Paul was born November 6, 1947 in Batavia New York. Fast forward to 1969 (because I don’t know a ton of details of his childhood just that it involved a huge Italian family and lots of gatherings) when he married my mom Charlene “Cookie” Kramarz. They had my brother Greg and then me Debbie Voltura Shea. They divorced when we were three and five and both went on to meet the two most amazing stepparents anyone could ask for, Russ Joy and Debbie Chamberlain. He and Debbie married a short time later and lived in Batavia. Things took a turn for the worst a few years later and He and Debbie divorced but not for long! He followed her to Florida, they traveled to California and he won her back and she remarried him! They settled in California for many years. My dad welding and Debbie singing. Around 1991 they sadly divorced again when he moved to Northern California and started what I like to call “part two” of his life! To say he loved the outdoors was an understatement! He seemed happy and content in his new surroundings. He went on to meet his third OK technically fourth wife Connie. They married and raised her three children Michael, Marie and Felisa. This as I like to say was when my dad became a true father! Years later they opened up a restaurant named after my grandma Angelinas after owning the Frosty and doing many catering jobs. He also was a guide, a great hunter and fisherman and he Even excelled early on in life at bowling. Even had a few 300 games! Tragically he lost his stepson Michael to a hunting accident. It was at this time that I wrote him a letter after not speaking for Some years....Learning how short life could be. He came to visit and the rest is history. I couldn’t be more happy that we’ve had these years together even from afar. He’s come out to visit with us for weeks even months at a time and we will forever treasure those times and let’s face it what’s not to love about his cooking! Which ironically he never did much of until he moved to Northern California!
I don’t know the exact year but he and Connie separated. He stayed close with Felisa and her husband Adam and adored her two boys Eli and Davin! I am so thankful that he had them in his life especially when his health was deteriorating and life and distance made it hard for us to be there. My brother Greg and his wife Nickey married in 1992 and had Angelo, Sara and Melissa. My husband Tom and I married in 2009 and along with my two step-sons Dylan & Kyle Shea, had our daughter Addison a year later! He loved his children and grandchildren probably more than we knew. He sure lead his life on his own terms and flew by the seat of his pants most of the time but that’s what made him who he was. He made friends wherever he went, I joke that he was Norm from cheers because everyone knew his name! He loved the Polk-a-Dot restaurant in Batavia I think from the day he was born and frequently visited it when he was home! No one ever forgot him in Batavia! He had his own way of being unforgettable! As we grieve and then our lives go on he will be forever in our memories and in our hearts. We love you Dad! ❤️ I am writing this to summarize what I know of his life so that his East Coast and West Coast families can come together and know him a little bit better. I’m sure some of the details may not be entirely accurate but you get the idea! Thanks to everyone who loved him and tolerated him too!
