Paulette M Vidal Carey

Paulette was born in Paris France, where she lived as a young and beautiful woman working as a seamstress with an up and coming designer named Coco Chanel during WW II – until she found the love of her life during the liberation of Paris in 1944. He was a young American GI, her future husband Bill, who served under the command of General George S. Patton. While stationed in Paris he first saw her with her mother waving to the troops from their home; it was love at first site! Sergeant Bill Carey later returned and asked her father for permission to have a date with Paulette and as they say, the rest is history.

For those who might think that it was bad timing to pass away on Mother’s Day there is no need for sadness. It could not have been a greater gift, as her only wish was to once again be with her beloved Bill. What better Mother’s Day present could she have been given? The redeeming quality to the sorrow felt by those left behind is the fact that she now is with him strolling through the streets of Paris passing by her Eiffel Tower.

Paulette is survived by her two daughters, Mikki Donnelly and fiancé Joe Baraban, and Laura Drexel and her husband George Drexel; five grandchildren, Jennifer Donnelly Stein and husband Russell Stein, Christopher Donnelly and wife Noelle Donnelly, Alexandra Ellis, Phillip Ellis and wife Jennifer Ellis, and Katie Drexel. She also leaves behind three great-grandchildren, Holt, Case, and Lyla Donnelly – her greatest source of pride and joy in life for the past four years.

The family would like to give special thanks to Lillian Jackson for her devoted loving and tender care of Paulette for the past four and a half years as well as to Barbara Joseph for her years of committed and wonderful care and recently Myrtis Arseno. Paulette’s life was greatly enhanced because of their dedication.

We will all miss Paulette’s wonderful sense of humor, great laugh, endearing smile, charming French accent and great love for family and friends.

There will be a Funeral Mass on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 1801 Sage, Houston, TX 77056 followed by her interment at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive. If you wish in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Ronald McDonald House Houston in her honor.