Paula R. Pratt 1944-2019

She was born Oct. 5, 1944, in Paw Paw, Mich., to Rose Kailing, a public school teacher, and Elkins Pratt, a veteran of World War I. Paula was the youngest of four sisters.

Born and raised in Michigan, Dr. Pratt was a graduate of Nazareth College and the University of Michigan, with a Ph.D. from The Union Institute. Dr. Pratt’s research focus was the role of Irish women writers and poets, integrating the themes of Irish studies, feminism and the metaphor of translation. Dr. Pratt recently retired from a tenured position in the humanities department of Coppin State University in 2017. She previously devoted more than a decade of teaching at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, where she was a much-loved professor of English. Prior to these full-time positions, Dr. Pratt taught as an adjunct faculty member at several colleges and universities in Baltmore, as well as Youngstown State University.

In Baltimore, Dr. Pratt was a member of the Living Water Inclusive Catholic Community.

She is survived by her sisters, Alice Herber of Punta Gorda, Fla., and Grace Martinez of Kalamazoo, Mich.; two daughters, Maureen ONeill, Ph.D., and Jennifer ONeill, both of Baltimore; as well as her grandson, Hassan Aziz (age 14). She was divorced in 1998 from Daniel J. ONeill, Ph.D., of Youngstown.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her eldest sister, Maryanna Pratt.

Her friends, family and colleagues joined in celebrating her life in a memorial service held 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at Maryland State Boychoir Center for the Arts, 3400 Norman Ave, Baltimore, Md.

Paula was an organ and tissue donor for medical research through the Anatomy Gifts Registry of Maryland. Gifts in Dr. Pratt’s honor can be made to one of the following: the Maryland State Boychoir Center for the Arts, 3400 Norman Ave., Baltimore, MD 21213, or the Loving Arms Homeless Shelter, 1227 Etting St., Baltimore, MD 21217.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Boardman.

Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary, sign the guest book and send condolences to Paula’s family.

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