was born at 1204 Sanger Ave. in south Dallas, Texas. My parents immigrated from Russia, my mother, Molly Esther Utay, with her family when she was six and my father, Harry Abe Finneburgh, when he was eighteen. My father ran a small grocery store in an annex of the house that we lived in. He had made our living by peddling fruit & vegetables in a wagon, and then started the store. He died when 1 was about 2 years old so I do not remember him at all. My mother died when I was about 5 years old so I remember her somewhat. Since my brothers were in the service (WWII), my oldest sister, Goldie, took my sister, Irene, and me to raise. After Irene married at age 17, Goldie married Isadore Lansky and Goldie and I went to live with him and his sister in their house at 6119 Velasco Street off of Skillman Street in east Dallas. I attended Woodrow Wilson High School while living there; however, Goldie and Isadore separated and I actually graduated from there while living with Goldie on Hudnall Street in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas.. After graduation, I worked summers and saved my money and with scholarships was able to attend U.T. at Austin and graduated in June, 1961, with a BBA (majors in business and education).

I got almost all of my nice clothes from elementary school through college from Marci Lee Mfg. at cost because my uncle, Aaron Shwarts, husband of my mother's sister, Lena, was sales manager and probably a stockholder in the company. The factory was located a half block from Pollock Paper Company on Cockrell Ave. in S. Dallas off Lamar. This made it convenient, since Goldie, my sister who reared me after my parents's deaths, worked at Pollock Paper Company and it was a only a half block noon time trip to pick up gannents. Much of Goldie's clothing also came from Marci Lee.

1957 was first senior class to graduate from other than the Woodrow Wilson high school auditorium. Graduation was held at State Fair Music Hall in Fair Park. There were over 500 in the graduating class. I graduated with honors. Awards received: National Honor Society, Linz Honor Award Four Year Scholarship, Everts Scholarship Honor Award.
I found this in the Union Prayer Book presented by the Sisterhood of Temple Emanu-El to me with my name imprinted in gold on June 6, 1954 at my Confirmation. Following is the verbal address I made at that event:

THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE SABBATH 1. MEMORY
When we remember the Sabbath, we remember much more than one day of the week. We remember an institution which has become Judaism's cornerstone. God rested on the seventh day and sanctified it and made it holy. Moses called it "a sign between God and the children of Israel forever". Isaiah called it "a day of delight", and Jewish mystics spoke of it as the "Bride of Israel". It is fitting for us to think of the Sabbath at this important service. How will we regard the Sabbath ? What will it mean to us ? Only our actions and attitudes in the days and years to come will provide the answers to the questions. Let us pause to realize that the Sabbath is an opportunity to rest, to reflect, to pray, and to sing.

After graduation from UT Austin, I worked for Hunt Oil Company for a while, moved to Denver, Colorado for about a year and then returned to Dallas to work for Texas Instruments. I did not use my lifetime teacher's certificate because the pay was so low, but I did use my teaching skills at Texas Instruments in "on-the job" training of employees. I worked there in various positions from 1964 and until early retirement in 1992. I began as an hourly pay secretary as there were few .salary positions for women at that time. I later was promoted to salary positions including liaison between semiconductor sales and defense department, buyer, manufacturing engineer, and government contract auditor in the defense department. I worked on the first watch and many of the calculators products while in the semiconductor division and later on classified programs in the defense division, including some programs involving the CIA that I could not talk about.

In 1973 my sister Goldie introduced me to Ray Calvert who became my husband on April 26, 1976. We were married in the study of Temple Emanuel by Rabbi Benperod. We bought our home in Irving and never moved.

In March 2011 I was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and as of February 2017,1 am in remission making me an almost 6 year survivor, almost a miracle. I underwent chemotherapy and radiation followed by surgery in the summer of 2011.

Other health issues include a major heart attack in 1988, multiple kidney stone operations, gout and diabetis and have developed lung nodules. Of my five siblings (I am the youngest), I am the only one to live past 70.

An anecdote that my family is fond of telling is that when 1 was born my father's niece who could not have children wanted to adopt me. The niece told my mother she already had five children and could give her one. My mother said "I also have five fingers. Which one should I give you?" That niece is the one that said I should be called "Paula" and not "Pearl" although that is the name on my birth certificate.

Written February 2017 by Paula for Genealogy

Pancreatic cancer had returned and took Paula's life on May 4, 2017, despite the extreme efforts of Dr. Udit Verma, her oncologist, and the UTSW Medical team. Paula always fought her illness with courage and a great smile. She is Ray's hero!

Paula is survived by her husband, H. Ray Calvert, Sons Kenneth Calvert and his wife Janice, Jim ' Calvert and his wife Wendy, and daughter Kathy DeLeon; nine grandchildren, fifteen grandchildren and two great -great-grandchildren.

She loved traveling in her RV, caring for her pets and plants, and doing just about anything Ray wanted to do. Housework and cooking were not favorite things although she did them well.

Memorial contributions may be directed to UT Southwestern Medical Center, P.O. Box 910888,
Dallas, TX 75391-0888 or online at www.utsouthwesternedu/donate now. “ To support Pancreatic Cancer Research.”