Paula Ann (Stephens) Hammer

Paula Ann (Stephens) Hammer passed away peacefully at her home the evening of October 27, 2022 surrounded by loved ones. Born in Woburn, Massachusetts on January 15, 1940, she was the eldest child of the late Paul T. and Lillian E. (Marr) Stephens of North Reading, Massachusetts. She grew up in North Reading and graduated from Reading High School in 1957.

Her first job was working at W.T. Grant in Reading and eventually ended up working at AVCO, where she met her future husband and the love of her life Joel. They were married in 1962 and had just had their 60th wedding anniversary. They enjoyed snow skiing together in their younger days, and traveling together as they moved into the later stages of their lives, visiting all 48 contiguous Lower States. She and Joel particularly loved visiting the many national parks in the western United States.

Living first in Atkinson, New Hampshire then Chelmsford, Massachusetts, they raised their three children, Todd, Steven, and Michelle. Starting in 1976, for the next two and a half years they moved several times before ending up in Lilburn, Georgia in 1979, where Paula and Joel would spend the rest of their lives together.

Starting in 1979, Paula worked as an administrative and executive assistant for 22 years, first at Contel, then MCI Communications/Verizon after several mergers. She retired in 2001 and proceeded to spend the next twenty years being a devoted grandmother and returning to New England to visit family and friends every summer.

Paula’s true passions were quilting and sewing. She hand-stitched many lovely quilts, a number which were displayed in museums. She would spend many hours hovering above her sewing machine putting together something new and lovely for her family or friends.

In 2020, Paula was diagnosed with ALS, the disease which had taken her daughter Michelle four years previously. She fought the disease gracefully until the end, when a very sudden rapid turn took her away.

Paula is survived by her loving husband Joel, sons Todd (Rose) of Alexandria, VA and caregiver Steven (Ynes) Hammer of Lilburn, GA, son-in-law Barney Daniels of Dacula, GA, grandchildren Tyler and Daniella Hammer of Lilburn, GA and Kaylie Daniels of Dacula, GA, brother Thomas Stephens of Alton, NH, sister Marilyn “Peachie” Sakelaris of Bradenton, FL, five step-grandchildren, and seven step-great grandchildren, her niece and two nephews, and many close and devoted cousins. She was predeceased by her daughter Michelle.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Paula at Wages & Sons Funeral Home, 1031 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville, Georgia on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. Visitation with family starts at 1:00 PM, the Celebration service at 2:00 PM, and refreshments afterwards. The celebration service will also be carried on Wages & Sons website at www.wagesandsons.com. Any memorial donations may be made in Paula’s name to your local ALS Society.