Pauline Monakee 1925-2024

She will be remembered with profound gratefulness in celebration of a life that brought so much joy, happiness, so many blessings and such extraordinary consideration to those privileged to have known her.

Pauline passed peacefully at home, at the age of 99, beside her family, still beautiful and engaged in life to her final “I love you more.”

The eighth of 11 children, she was the daughter of immigrants who came to Ellis Island by boat from Czechoslovakia in 1913 to make new lives for themselves on the dream of American opportunity. She is the last surviving member of her family.

Always a hard worker in a family that survived on hard work, Pauline immediately joined America’s war effort after high school, working for the WWII Office of Price Administration during the wartime rationing period. She laughed and repeated many times over her life, “Two gallons of gas, two pounds of sugar.”

Gifted with a lovely singing voice, her faith and talent led her to meet her future husband, EJ, when both became members of the church choir and began dating in 1948, marrying in September 1949 at age 24. Her love of singing and music were as much a part of her life as her later love of art.

A tireless worker while also raising her daughters, Gail, Renee, Pam and Mary Jo, she continued to support the family working in an eclectic range of jobs. Over her more than half a century in the workforce, her career began with the Sears candy counter, followed by several years in administrative positions for an insurance agency and at a residential village for special needs adults. She then served for 10 years as a police and fire department dispatcher.

In 1980, after 30 years in the Youngstown area, the family relocated to Las Vegas to be closer to her daughters and grandson. Polly continued her working life after the cross-country move as an admissions administrator at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and later handled Legal Notices and Corporate Registrations for Nevada Legal News publication, finally retiring for good at age 75.

After her husband EJ passed in 2007, following 57 years together, Pauline embraced an active retirement dedicated to enjoying the creative side of her persona for the remaining years of her long life. She immersed herself in various college courses in everything from Feng Shui to learning how to read music, from sewing and knitting to speed-reading, organ lessons and autobiographical writing — before discovering her true artistic calling. While in a class with her grandson, she discovered her first artistic love — painting and drawing. Her passion for art led to nearly four years of art classes in Southern California.

After moving once again to be with her daughters in Carmel, California, up North, she completed her first art book, a limited-edition collection of her paintings, “Pauline Monakee, A Retrospective.” She was later honored to have one of her paintings featured on the cover of a special weekend section of the Monterey Herald devoted to the local arts community.

Her later years included travel to destinations as far away as Rome and Paris, New York and Hawaii. When not at her art table or painting by the sea, she relished trips to art museums, loved movies, and read books, magazines and newspapers every day of her journey in life. She could wander the aisles of Barnes & Noble for hours, reading the inside of book covers and thumbing through memoirs.

Out of all that, emerged a person admired, revered and respected by anyone who encountered her endearing smile, holding both of your hands and telling you how wonderful it is to see you. Her home and heart were always open at any time where she welcomed all with fresh paska, nut roll and pies. She was so gentle, soft-spoken and amazingly sweet that boxes of candy and cards arrived from across the country during holidays or her birthday. One couldn’t help but love a woman of such extraordinary and special, special grace. When missives arrived with the words “Dear Pauline,” they meant it in its truest sense.

She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law. Pauline is the proud grandmother of Chad and his wife, Kimberly Monakee; and her four cherished great-grandchildren, Beau, Luke, Max and Paulina. She also leaves many friends who will never forget her unconditional warmth, beauty and acceptance. Her light and love will remain in our hearts for eternity.

Pauline will rest beside her husband, EJ, and their dear daughter, Mary Jo, whom we lost in Nov. 2020. God rest their limitless souls.

If you care to make a donation in remembrance of Pauline’s life, please consider a gift to her daughter Mary Jo’s student scholarship fund at Youngstown State University (https://ysufoundation.org/give-now/, select “donate online” and the gift designation, “Mary Jo Monakee Scholarship.”)

(special notice)