NORFOLK – Paula Goodman passed away peacefully at her home in Ghent on November 9, 2023, having lived a full life. She was 89.
Paula was born in Baltimore, Md. on March 25, 1934, the youngest of three daughters of Max Field and Helen Rockman Field. She was very close to her sisters, Beverly and Hilda, aunts, uncles, and extended family, known as The Rockman Cousins Club.
She married Melvin Friedman and moved to Norfolk in 1955 before starting a family and joining Temple Israel, where she was active in the Sisterhood and fundraising plays such as How to Succeed in Kashruth Without Really Frying. Proud of her strong Orthodox roots, she enrolled her sons, Jonathan and Steven, in Hebrew Academy of Tidewater.
In 1994, she married Stanley Goodman, the love of her live, and joined him at Congregation Beth El. Together, they blossomed, kept a Jewish home, and enjoyed getting together with friends and family, Lenny and Ginny, and vacationing with Paula’s sister, Hilda.
Paula was an avid reader and enjoyed her book club, the daily crosswords, and cryptoquips. She was smart and had a gentle spirit about her, with never a negative thing to say about anyone.
This held her in good stead in her jobs at Hebrew Academy and, more recently, at Goodman Segar Hogan Hoffler, where she was a secretary and valuable assistant supporting the young agents, before shining in the job of receptionist and switchboard operator.
Paula is survived by her sons, Jonathan Friedman and Steven Friedman; her stepsons, Scott, Wayne, and Lance Goodman; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A graveside service was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery.