Joycelyn (Joyce) Doreen Schuster, born on May 1, 1938, in the Ardenwald neighborhood of Milwaukie, Oregon. A lover of horses, so much that her nights as a child would often consist of sleeping outside in the barn with them. She was our cultivator of family memories and stories, always finishing each tale with “true story”. A believer in the innate goodness of humanity, this was the philosophy she lived by, crediting both her parents, Doris, and Maurice. Along with her parents and her beautiful sister Gloria, Joyce believed she was the luckiest person to be born into such a remarkably loving and good family.
At the age of 14, Joyce would meet the cute, brown-eyed Italian Leonard Paola. She quickly realized he was the love of her life. In 1956, while broken up with Leonard, Joyce traveled to Memphis to visit Gloria, her husband Dick, and their children. On her arrival back home, Joyce saw Leonard at the train station looking “tanned and cute, wearing white Levis and a checkered shirt”. At that instant, they were engaged. They married on September 30, 1956. She, wearing a dress with ornate white lace, and he, a striking white tuxedo, and a black bow tie. Shortly after, while Leonard was away in the National Guard, Joyce saved $1500 in six months working at the telephone company. This money served as a down payment for their first home. The house on River Road would be described as cute, very narrow, with a nice backyard and a white picket fence.
As Joyce would say, “if he can’t find a way, he will make one” when describing Leonard. His zest for life brought them to the back country roads of Boring. It is there they built the family farm and home in 1961 on 60 acres. Cedar Canyon Fur Farms was a continuum of Joyce and Leonard’s experience with the family trade of mink ranching, alongside Leonard’s parents, Pasquale, and Millie. Later, Leonard and Joyce would build the brick and blue home of their dreams, filled with collected antiques, heirlooms, and preserved family history. On the farm, Joyce enjoyed teaching tole painting classes and hosting craft bazaars, in addition to raising their four cherished children (Jack, Melenie, Mitch and Danny).
In 1976, an old barn transplant to Sandy, Oregon provided as the structure to Joyce and Leonard’s first restaurant, Paola’s Pizza Barn. Later, Joyce opened “A Country Heart”, a charming antique shop connected to the restaurant. Working alongside Leonard, Joyce was involved with the day-to-day operations of the restaurant and later the expanded locations.
On February 27, 2024, Joyce passed away in her beloved home, surrounded by her family. To each family member and friend, Joyce demonstrated unconditional and remarkable love. The matriarch of the Paola Family will be immeasurably missed.
In addition to her parents and sister, Joyce was proceeded in death by her sweetheart Leonard and her dear son Danny. Survived by her children Jack, Melenie and Mitch, her niece Lori and nephew Maurice, her 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
In honor of our dearest Joyce, a Kentucky Derby Celebration will be held May 4, 2024, 1 o’clock at Paola’s Pizza Barn. With a Mint Julep in hand and dressed in style, may we cheer for the horses together, just as she would have. True story.