Paula Ogren Obituary

Ogren, Paula Myers
September 25, 1918 - August 8, 2010
Paula Myers Ogren died at home in San Luis Obispo on Sunday, August 8, 2010, surrounded by 31 members of her extended family, with much love, psalms and singing. She looked forward to joining her husband, Quentin 'Bud' Ogren, and baby, Kathy, her parents, Tom and Norma Levitt Myers, and her daughter-in-law, Sandra Ogren.

Born into a warm Jewish family in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 25, 1918, Paula filled her almost 92 years with love and passion for family, God, books, politics, song, and sharing a good meal and stimulating conversation.

At 15, the lovely Paula started college at the University of Minnesota, transferring a few years later to the University of Chicago where she'd met Quentin 'Bud' Ogren, a tall handsome Swedish fellow, at a Young People's Socialist League Convention. Bud and Paula were married in 1938 and spent 70 remarkable years together.

Seven children later, Paula and Bud were still engaged with zesty argument, political causes for the underdog, great dollops of singing, and tons of reading, which they foisted on their brood until it was second nature to them. There were NAACP picnics, summers of Shakespeare, frequent visits to museums, campaigning against the anti-fair housing initiative in 1964, and boycotting table grapes in the 60s and 70s.

When Paula and Bud became Catholic, they helped found Los Angeles Catholic Human Relations Council, and hosted a Bible class in their living room. Paula founded an extensive travelling library for the Christines, an articulate, intelligent group of Catholic women committed to social justice, and a parish library at St. Emydius Church in Lynwood. She proudly called herself a Jewish Catholic.

After the fourth child, Paula graduated from USC and its library school and worked as a librarian at Long Beach Polytechnic and Huntington Park Library.

After earning a history Masters at LA State, Paula taught three years at Verbum Dei High School in South Central LA, and then at Immaculate Heart High School in Hollywood. The undefeated Jeopardy! Grand Champion in 1973, Paula especially pleased her sons with the correct answer to a sports question. She also came in a strong second in her race for the LA City Council in 1975. Then, at age 59, she entered Loyola Law School and became an LA County public defender for juveniles at age 63.

Paula and Bud retired to San Luis Obispo, where Paula served on the Grand Jury and began a women's Bible class, endlessly pouring over maps and commentaries. She loved to mention the Hebrew Bible's 34 references to protecting "the widow, the orphan and the alien."

She could infuriate you one minute, and fascinate you the next. You never had to wonder how Paula felt or what she thought - she delighted in telling you. She was interested, fun, generous, and endlessly opinionated. Family and friends remember her as a fearless, valiant woman, never intimidated and always willing to stand tall for her beliefs.

Considering herself the luckiest woman in the world, Paula described herself as a "devout Catholic [who sought the ordination of women], a Zionist and life-long member of Hadassah, a liberal, a Democrat, and a social democrat."


A grand matriarch in a tradition all her own, in the presence of her children and grandchildren she would often throw her arms wide and exclaim, "These are my jewels!" Throughout her life, Paula surrounded herself with wonderful friends. As she got older, she "adopted" at least a baker's dozen of terrific younger women.

Paula also leaves behind her sister Donna (Tom) Ambrogi; her cousins Alva Weinstein Lane, Dan Rose, and Naomi Rose; her children Liz (Dan) Krieger, Rachel (Don) Clark, Tom (Yvonne) Ogren, Paul Ogren, David Ogren, and Mary Rose Ogren O'Leary; her grandchildren Leah (Mark) Flanagan, Matthew (Stephanie) Clark, Jacob (Paquerette) Clark, Sarah (Danilo) Alfaro, Hildur (Dan) Cohen, Heather, Samuel, Naomi, Shana, Joshua, Andrew and Joe Ogren, Kate (John) Armour, and Lucy, Rachel Elizabeth and Isaac O'Leary, and great-grandchildren William and Maggie Flanagan, and Abraham, Isaiah, Nathan and Corita Clark.

In lieu of flowers, Paula would appreciate donations to: Homeboy Industries, www.homeboy-industries.org; LA Catholic Worker, http://lacatholicoworker.org; the Sisters of Social Service, www.sistersofsocialservice.com; Edna Hospital of Somaliland, www.ednahospital.org; or the Nativity Family Fund, www.nativityslo.org.

The storytelling vigil will be held at Nativity of Our Lady Church in San Luis Obispo, on Friday, August 20 at 7pm. Funeral Mass will be on Saturday, August 21 at 11am at Nativity.

Published by Los Angeles Times on Aug. 15, 2010.
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Memories and Condolences
for Paula Ogren

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See you in Heaven!

Leslie Vandewalle

Friend

August 9, 2019

Nancy Kramer

September 7, 2010

Dear Ogren family,
I just read about Paula and am so sorry to hear of your loss. I remember her, and your dad, so well growing up. All the wonderful years at the Valyermo Festival where they donated so much time. That was the last time I saw them, at a retreat with the family and that's how I remember them. The hub of the activity and energy with such warmth and insight to share. What wonderful lives they led, and how our good Lord will reward them for their tireless efforts in making this world a better place for so many. The thing that comes to mind most, is the happy thought of them being together again. May the Holy Spirit fill your hearts the with his peace and comfort, and with the reassurance they are both safely home.

