ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our mother, Paulett Taggart. We will hope you will share your memories and stories about her long, spirited, and adventurous life filled with many loving relationships and accomplishments. 
January 15, 2023
January 15, 2023
Thank you all for your memories of Mom, especially those shared recently around the anniversary of Mom's passing on Jan 12th a year ago. Here this weekend in Jackson, NH cross-country skiing from the home that Mom and Dad built in the early 1970s, I've now posted a photo taken by Cori of Mom XC skiing here in1975 (and for many years thereafter).
January 12, 2023
January 12, 2023
Remembering Paulett especially today --- her laughter, her love, her art.  Maggie 
June 11, 2022
June 11, 2022
I met Paulett through the drama and yoga classes she held at the Unitarian Church in Winchester in the early 1970s. I was in middle school then, a long-haired would-be hippie. Paulett was in the vanguard 50 years ago: she taught us yoga poses, and led us in creating a theater piece demonstrating different methods of energy production--fossil fuels, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion--and their dangers. The piece culminated in a paean to solar as the solution, a "sun salutation" indeed! 

Paulett was always supportive and encouraging, and I grew markedly as a performer thanks to the opportunities she created.  I can still remember her brilliant smile and relentlessly positive energy. What a wonderful woman!
February 9, 2022
February 9, 2022
I have many wonderful memories of Paulett, one of my mother's closest friends from St. Catherine's and Sweet Briar. I think the last time I saw her was in Richmond for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. I sat with my Dad and we called her after my mother died in 2013--they had a hard time hearing each other but we were glad to connect. I remember visiting with the Taggarts in the Hague, in Boston, and in Richmond. She encouraged me when I was acting in high school. Paulett was such a vivacious force of nature and both my parents loved her and Ganson very much! Cheers to a life well lived!
February 8, 2022
February 8, 2022
We first met Paulett when she stayed in our guest house, designed by her daughter Paulett. A beautiful, elegant, graceful, and kind woman. The photos of her you have chosen are perfect and we so enjoyed reading her story. 

We send our love to all her family,
January 29, 2022
January 29, 2022
I remember Paulett Sr. as Paulett and Cori's mother, an always elegant, reassuring, and kind presence, a spirit that is captured by the beautiful musical selection. I feel very lucky to have known this family even if it was only for a year.
May the sweet memories of your mother be with you always.
Much love,
Stephanie
January 29, 2022
January 29, 2022
“Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.” ( her Stanislavski quote) Paulett, for her abundant artful graciousness and sense of drama, was ever humble. She planned and directed memorable Worship Committee services at her UU church, sometimes including dance. They were always well-rehearsed, particularly the seamless ’transitions.’ Oh, I am smiling... At Carleton-Williard, Paulett performed a variety of scenes-the last time, she beautifully arranged her scarved self on a stool and recited a Rumi poem. When she spoke of blessings in her life, she quoted Luke 12:48, “to whom much is given, much will be required.” My family was fortunate to experience the blessing of friendship Paulett and Ganson lived out. Paulett was interested to know something more about everyone she met. She always had a thoughtful question; kindly curious, she challenged me to self-reflect. Lovingly grateful for your faithful friendship, dear Paulett.
January 29, 2022
January 29, 2022
It was a stroke of good luck to have married into a family of which Paulett was a part. I feel honored to have known her and also to have had our children experience such a warm, wonderful and kind lady as their “Auntie P”.
There are many aspects of Paulett’s unique personality to extol, one of which was her ability to make one feel as though they were the most important person in the room. No matter the subject, she would engage with a “tell me more” attitude while giving her undivided attention. What a gift! 
January 29, 2022
January 29, 2022
Although we only visited with Paulett and Ganson a few times, they were warm and wonderful memories, especially a beautiful home wedding. Annual Christmas letters gave us glimpses into their creative, thoughtful and involved lives. Thank you for this opportunity to honor them.

