Obituary of Mrs. Paula Dorothy Maharaj

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Paula Dorothy Maharaj on January 3, 2026.

Paula was born on February 24, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario to Lloyd Draper and Margaret Radmore. She is predeceased by her husband, Harry, her siblings Gale Donofrio, Ken, and Joan, and survived by her sister Esther. She was a kind and caring mother to her daughter, Sue, and her son-in-law, Jan, and a proud and loving grandmother to her grandsons, Matthew and Daniel. She will be fondly remembered by her many nieces and nephews, including Mike Donofrio (Emily) and Dave Donofrio (Michelle), and their children Hanna, Mya, Ethan, Ainsley, and Alyssa.

Paula began her career as an elementary school teacher at Brock Public School, where she taught for five years. She then worked for the government, and it was at the Toronto Civil Service Commission that she met Harry. Her next role was with Bell Canada, where over the course of 26 years she held a number of positions, from managing a retail store in the Yonge Sheppard Centre to training employees at 300 Borough Drive and working in customer service. She retired from Bell in December of 1997.       

She loved travelling with Harry, enjoying road trips throughout Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, and adventures in the West Indies, Ireland, England, and France. She always remembered her time with Harry’s family with a special fondness, both in Trinidad and Tobago and at home in Scarborough.

Paula enjoyed having lunches and dinners out with her family, and spoiling her grandkids. She never missed a Blue Jays game. She always remembered birthdays and special occasions, and was famous for her shortbread cookies.

We are forever grateful for the time we shared and the memories we hold dear. She will live on in the stories we tell, the lessons she taught us, and the lives she touched.

She will be greatly missed.