Paula Shia Hundley

Paula Shia Hundley passed away peacefully on September 8, 2022, at home surrounded by family.

She was born on February 25, 1924, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She was the oldest of five children of S.A. Shia and Mary Joseph Shia, a member of an Austin, Texas pioneer Lebanese family which has been in Austin since the 1890s. Paula had a special relationship with her Aunt Nabeeha and Uncle George.

Paula graduated Valedictorian from St. Joseph’s Academy in Wheeling. She then graduated from Seton Hill College in Greensburg, Pennsylvania in 1946 with High Honors, majoring in Chemistry and Mathematics. She was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honorary Fraternity for academic excellence.

For over four years, Paula worked as the Executive Assistant for the President of Wheeling College. In this role, she served as the President’s right hand, and personally was responsible for organizing many events and managing his office.

Paula married William O. Hundley, Jr. of Wheeling and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and they had a wonderful life together. After her husband’s death, she moved to Austin in 1994 to be with her extended family. She immersed herself in a variety of organizations including LAMP (Learning Activities for Mature People) affiliated with The University of Texas, Friends of the LBJ Library, Seton Medical Center Auxiliary (where she volunteered), the Mercedes Club of Austin, and The Austin Club. She organized a bridge group at The Austin Club which met for many years. She was a frequent diner there and annually took her great-nieces and great-nephews to the Santa Brunch.

In February 2016, Paula moved to Westminster senior living community where she continued to be involved in many activities and programs. Everyone knew Paula at Westminster and she enjoyed living there. Paula was blessed with wonderful health, and up until last year, she frequently attended Westminster’s exercise classes.

Paula was truly dynamic. She was very social and spirited, she loved having fun and attending parties, and she never missed an opportunity to dance or play bridge. Yet at the same time, she was a very private person. She was charming and lady-like, but she could still enjoy and appreciate a good single malt scotch. She was strong and independent but gentle. She was religious and had sincere faith in God. One of her greatest characteristics was that she knew how to make everyone she spoke to feel happy and special.

Paula loved her extended family dearly. She had four siblings: Nettie Hage (deceased), Mildred Joseph, George J. Shia (deceased) and Madelyn George. Although she did not have any children, she loved her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, and enjoyed sharing her sage advice with them.

Paula was a caring, generous, and intelligent person whose warmth and grace will be missed by all who knew her.

The family would like to express their most sincere gratitude to all of Paula’s loving and compassionate caregivers who took such tender and sweet care of her.

Pallbearers will be Ernesto G. Amparo, Steve I. Dalby, David M. Jabour, Cater Joseph, Philip C. Joseph, Jr., and Sammie Joseph, III. Honorary pallbearers are Larry Bond, David Draper, Chris George, Gary George, Steve George, Thomas George, Doug Hirsh, Philip Joseph, Sammie Joseph, Jr., and James Scott.

A Visitation will be held at 6:00 pm on Monday, September 12, at St. Louis King of France Catholic Church, 7601 Burnet Road, Austin. Recitation of the Rosary will follow at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 13, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Louis Church followed by a graveside burial service at Assumption Cemetery, 3650 South I-35 Frontage Road, Austin. Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Paula Shia Hundley Memorial Fund at Our Lady of Lebanon Church, 2216 Eoff Street, Wheeling, West Virginia 26003, Telephone: (304) 233-1688.

Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com.