Mary Virginia

Paulik

Mary Virginia Paulik, age 84, of St. Louis, Missouri, passed away at her home on November 2, 2026, following a brief battle with cancer.

Born on December 6, 1941, in Mexico, Missouri, Mary was the daughter of Harold Daniel Quinlan and Frances Elizabeth Weins. She attended St. Brendan's Catholic High School, graduating in 1959, and DePaul School of Nursing, graduating in 1962. Mary worked at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis until 1972.

On December 6, 1970, Mary married Frank Edward Paulik at St. Monica's Catholic Church. Together, they shared nearly 56 years of marriage and built a life centered on family, love, and their Catholic faith.

Mary devoted her life to her family, especially her children and grandchildren. For her children, this meant juggling four busy schedules filled with sports, lessons, and events. She spent countless hours supporting Incarnate Word Elementary School and St. Monica Elementary School, volunteering as a room mother, working in the health room, fundraising, organizing teacher appreciation luncheons, serving as a Girl Scout troop leader, and so much more. During girls' softball season, she could be seen keeping score and cheering on the team. For her grandchildren, she loved babysitting, having them stay overnight, and celebrating all their accomplishments.

Mary was also a devoted wife and best friend to her husband, Frank. They loved going to the casinos to play the penny slots, sometimes staying out until the break of dawn. The next day, she would regale everyone with stories of her latest bonus wins. They enjoyed watching shows like NCIS and Blue Bloods together. Once their children moved away, they also became avid followers of political news, keeping up with the latest developments together.

Mary was a natural leader and organizer in her many activities and pursuits. She enjoyed planning everything from holiday tea parties to her daughters' showers. She set the pace for family activities, keeping everyone in line and on time. She had a talent for math, and her recordkeeping was meticulously organized. She could plan a vacation down to the smallest detail, yet somehow no one ever felt rushed.

Mary was also known for her cooking. One of her favorite things was sharing a good meal with the people she loved. She enjoyed preparing large family meals and always made sure everyone had something they would love to eat.

An avid reader, Mary always had a stack of mystery or suspense novels nearby, especially British mysteries. She was particularly taken with the Harry Potter series and eagerly awaited each new book and movie. Mary also enjoyed making homemade crafts, including wreaths and flower arrangements. For a time, she even tried her hand at running a small craft business, attending regional craft shows to display and sell her creations.

Mary also loved collectibles. She amassed a large collection of Department 56 houses and had a fondness for Waterford crystal. Her favorite color was purple, and she loved wearing flashy purple blouses that often attracted attention.

Most importantly, Mary will be remembered for her love, loyalty, patience, and toughness. No matter who you were, if you were part of her life, she showed you endless love and made sure you felt included and accepted. Without hesitation, she would sacrifice her own comfort for others, quietly carrying burdens that no one else even knew existed.

She was fiercely loyal to her friends and family, whether someone was facing an illness or dealing with a personal tragedy. You could always count on Mary for a ride, emotional support, or a much-needed pick-me-up. She was patient, especially with her family, but she also knew how to set limits and enforce them fairly. And beneath her caring nature was a tough side—a ferocious mother bear who would stop at nothing to defend her family.

Mary is survived by her beloved husband, Frank Paulik; her children, Christopher Paulik, Jennifer Paulik, Karen Witt, and Lisa Moeller; her grandchildren, Genevieve Moeller, Kendall Witt, Lucy Moeller, Alexander Witt, Josie Watson, Adam Witt, and William Watson; her step-grandson, Conrad; and her brother, James Quinlan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Frances Quinlan, and her sisters, Barbara Braisted and Kathy Quinlan.

Funeral Arrangements

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Incarnate Word Catholic Church in Chesterfield, Missouri, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. A small reception will take place immediately following the Mass.

Mary will be laid to rest in her hometown of Mexico, Missouri, on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Brendan's Catholic Cemetery, 615 S. Washington Street, Mexico, MO 65265.

For those wishing to send flowers, Mary's favorite color was purple. Floral arrangements may be coordinated through:

Ortmann-Stipanovich Funeral Home 12444 Olive Boulevard Creve Coeur, MO 63141 (314) 514-1111

osfuneralhomes.com