Liz, Van and John Taggart
January 24, 2022
January 24, 2022
Paulett's many talents added interest, beauty, and flair to events and lives. Her work with the Worship Committee at church produced memorable church services. Our son participated joyfully in her drama workshops, as did many other young people.  She was a warm friend, always curious about what was going on.  I am so happy to have known and loved her.  Maggie  
January 24, 2022
January 24, 2022
I met Paulett during her later years when she needed assistance going to church. It quickly became apparent to me that she was a wonderful Mother by witnessing the love and affection bestowed upon her by her daughters. She was also highly revered by those from her church community. Although I only knew her for a short time, I felt privileged. I will always remember her appreciation and zest for Life even when it became difficult.
January 23, 2022
January 23, 2022
I grew up around Paulette as she and Ganson were members of the same duplicate bridge group with my parents (Austin and Debbie Broadhurst) and other Winchester couples. My memories of Paulette are clearest when I was a teenager. Paulette was just so full of life - she dressed in vibrant colors, laughed all the time, and was filled with joy. She personified adventure to me - unlike my own parents, who personified rule following. I admired Paulette for her zest for life. I remember thinking how amazing it was that they, to me, simply left Winchester to go live in a foreign country for FIVE years . Wow! My parents would have never have even considered that.. Paulette remained in touch with me after the death of my mom, my dad having died years earlier, and I appreciated the connection. Paulette helped feed my teenage dreams of a less restricted life, for which I am forever grateful. Please accept my sincere condolences on her death, but what I remember most is her remarkable life.
January 22, 2022
January 22, 2022
Tee and Jack, I am so sorry for your loss. Tee, from what I read, your mother was a remarkable person. I am sure your memories of her will continue to be a blessing.
With deepest sympathy, -Denis
January 19, 2022
January 19, 2022
What a loving memorial this is! I can feel the fineness, joy and generosity of Paulette in the beautiful music, wonderful photos and tribute song. I feel that I’ve received something uplifting by visiting here. This is not unlike the feeling of being with Paulette. A woman filled with life, purpose, creativity and giving from her rich gifts. I was blessed to assist in her drama workshop with children and accompany her on a drama research trip to the zoo with them. I greatly enjoyed being a dinner guest of Paulette and Ganson, made to feel special, supported and interested in. May her joy filled spirit soar in this next adventure! I’m glad to have known her.
January 19, 2022
January 19, 2022
Paulett was an enthusiastic and keenly intelligent supporter of the Omega Theater in Boston under the leadership of Saphira Linden. Paulett believed in the value of committed spirituality in community life and gave us an opportunity to connect with her community. She was a bright light.
Grateful for her presence in my life, Suhrawardi Gebel
January 19, 2022
January 19, 2022
I had the great privilege of being Paulett's acupuncturist for 20 plus years. I loved my time with Paulett and was so inspired by her intelligence, grace and kindness. I looked forward to seeing her each week, and so missed her during covid and lockdown. I will miss her. She was truly a grand dame.
January 18, 2022
January 18, 2022
I will remember my Nana for her warmth and generosity of spirit, her unrelenting and non-judgmental love and support, her smile, her light. I will remember how much she and my Grandad truly adored and respected one another. Mourning Nana’s passing has only just begun, but I know that she was among the kindest and most generous people I have ever known, and much of what is best in me I owe to her.
January 18, 2022
January 18, 2022
I met Paulette in 1999. As a new Unitarian Universalist, I always said I wanted to be like Paulette when I grew up. We shared the satisfaction of Committee life as we functioned as the church’s Worship Committee. She always saw to it that the church banners were cleaned annually. They hang, like new, in our sanctuary today. The last time I saw Paulette was when Sara Delano and I drove out to Carlton Willard where she sat in a chair at the head of her bed. We had a long, sweet chat remembering many times and things we loved about our faith community over the years. My most memorable was the conversation we had about my deceased Partner, Pat Meny. Paulette smiled brightly as she remembering dancing with Gannon at our wedding.
She was truly a remarkable woman, not to be forgotten.
I send the family my deepest sympathy.
January 18, 2022
January 18, 2022
Paulett was such a spirit. She had such a vibrant way about her and was so warm and welcoming whenever I saw her. I so appreciated her support for the multicultural/anti-racism work I was doing and admired her so much for her vitality and many interests. She will be missed!
January 17, 2022
January 17, 2022
I light a candle in thanksgiving for my Aunt Paulett, my father’s sister, who died this past Wednesday, January 12, at 10:55 a.m.

