Obituary of Regina PAUL-BLOXHAM

March 25, 1930 – Vilnius, Lithuania
March 26, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Regina Paul-Bloxham (Rena to her close friends) of Calgary, AB, died unexpectedly on Friday, March 26, 2021, just hours after her 91st birthday.  

Elegant, intelligent and eloquent, Rena was a remarkable woman, despite facing extreme adversity and many challenges in her life. A woman of substance, her talents were layered, like an onion, as was her past. She lived through several lives in her one lifetime. 

She was born in 1930 in what was formerly known as Wilno, Poland, and which became Vilnius, Lithuania following World War II. She is predeceased by her parents Carl and Fanny Epstein and her beloved brother Jozef. She is survived by Gerald Bloxham, her loving husband of 40 years. She was a devoted and loving grandmother to Blake Keidan, always encouraging him to strive for excellence and supporting him through difficult decisions. 

In 1949 at the age of 19, Rena immigrated to Canada with her parents from a Displaced Persons Camp in Germany. Rena put what happened to her as a Holocaust survivor on the back burner while proceeding to make a life for herself in the present tense. During her first year in Toronto, and working at unskilled labour, she taught herself English. By year’s end, she was accepted to the University of Toronto.  At the end of her first year of university, she liked to tell with her self-deprecating humour, she distinguished herself by earning the lowest passing grade permitted by University rules. Her parents urged her to switch to an occupation which did not require scholastic ability. Four years later, Rena obtained her Honours BA in Psychology from the University of Toronto. She then went on to earn her Masters of Social Services in 1958 from the State University of New York in Buffalo, New York. In 1971, she completed her doctorate in Social Work from the National Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Her three-year sojourn in the States was made possible by a scholarship from the Metropolitan Toronto Association for the Mentally Handicapped where she was employed as Director of Social Services. 

Throughout her distinguished career as a social worker, Rena lectured and taught and contributed to professional literature. Always a progressive thinker and social advocate, she dedicated her career as a social worker to improving the lives of the learning disabled. She was also a strong proponent of a woman’s right to control her own body and sexuality. To that end, she worked with Dr. Henry Morgentaler, organizing Canada’s first sexual education conference for women. 

Fluent in Polish, Russian and English, Rena never felt that her command of English was adequate for the task of becoming a writer. However, after years of urging by her husband, Rena embarked on her writing career at the sprite age of 64. 

 In 2003, her first book Out of the Ashes was released. Her second book “O” (initially titled Bubbles in the Pool) was published in 2007. Both books are based on actual events that Rena and her family experienced from 1934 to 1993; events that spanned pre-World War II Eastern Europe, the Holocaust and post-war Canada, Poland and Lithuania. Her third book, The Arrangement, is yet to be published. 
Rena believed we each experience our own unique trials and tribulations. Being a survivor gave her personal insights. Her ability to transcend the tendency of other survivors to project the voice of a victim was her gift as a writer and reflective of her love affair with the art of storytelling. She wanted to share her story and felt that no narration of her past would be complete without the acknowledgement of her husband, Gerald, who she said, “breathes life into my being.”
Rena was a distinguished academic, worldly and curious about people. Determined and self-motivated, she didn’t leave things to chance; rather she created her own opportunities. Although pragmatic, she was attracted to beauty and aesthetics in their many forms. She loved good Polish literature, history, political discussions, Russian opera singer Dmitri Hvorostovsky, beautiful jewellery, Chanel No. 5, Hungarian Dobos torte and candied ginger, to mention a few. Over the years, she and Gerald enjoyed traveling and seeing the world together. Her dry wit continued to include a flare for self-deprecating humour. She valued loyalty, honesty, intelligence, an open mind and true friendship. She strove to leave the world a better place. Rena, you will be sorely missed.

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Rena’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Regina Paul-Bloxham, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.