after an extended battle with dementia.

Nancy was born October 24, 1940 in Whiteville to the late Joel Columbus (J.C.) Hayes and the late Eva Mae Meggs Hayes .

Known as “Penny” to those in her life, she graduated from Whiteville High School and spent the next several years with her first husband living in locations throughout the Southeast as a dedicated homemaker, mother of two sons and wife. After settling in Tampa, FL in 1973, Penny established a new chapter of her life, met and married her second husband and worked as a bookkeeper until her retirement in 2004.

Family and friends were an important part of Penny's life. She was a giving soul who enjoyed making others feel welcome and would open her home to those around her. Penny loved good food and socializing, enjoyed spending time with her husband, going to movies and had an infectious smile and sense of humor that could lift the heaviest of spirts.

Visitation is scheduled for Sunday, September 4, 2016 at 12:00 at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33614. The funeral is scheduled for Sunday, September 4, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. with burial immediately following at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park, 2853 Sunset Point Rd., Clearwater, FL 33759.

Penny was predeceased by her second husband, Leif G. Paulsen. She is survived by two sons, Danny (Sue) Batten and Kim (Michael) Batten, both of Sandersville, GA; one stepson, Steven Hjeltnes (Siri) of Stavanger, Norway; two stepdaughters, Lisa (Neal) Connelly, and Tammy (Don) Phillips, both of Tampa, FL; two grandchildren, Joel Batten of Sandersville GA, and Camrin Batten, of Athens, GA; four step-grandchildren Inger (Kurt) Labaak, of Stavanger, Norway, Bjorn (Katerina) Hjeltnes of Bergen, Norway, Pal Hjeltnes, of Oslo, Norway, Jennifer Connelly of Tampa, FL and four great-grandchildren; first husband Charles (Helen) Batten of Sandersville, GA. Her good friends, Dana and J.D. Stevens of Tampa, FL offered their love and support for Penny for over 30 years and the family would like to extend their gratitude for their presence and support in Penny’s life.