Aunt Paulett was my surrogate mother. She knew it early on, I think, when she saw how difficult our mother was—lovely, witty, clever, sharp-tongued Mother, who had a temper to reckon with and an intolerance for anything less than perfection. Aunt Paulett tried to keep herself and her children in our lives, for balance, I think, for an alternative idea of love and acceptance. Which is not to say that Aunt Paulett just accepted whatever choices I made; she did not. She always tried to give guidance, though, without shame or guilt-tripping, and never with the threat of withdrawing her love.

When I think only of Aunt Paulett and not just of her role in my life, I think of joy, of someone embracing life, of someone merging with life. She was up for anything (as long as it wasn’t too early in the morning). I loved how she adopted Dad’s nickname for me, Luly, as if it were a caress. But look how I am already back to what she did for me: She pulled me back to the land of the living, several times. She was so quiet over the whole Lawrence period of my life (one of great highs and desperate lows of my life), but I’ll never forget what she said to me when, years later, Kean felt unable to leave work and come to some reunion she was having up north: “Oh, Lucy, you have gone from one form of rigidity to another!” She was so, so right, but the great thing was that with her love and information, and the love of other family and friends, I was able to transform that “another rigidity” to something slightly more flexible that I could live with.

I have been told all my life, “You are just like your Aunt Paulett.” I was often dramatic, it took a long time for my feet to touch the earth, I loved to sing, I had a body shape like hers (although I let mine go, and she never did), and I was open to the world. Well, thank you, is all I could say; thank you, and I wish I were. And though I could tell that it made my commentators anxious whenever they said it—mainly, I suspect, because I wasn’t more like them—I could also tell that they envied those Aunt Paulett-ish qualities in me.

We have all just lost a powerful force on this earth: a force that knew love like few others, even though we all try; a force that knew duty and passed that on to her daughters; a force that knew determination and worked hard to reveal its lessons to everyone whose life she touched; a force that knew courage and was unashamed and unafraid to help us all into that wagon; a force that knew life and taught us all she could with a passion unrivaled.

I miss you, Aunt Paulett.

Into paradise may
the angels lead you.
At your coming may
the choirs of angels
welcome you,
and may you have peace everlasting.

—Extracts, Antiphon from traditional Latin liturgy of the Western Church Requiem Mass

January 14, 2022
January 14, 2022
Thinking fondly of Paulett and all of her family. She was a wonderful woman and especially kind to our children, Lincoln and Kendall.
January 13, 2022
January 13, 2022
Good morning: She lived a meaningful life: that’s a source of joy and comfort. Sure is sad as well, though, and you have my thoughts of sympathy. It’s a melancholy morning here.
from a close relative
January 13, 2022
January 13, 2022
What a wonderful site you (all) have set up; it’s even more perfect for people in this time of covid, as it really gives them a way to connect with her and with you all.
I send you all much love,
Lucy
(niece of Paulett’s)
January 13, 2022
January 13, 2022
Dear Tee, Paulett Jr., and Cori, I'm so very sorry to hear of Paulett's passing. I can only imagine how heartbroken you are and how much you're going to miss her. Whenever Scott and I visited with you all over these past 30 years, it was clear to me that Paulett was a joyous soul, and a lady of great beauty and graciousness. I always admired how she carried herself--tall, graceful, and strong--and appreciated her insights on healthful practices such as yoga. Scott and I are holding you very close in our hearts during this sad time.
January 13, 2022
January 13, 2022
Paulett lived a full and giving life, finding space to explore her dedication to her interests in drama and the arts, a love second only to her dear family. I will carry wonderful of memories of her in my heart forever. 

