Cora Ann Rita Paulson

Cora Ann Rita (Anglim) Paulson, age 95 of Duluth, died on October 30, 2024 in the Benedictine Living Community Skilled Nursing Facility. She was welcomed  by the open arms of the Almighty, along with her husband Arthur and family members and friends who preceded her in death. Cora Ann was the last of our extended family’s “Greatest Generation”. 

Her strength was a model of how to live your life: devoted, selfless, giving, and resilient in the face of immense heart breaks, including those that beset her Michigan family, and the loss of her husband far too early. She was quite simply the strongest person we have known. 

Cora Ann was born in Big Bay, Michigan on May 20, 1929, and grew up in Ewen and Ironwood Michigan, where she graduated from St. Ambrose Catholic High School. Cora Ann moved to Duluth, graduated from the St. Scholastica School of Nursing in 1950, and began her nursing career at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was a RN in surgery, Labor and Delivery, and Coordinating Supervisor of the Neonatal Follow-up Clinic for “preemie” babies. After retirement, she served as a Eucharistic Minister at the hospital. Cora Ann epitomized the definition of a nurse: compassionate, advocate, problem-solver and friend.

She was a devout Catholic and entered into marriage with her spouse Arthur Joseph Paulson on April 25, 1953 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, in Duluth. Cora Ann was a 60-plus year member of St. John The Evangelist Parish in Duluth. 

“Gotta keep moving” was Cora Ann’s mantra. She was a hiker, biker, cross-country skier and the family’s go-to for plant identification. With our father, the two of them led the Paulson family (and grandkids) on many adventures to the BWCA and on family road trips. World travels included Europe, Asia, and Africa. She was a member of Duluth’s Sister Cities International Program with Ohara, Japan; UMD Seniors Investment Club; and University for Seniors, where she shared her love of reading, painting and writing—and memorably recited one of her many poems to an audience while on stage at the Apollo Theater, in New York City.

Cora Ann was observant, a great listener, thoughtful, loved to laugh, tap to music, swing dance and sing. She is now with the Heavenly Chorus, clapping out the musical beat with her beautiful hands, the hands that cared for so many.  

Cora Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Paulson; parents, Jim and Ruth Anglim; infant sister, Eva May Anglim; sisters, Hazel (Lawrence) Anderson and Marie (Brent) Shelton; brothers, Roy Anglim, and Adrian (Marilyn) Anglim. She is survived by her children, Arthur Paulson, Jr., David (Tammy) Paulson, Nancy (John) Brickley, John (Vanessa) Paulson; grandchildren, Nathan Paulson, Nicole (Sam) Lewis, Laura (Patrick) Donegan, Ryann (Peter) Kallin; Haley, Emily, Matthew and Jessica Paulson; and great-grandchildren, Lindsey, Jackson, Maxwell, Bailey, Beckett and Brooks.

It has been a long yet loving goodbye for all of us, as she faced dementia for many years. The family graciously thanks the devoted staff at Benedictine Living Community of Duluth for Cora Ann’s lengthy care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Benedictine Living Community Foundation or the St. Scholastica School of Health Professionals. 

Visitation will be Saturday, November 9, 2024 starting at 10:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Church, 4230 St. John Ave., Duluth MN.