The family and loved ones of Pauline (Dewaelsche) Williams are sad to share the news of her passing on Monday, June 1, 2026, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was 67 years old. For the past seven years, Pauline suffered through many rounds of treatment, often untested trials that staved off the cancer for a while but inevitably led to unmanageable side effects. In the end she ran out of medical options, but she never gave up her positive and warm personality as well as her spirituality and faith in God’s plan for her. Pauline was born and grew up on the northeast side of Detroit, MI and attended Guardian Angels Grade School and Dominican High School graduating in 1976. Later that same year she followed her father’s footsteps by joining the U.S. Navy. She was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1979 and elected to remain in the San Diego, CA area where she was stationed. Pauline met her husband, Russell, in 1982 in Escondido, CA and they married in 1990. They lived in Escondido and Fallbrook, CA for the 36 years they were married. She and Russ loved to travel around Southern California and often camped on the beaches of Baja California, Mexico. Pauline was a teacher of Special Education for 30 years at James E Potter Junior High, and she was named San Diego County Teacher of the Year in 2002. She loved her students and her work, and she demonstrated her caring for her students with encouragement, and genuine attention to each student's individual needs. She also loved to treat her special needs sister Doris during visits to therapeutic horse riding at REINS Therapeutic Horsemanship Program in Fallbrook, CA. Pauline is preceded in death by her parents Walter and Elizabeth (Rue) Dewaelsche and is survived by her husband Russ and his son Eric (Stephanie), as well as brothers Robert (Eva), Thomas (Kathie) and her sister Doris. At the time of her passing, Pauline was survived by her husband Russell Williams. Sadly, Russ passed away five weeks later, on July 7, after falling earlier than contracting pneumonia with complications. Some say, he died of a broken heart after losing his dear Pauline. Both Pauline and Russ will be taken to their final resting place at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA on Friday August 7 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome in Pauline’s name to St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Parish , the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of San Diego , and UC San Diego Moors Cancer Center .