                        God Bless. Martha Taggart Keller

           
January 13, 2022
January 13, 2022
Dearest Paulett - To me, through the years of knowing you as my Cousin
Ganson's wife, your energy has always been bountiful and beautifully focused
on family and your wonderful interest in drama and The Arts. I shall Never forget the first time I saw you and Ganson, visiting my family just after your and Ganson's marriage. I was 13, playing football with my dear friend Jane Grush, when you and Ganson arrived. Ganson was handsome in his WWII uniform, and you were beautiful! That visit was a standout for me and my family which I cannot forget. I have many dear family memories of you and Ganson, and Tee, Paulett, and Cori which are threaded through my heart forever. You and Ganson are Special! God Bless.

                                With Love. Martha Taggart Keller

         

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Recent Tributes
January 15, 2023
January 15, 2023
Thank you all for your memories of Mom, especially those shared recently around the anniversary of Mom's passing on Jan 12th a year ago. Here this weekend in Jackson, NH cross-country skiing from the home that Mom and Dad built in the early 1970s, I've now posted a photo taken by Cori of Mom XC skiing here in1975 (and for many years thereafter).
January 12, 2023
January 12, 2023
Remembering Paulett especially today --- her laughter, her love, her art.  Maggie 
June 11, 2022
June 11, 2022
I met Paulett through the drama and yoga classes she held at the Unitarian Church in Winchester in the early 1970s. I was in middle school then, a long-haired would-be hippie. Paulett was in the vanguard 50 years ago: she taught us yoga poses, and led us in creating a theater piece demonstrating different methods of energy production--fossil fuels, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion--and their dangers. The piece culminated in a paean to solar as the solution, a "sun salutation" indeed! 

Paulett was always supportive and encouraging, and I grew markedly as a performer thanks to the opportunities she created.  I can still remember her brilliant smile and relentlessly positive energy. What a wonderful woman!
Her Life

Obituary January 2022 to be distributed to several newspapers, alumnae newsletters, etc

January 15, 2022
Paulett Long Taggart died peacefully on January 12, 2022 at Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford, Mass. Born June 23, 1922 in Richmond, Virginia to Harriett “Hattie” Paulett Long and Raymond Victor Long, Paulett developed a life-long love of Virginia while growing up in Richmond with her beloved older brother Raymond. Paulett’s dramatic instincts were recognized and encouraged by her mother at an early age, and by age three Paulett was already performing, reciting poetry while standing on the living room coffee table, followed by her acting in her first play at age five.

During high school at St Catherine’s School, Paulett continued to develop as an actress, with leading roles such as Rosalyn (As You Like It), and Queen Guinevere. At Sweet Briar College she majored in Drama, where she performed her favorite role as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing before graduating in 1944. A Stanislavski quote she learned at Sweet Briar became a guiding principle for Paulett’s acting career and life: “Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.”

At Sweet Briar, Paulett met her husband, Ganson Powers Taggart, who was training in Virginia after enlisting in the U.S. Navy.They were married in Richmond in 1945 and subsequently moved to San Diego, CA where Ganson was stationed as a naval officer.

In 1947, Paulett and Ganson decided to settle in Winchester, MA where they raised three daughters and owned a home until 2006.From 1965 to 1970, they moved their family overseas to The Hague in the Netherlands.Both in Winchester and in The Hague, in addition to raising her three daughters, Paulett was very active as a volunteer in the community, especially in the theater realm, but also in other areas such as at the Winchester Hospital and Unitarian church, and as the President of the American Women’s Club in the Hague. Her theater involvement included many acting roles in Winchester Unitarian Society plays; performing in community benefits such as the annual Winton Club Show; and teaching creative dramatics and directing plays at both elementary and high school levels.

