Paula Jeanne Foss Hardwick

Paula Hardwick, age 67, passed away at home on October 7, 2011, after struggling valiantly for many years with cancer. Paula was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England. She was the daughter of an American Army Officer, George Cecil Foss, and his British war bride, Patricia Mary Ready. Paula moved to the United States with her parents in 1945 and lived on various military bases until her father retired from the military in 1960. Paula attended Napa High School and Napa Junior College and graduated from San Francisco State College with a BA in Psychology in 1966. Paula married Michael R. Hardwick on December 18, 1965. After graduation from College, she moved with her husband to Oxnard, California, where he was serving in the Navy on board the USS Norton Sound in Port Hueneme, California. From 1966 to 1968 Paula worked as a Social Worker for the Ventura County Welfare Department. Paula followed her husband to Yokosuka, Japan during the Vietnam War. Their son, Michael David, was born there in 1969. Returning to the United States in 1969, Paula and Michael settled in Santa Barbara where he attended UCSB. Paula began work with the County of Santa Barbara Department of Social Services in 1970. Her daughter, Patricia Ann, was born in Santa Barbara in 1977. Paula participated in various Welfare to Work programs including WIN, GAIN and Cal WORKs. She retired after 34 years as a Senior Social Worker and spent the last nine years of her life travelling internationally with her husband Michael and enjoying her family. Paula was an active member of the Santa Barbara community and participated in the Santa Barbara Fiesta, the early development of El Presidio State Historic Park, volunteered at La Purisima State Historic Park, and was a founding volunteer of the Huerta Historic Garden at Old Mission Santa Barbara. Paula's love of history extended to her hobbies that included genealogy, Civil War re-enacting and supporting numerous local historic preservation projects. Paula Hardwick is survived by Michael R. Hardwick, her husband of forty-six years, her son Michael D. Hardwick, daughter-in-law Yvonne Hardwick, daughter Patricia A. Hardwick, son-in-law Chuen Ming Lim, and grandchildren Jacob A. Hardwick, Ryan J. Hardwick, Michael A. Lim and Serafina P. Lim. She is also survived by her mother, Patricia Mary Foss, her siblings Lynda Kay Weaver, and George Steven Foss, as well as her six nieces and nephews. A Rosary will be held at El Presidio chapel at 6:30pm, Friday October 14. A Funeral Mass will be held at St Barbara Parish at the Old Mission at 1:30pm, Saturday October 15. Funeral arrangements are through Welch- Ryce-Haider. Donations in her honor may be made to Huerta Historic Garden at Old Mission Santa Barbara.

Paula Jeanne Foss Hardwick

July 9, 1944 - October 7, 2011