Margaret Peppard

September 7, 2010

Hi, Ogren Family,
I just heard of Paula's passing and want to offer my sincere condolences. She was a lovely, lively lady. I think fondly of our many spirited discussions we neighborhood girls had while carpooling to IHHS with her. Eternal joy and rest be hers! Love from, Regina Ormsby Gassner

Regina Gassner

September 4, 2010

For too short a time, I had the honor of being a friend to both Paula and Bud. Whenever my wife and I attended the Nativity Parish "Friday Fish Fry", we always looked for Paula & Bud's table because that was a memorable place to talk, to share and participate in a meal. And how generous these Ogrens were. The first time I ever visited their home, I found piles and piles of newspapers, journals and books on every available surface which, obviously, were in some state of being read and/or being passed on to others to read. Upon my departure, Bud gave me a magazine article and the email address of a charitable organization he thought I should join. Paula gave me a whole new bottle of Vitamins and some other non-prescription medications they thought I could use for my own maladies. I've always regretted that I was not able to accompany Bud on his (Moses-like) walks through our Foothill neighborhood but I did manage to give the very musical Bud at least one harmonica lesson. And it was my special privilege to leave "mystery" flowers outside Paula's door and then, later, to talk with her in person as I did just last month, before I left SLO for the Summer. What a loving, gracious (and opinionated) woman she was! And what a fine and interesting Family. Our condolences to all the Ogrens and Kriegers.

August 20, 2010

My daughter Shelly and Mary Rose Ogren were best friends in grammer school. Going to the Ogrens house in Lynwood was like going to a hugh library, thats where my daughter did most of her homework. Bud and Paula were 2 of the kindest, smartest people I've ever met and I think they had a big influence on the wonderful person my daughter is today.

Jill Schuller

August 19, 2010

Dan Krieger, Please relay my condolences to everyone. I didn't know Paula, but what an extraordinary woman she certainly was!

Rest in peace, Paula!

Mark Wise

August 18, 2010

I read about Paula's passing in the Los Angeles Times. All of the Ogren clan are in my thoughts. I have only the warmest memories of coming to the Ogren home in Los Angeles and discussing important issues with Paula. She created a vibrant, intellectual home and I always felt welcome. Her amazing legacy is her works and her family.....all those beautiful children and my favorite, Mary Rose. I send love and hugs to each of you.

Jackie Tavelman

August 18, 2010

Wow...I can still her laughter and I will never get over the debates I had with her over everything from Bible verses...to financing! She was a very special woman and shall be missed. My prayers to all of the Ogren clan. Love, Leslie and Curt Vandewalle and Family

Leslie Vandewalle

August 18, 2010

DIO
I am so sorry we never got to meet. Over the years, you told me so many wonderful stories about Mrs. Paula and it is certainly my loss that I did not met this jewel. Please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love You
LL-P

Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt

August 18, 2010

Paula is a wonderful woman, one of kind. So generous and always looking out for others. God bless her.

Phil Morales

August 17, 2010

We are grateful for this opportunity to extend condolences to the family of Paula. Over the past twenty years both Paula and Quentin have been loyal and regular generous supporters of Concern America, an international (refugee aid and long-term development) charity, based in Orange County. Just in the last month of her precious life, Paula was mailed a 'thank you' note from here for a very recent contribution. Thank you for including mention of Paula's activity with the Christines. In the early 1960s I was a seminarian assigned to spend vacation times at a parish in the west side of Los Angeles. I appreciated their unrelenting engagement with the prophetic issues of the day. Needless to say, their efforts, much of the time, did not endear them to James Francis Cardinal McIntyre. Thank you Paula, and may you rest in peace and joy.

Denis Garvey

August 16, 2010

I remember Mrs. Ogren best as my teacher for Judaic studies at Immaculate Heart H.S. It was an amazing class. I remember her saying something like: "I've been asked to teach this class as I am Jewish - we'll I'm Catholic too." She didn't see a problem with the two beliefs held together. She made a difference in my education and how I look at the world. This was the year that she won on Jeopardy. We were so proud of her accomplishment. She was an amazing woman.

Joan Patronite Kelly

August 16, 2010

Paula and Bud were shining stars at Nativity. Paula's laughter and Bud's strong voice filled the church with joy. May they lead our way to our heavenly home. Peace and blessings, Carol Zarek

Carol Zarek

August 16, 2010

I remember both Bud and Paula when they worked tirelessly and with passion to save a man from the gas chamber and save him they did. On the surface it looked like a lost cause but they found the grounds for an appeal. Bud was my professor at Loyola Law and through him I met the entire family. My thoughts go out at this time to you all and We wish were could be there to celebrate her life and all the accomplishments with the passion and joy of living and family life that was her being. Shalom. The Flavins Jerry and Judith

Jerry Flavin

August 15, 2010

Remember that our parents were active with the Human Relations Council when we first moved to LA from Chicago. You are in my prayers.

Ann Seliga-Lowden

August 15, 2010

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