After her return to Winchester in 1970, she pursued her interest in teaching drama first with graduate work at Emerson College, then with her mentor Saphira (then Barbara) Linden of the Theater Workshop Boston, and finally launching her own program, the Winchester Drama Workshop. Through the Winchester Drama Workshop, Paulett taught classes in improvisational acting and other creative dramatic skills to middle school students and yoga to seniors in the newly opened Jenks Senior Center. Her innovative yoga class involved the introduction of other mind/body practices as well, such as meditation, Pilates, Feldenkrais, and Reiki healing. Taught by Paulett until her mid-80’s, her Jenks Center class had a devoted following and continues to this day. Paulett was also very involved at her UU church, including helping to develop lay-led services as part of the Worship Committee.

When Paulett and Ganson moved to Carleton Willard Village in Bedford, MA in 2006, she continued her drama activities acting in productions of the Carleton Willard Village Players and organizing weekly thespian social dinners. When asked at age 92 if she’d enjoyed being in the recent Carleton-Willard play, she responded, “I enjoy it more than anything else!” In addition to involvement in the theater, Paulett was a Reiki healing practitioner, gardener, and gracious hostess.

Paulett lived her life with a strong, determined spirit and courageous optimism which helped her keep moving forward despite life’s challenges. She was a deeply loving and devoted mother, helping her three daughters to pursue and cultivate their own interests and talents. She was dedicated to extended family as well, hosting many family gatherings, and as “Aunt Paulett,” making regular visits to her brother, nieces and nephew in Florida and Virginia a priority.

Paulett was predeceased by her husband Ganson (2007) and brother Raymond (2013). Paulett is survived by her three daughters: Harriett “Tee” Taggart (Jack Turner) of Cambridge, MA; Paulett Long Taggart (William Stout), of San Francisco, CA; and Cori V.C. Taggart of Eugene, OR., as well as her two grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and her nieces and nephew.

Anderson-Bryant Funeral Home of Stoneham, Mass. is handling the cremation arrangements, and a private interment service will be held at the Eastwood Cemetery in Lancaster, Mass.

A Celebration of Life Service has been scheduled for Saturday, June 18th at 2:00pm at the Winchester Unitarian church 478 Main St, Winchester, MA.

Online condolences may be posted at Forever Missed https://www.forevermissed.com/.Enter Taggart” in the Find a Memorial box and click on Paulett Taggart to enter your tribute or memory.

In lieu of flowers, contributions
may be made to the Winchester Unitarian Society (478 Main St.; Winchester, MA 01890).

Paulett - a song written by her nephew Doug Long in 2002 to honor her 80th birthday

January 3, 2022
Part 1: verses 1-5 plus chorus
She was born in the roaring 20's, below the Mason Dixon line
She and her brother Raymond Victor were raised in a simpler time
The ice man drove through Richmond streets upon a horse drawn rig
And the movies still were silent when she was just a kid

The Wall Street crash brought hard times on, for some an austere life
She was forming her opinions in those times of social strife
St. Catherine's helped to school her for the rest as yet to come
Then the world began to simmer, and soon it would come undone

The forties were time of horrid storm as warfare reigned supreme
"Peace in our time" was the plea but it remained a dream
But all was not so awfully grim at Sweet Briar college life
'Cause she met a man named Ganson Taggart, and she became his wife

She said fifties were like oyster years, grab hold and try to grow
Three girls in close succession, no spare time did she know
There was a hot and humid Texas town in the years before A/C
She was building, always building, for the sake of family

Bridge (like a chorus, but sung only twice):
Warren Harding was the president when she first saw the light
Mr. Lindbergh had yet to make his lonely ocean flight
The changes of the twentieth century have swirled at a furious pace
As she's tried just as best she could to make the world a better place

Mr. Dylan said the times were a changing, it seems that it was true
As they moved across the wide Atlantic Ocean, Paulett and her crew
The Badger corporation needed them in the land where tulips bloom
And to top it all off in '69, a man walked upon the moon

 (see following "Part 2" for remaining verses in this song tribute)

Paulett - a song written by her nephew Doug Long in 2002 in honor of her 80th birthday

January 3, 2022
Part 2 (verses 6-9 plus chorus refrain)

