Ann Elizabeth Paradise passed away peacefully and went home to be with God on June 10, 2026.

She was born Ann Elizabeth Gavin on July 6, 1941, to her father James II, whom she described as “adorable,” and her mother Dorothy, whom she described as wise, smart, and kind. She often said that together they formed her understanding of God.

Ann was married to Richard Alan Paradise on June 15, 1963, with whom she built a loving family. Together they raised three children: Lisa Paradise (Lance Wells), Kelly (Dan) Schiessl, and Patrick (Kristin) Paradise.

Ann’s greatest joys were her grandchildren Ian (Alyssa) Schiessl, Wyatt Schiessl, Emma (Josh Kilgöre) Schiessl, Alex Paradise, and Parker Paradise, as well as her great-grandchildren Theodore Schiessl and Lucy Schiessl. She was also blessed with special “bonus grandchildren” when she opened her home and heart to Aleya, Kayla, Maryn, Odin, and Lyla, who brought immeasurable happiness to her life.

Ann lived a life defined by compassion, service, learning, creativity, and love of family. She graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1962 and devoted more than six decades to nursing, caring for countless patients throughout Wisconsin. During her distinguished career, she worked at Mercy Hospital in Oshkosh, Bellin Memorial Hospital in Green Bay, and St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse. While working at St. Francis Hospital and raising her children, she returned to school at Viterbo College, where she earned her nursing degree. She later assisted with the implementation of Medicare regulations in Wisconsin during the program’s formative years. Before retiring to open a small daycare, she also worked in a retirement home and as a visiting nurse.

Outside of her nursing career, Ann pursued a wide range of interests. She was an avid reader who loved novels and adventure stories and maintained a lifelong fascination with archaeology and early history, including participation in archaeological digs. One of her most cherished travel memories was an epic trip to Europe, where she visited Rome, Paris, and London.

She was a talented violinist and performed with the Oshkosh, La Crosse, and UWL symphonies over the years.

Ann found beauty in the simple pleasures of life. She loved gardening, especially tending her roses and vegetable gardens. She also enjoyed painting, knitting, quilting, sewing, arts and crafts, camping, and sharing coffee and conversation with friends. One of her proudest sewing accomplishments was creating her daughter Kelly’s wedding dress. Her curiosity, creativity, and kindness enriched the lives of everyone who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Dorothy, and her siblings James Gavin III, Joan (Ron) Putzer, and Gail (Bill) Miller, with whom she had recently expressed joy at the thought of being reunited.

She is survived by her siblings Thomas (Susan) Gavin, Bernadette (Don) Doro, Patricia (Gary) Wolff, Mary (David) Lopata, Robert Gavin, Ellie Lake, and Kay (Mike) Wenzel.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Onalaska, WI. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of Onalaska and at the church one hour prior to Mass on Wednesday.

To her family, she was not only a nurse, musician, gardener, and lifelong learner—she was our teacher, our encouragement, and our example of how to live with kindness and grace.

Those who knew Ann will remember her for her caring heart, her dedication to helping others, her love of learning, and the joy she found in family. Her kindness was matched by a spirited sense of humor and a bit of sass that endeared her to family and friends. She had a way of speaking her mind, making people smile, and leaving a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Her final message was simple:

“Be kind to each other.”