Paula M. Amrein, died Sunday, August 21, 2023, at the age of 72.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 14, at St. Benedict's Church with Fr. Jeremy Hepler, O.S.B. as celebrant and Deacon Frank Olmsted assisting. Inurnment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. A parish rosary will be recited at 9:00 a.m., followed by visitation at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Mount St. Scholastica, St. Benedict Church Building Fund, St. Benedict's Abbey, or the Mayo Clinic and may be left in care of the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home. Paula and her late husband, Michael J. Browne, will be laid to rest at Mt. Calvary Cemetery following the mass.
Paula was born June 20, 1951, in Atchison, the oldest daughter of Edwin J. Amrein and Pauline Baumgartner Amrein. She attended and graduated from St. Benedict's Grade School, Mount St. Scholastica Academy, and Benedictine College. She also attended Highland Community College,
Ottawa University, and received a Master’s in Education Administration, from Benedictine College.
Paula and Michael J. Browne were married on July 14, 2000, in Emporia, KS. Mr. Browne preceded her in death January 20, 2021.
She had a long career in teaching. She taught elementary through college level students in valley Falls, KS, Big Rapids, MI, Atchison, and Platte City, MO. She was a foreign language instructor (Spanish and German) and taught English as a Foreign Language. Most of her teaching was at Maur Hill Preparatory School and Plate County R3 School District, retiring in 2017.
Paula was a woman of many interests and talents. She was a voracious reader on a variety of subjects and worked with her hands. She was a skillful basket weaver, seamstress, and baker. She always seemed to be working on a project, in the earlier years it was baskets, blankets, and refinishing furniture. In recent years, it was counted cross stitch and rag quilts.
She was an accomplished pianist and organist, playing for church services and tor enjoyment. Many years ago, she worked in a local floral shop and continued to enjoy designing and creating arrangements for family and friends’ weddings, and other occasions.
Survivors include her sisters, Elaine Amrein, Atchison, Mary Beth and Jerry Vadnais, Wichita, KS, Margie Holben and Joseph Bellon, Lansing, MI, COL (Ret.) Marian Amrein, Atchison, Alice Amrein and Tracy Underwood, Atchison, and Dorothy and Brad Gibson, Atchison, and her brothers, Edwin F. and Karen Amrein, Wellington, KS, and James and Kelley Amrein, Cave Greek, AZ. Survivors also include numerous nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and sister Jane T. Baker.
