Paula Carvel Fornara's Obituary
Paula Fornara peacefully left this earth on the morning of April 7, 2021. Paula Carvel Cromeens was born August 18, 1949. A native Texan and only daughter of Morrell and Estelle Cromeens, Paula enjoyed a childhood of adventure, imagination, and sometimes rowdiness with her three brothers, Mike, Doug and Steve. Paula was a graduate of the Class of 1967 at Woodrow Wilson Highschool. She always had a heart of service and care, beginning with her entering the field of nursing in 1969 after graduating from Texas Eastern School of Nursing. While working in Dallas she met Frank Fornara – a handsome man with a funny accent who was stationed for work in Dallas far from his native home of England. They married in 1974 and would go on to raise their two children, Sean and Alyssa, in Carrollton. Beyond being an exceptional nurse, Paula’s world revolved around her children whom she supported and raised while becoming incredibly involved in their school activities and the school district’s PTA and educational foundation. For 20 years Paula volunteered, led the PTA, and never missed a theater or band performance by her children. In any spare time she found, she could be seen quilting, crafting, or having a long meal filled with laughter with her friends and family. In 1998 she further extended her heart to the community when she was approached to begin a program to care for and provide medical and evidentiary support to adults and children who were survivors of sexual assault and abuse. After extensive training Paula became a forensic nurse and began Denton County’s first Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners program. She was the director of this program until her retirement in 2013. Her dedication, empathy, advocacy and giving spirit will forever be the greatest example to her family and community. Paula was preceded in death by her mother, Estelle; father, Moe; step-mother, Gloria; and brothers Doug and Mike. She is survived by husband, Frank; son, Sean; daughter, Alyssa Floresca and husband, Carlo; grandsons, Jasper and Daxton Floresca; brother, Steve and wife, Jenny; sister-in-law, Gail; and numerous nieces, nephews, and greatly loved friends. The family will be holding a private viewing and burial service. A memorial service will be held at Memorial Chapel at Restland on Thursday, April 22 at 2:30 in the afternoon. Due to COVID-19 precautions and our desire to keep loved ones safe and healthy, the family requests that friends attend the service virtually through the link provided. Thank you for understanding. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the SANE program via Friends of the Family (https://www.dcfof.org/memorial) or to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (https://www.theaftd.org/support-aftds-mission)
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