The America she returned to was changed in numerous ways
Her girls had all left the nest to live their grownup days
But friends and a new kind of Boston theatre kept her more than satisfied
And she enjoyed New Hampshire's snowy trails and the Cape Ann salty tide

Now she became a grandma, a boy and then a girl
Trips to see her West Coast daughters earned many a bonus smile
The drama workshop of Winchester Mass did well by her hand
And her spiritual journey wed East and West, she became a Sufitarian

The last decade of the twentieth century saw her moving most all the time
She cheered her grandkids sports events, come rain or come shine
She checked up on brother Raymond, in Floridas fabulous Keys
And enjoyed siestas with her daughters cooled by the Mexican breeze

So now we're in a new millenium, we all survived Y2K
It didn't take long for old man trouble to try to spoil our day
But we will survive and press right on I expect we can agree
So let's give thanks she's touched our lives we are Paulett's family

repeat Bridge from Part 1, above
Warren Harding was the president when she first saw the light
Mr. Lindbergh had yet to make his lonely ocean flight
The changes of the twentieth century have swirled at a furious pace
As she's tried just as best she could to make the world a better place
Recent stories
February 19, 2022
“Songs My Mother Taught Me” by Dvorak – what a lovely and appropriate accompaniment to this memorial to Paulett.  She taught us all by passing on her enthusiasm and love for life.

There was never a time that I didn’t know “Mrs. Taggart”, as the Taggarts lived down the street from our family, and we grew up playing with the Taggart girls as toddlers.  Our parents were part of a circle of very close Winchester friends who shared interests in, among other things, theater, church and bridge.  My parents were so lucky to have such wonderful friendships, which became ever richer over the decades.

One of my favorite memories of Paulett was my visit to the Taggarts in The Hague in the late 1960s.  In addition to introducing me to the delicious rijsttafel (an Indonesian meal adapted by the Dutch) and showing me around the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, we went to the theater.  An unforgettable performance in the round in an intimate theater of an experimental work directed by Jerzy Grotowski, one of the greats of 20th Century theater.  All in Polish, but the expressiveness of the voices and body movements made it very affecting.  To me it epitomized not only Paulett’s love of the theater, but also her eagerness to explore and openness to new adventures and experiences.

Thank you, Cori, Paulett and Tee, for sending the announcement with the three wonderful photos of your mother – all so familiar – and the interesting obituary.  I passed copies along to Sally, Judith and Rod. 

What a remarkable woman your mother was – so sad to lose her. 

With heartfelt condolences, Pat



From Parents' Pal to Forever Friend

February 4, 2022
The Taggarts and the Broadhursts were Winchester friends from as far back as I can remember. Little things or big things, our folks showed us what friendship means. From picnics to ski trips to simple drop-ins it was a natural and trusted relationship. As we departed for school and life and Janine entered mine we were fortunate to return to live in the Boston area. By that time Ganson had passed (he was my first example of the proposition that the best dad's have daughters) and Paulette pressed on. So it was with my dad's passing as my mom carried on in similar fashion. Janine and I were blessed to have Paulette and Debbie join us at POPS over several years (occasionally Bettina Harrison joined as well). It was marvelous to be with them and to share their enthusiasm, insight and love for life. We exchanged Christmas cards until the end; an end we knew would occur but which stings nonetheless. Paulette was one of a kind. She will be remembered as much as she will be missed.
January 19, 2022
It is with great sadness and great joy that Paulett has experienced a very full life. She worked with us at Omega Theater for many years and also Sufi Order. She was an advocate of honoring all religions at the same altar. When we did a Theater project in Boston she often mirrored it in Winchester. For instance, when we did programs in the schools to fight racial in balance, she followed suit in WInchester. She worked with children with different backgrounds.
She also began her study of Yoga and ultimately ended up teaching yoga to seniors. There is so much more to say. I will wait for her Memorial to Celebrate her Life. Rest Peacefully Dear Paulett. You will be in our hearts forever.

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