Paula Fangman Obituary

Paula Joan Hunt Fangman, 93

Paula Joan Hunt Fangman, age 93, passed away peacefully at her home in Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026.
Paula was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, John Thomas (Tom) Fangman; a sister, Laura Elizabeth Spalding; and her parents, Henry Wilson Hunt and Laura Frances Palmer Hunt.
She is survived by one sister, Rose Marie Cooper of Vine Grove, Ky.; brother-in-law, David Fangman (Charleen) of Park Hills, Ky.; sister-in-law, Marilyn Hoffman (Richard) of St. Petersburg, Fla.; as well as her nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her foster children, Jonathan Trung Do, Thang (Aja) Ngo of
Porland, Ore., Thuan Nguyen, Secaucus, N.J., Tam Minh Tran, Boston, Mass., Linh Tran, Morristown, N.J. and Dung Kim Nguyen, Boston, Mass.
Paula was born in Hopkinsville, Ky., as the first child of Henry and Frances Hunt. When Paula was 12, her family moved to Louisville, Ky., where Paula attended Sacred Heart Academy. Paula always loved music and she began taking piano lessons in second grade. She also learned to play guitar and organ and enjoyed participating in school plays and singing. In 1947, she and her family moved to Flaherty, Ky., with her graduating from Flaherty High School in 1950. Paula then attended Ursaline College in Louisville and became a postulant in the Ursuline order, taking her vows on July 4, 1954. She completed her degree in Education, and over the next 12 years, she taught 5th and 6th grades at six different schools in Kentucky and Indiana. She began course work at the University of Kentucky in 1966, completed her dissertation, and was awarded a doctorate in education in curriculum and instruction. Returning to Ursaline College, Paula taught in the education department, until accepting a position as a faculty member in the education department in the newly merged Bellarmine-
Ursaline College in Louisville, Ky. (now Bellarine University). She later served as department head. During her time at Bellarmine-Ursaline College, Paula requested and received dispensation of relief of her vows.
Paula and Tom shared many common interests including music, education and social
justice. Through these shared interests, they met along the way and quickly recognized
a strong connection. In 1970, Tom accepted a teaching position in Long Island, N.Y. but he and Paula remained in contact. Paula and Tom married on December 30, 1971, and eventually settled in Pittstown, N.J., where they were educators and administrators for over 25 years. Their Kentucky Derby parties became quite an
anticipated tradition with their friends, and Kentucky was always dear to them. Within
the first few years of their marriage, Paula and Tom became foster parents to six children who emigrated from Viet Nam thru Catholic Charities. Paula was honored as the Hunterdon County (New Jersey) Mother of the Year in 1989, and Paula and her family were featured in a local newspaper article.
Upon retirement in 1997, Paula and Tom moved back to Kentucky (Bagdad area) in
Shelby County. Together, they designed and built their dream home, choosing a location
within Kentucky that was central to family. They joined the congregation of the Church
of the Annunciation in Shelbyville, Ky. and actively participated in the parish's
music ministries and religious programs. Paula also served in the local community as a volunteer for Hosparus. She was a regularly active volunteer with Centro Latino, a non-
profit that assists vulnerable Hispanic families by educating, motivating and helping
them to access trustworthy support systems. Paula was a sister member of P.E.O. International (represents as Philanthropic Educational Organization), which is an
international women's organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for
female students world-wide through scholarships, grants, and loans.
Paula relocated to Shelbyville in 2005, after Tom's passing in 2002, then moved once
again, to Louisville in 2023.
Paula was honored as the deserving recipient of the Ursaline Sisters of Louisville Angeline Award in 2010. This award recognizes women who embody the charism of Saint Angela Merici, founder of the Order of the Ursulines and recognizes individuals who exemplify the Ursaline values of education, service and spiritual growth.
The Mass of Christian burial will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at Church of the Annunciation in Shelbyville with Rev. William Bowling officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Louisville. Visitation will be on Friday, Feb. 13, from 10-11:45 a.m. at Church of the Annunciation, preceding the Mass.
In Paula's memory, we invite you to honor her devoted support of Hosparus of Louisville , Hosparus Health Development Office 6200 Dutchman's Lane Louisville, KY 40205, Centro Latino of Shelbyville 120 Main Street ATTN: Jackie Elzey Shelbyville, KY 40065, P.E.O. International P.E.O Chapter AL c/o Marie Ridgway 26 Timberwood Dr., Shelbyville, KY 40067 or Church of the Annunciation in lieu of flowers. Please note your donation is in memory of Paula Fangman.