Farewell to Leanne Serrano Paulsen

Last Thursday I attended the Funeral Mass for Sharon's sister Leanne with some friends from FJH. When we saw Sharon at the visitation, she was strong and brave and told us she was glad to see her friends' faces. My heart breaks for her and the rest of the family.

Leanne Serrano Paulsen was born November 17, 1967 in Birmingham, AL to Raoul (Ralph) L. and Suzanne Gant Serrano. She was a 1985 graduate of Carmel High School, where she was homecoming queen, and a 1989 graduate of Indiana University where she was an honor student, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and a member and captain of the Red Stepper Dance Team. Leanne was active in the Indianapolis Civic Theatre and the American Cabaret Theatre. She was a member of the Broadway Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and South Pacific. She was a regular cast member of The Yuletide Celebration in Indianapolis and the New York City Rockette's Christmas Special. A funeral mass will be held Thursday, April 26 at Noon at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, of which she was a member. Friends and family may call at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. Leanne is survived by her son, Christopher Raoul Paulsen; mother and step-father, Suzanne and Stephen Otis; sisters, Gerri (Mark) Shaffer, Katy Serrano and Sharon (Erick) Deam; three nephews and four nieces. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Christopher Paulsen Trust, in care of any Fifth Third Bank location.

Tigers Volley!

It's been loads of fun watching the new FHS club volleyball team get started. The boys have held their own most of the time and have won a couple of games (matches? sets?). Andrew T is also playing and I have enjoyed catching up with Beth during the games. There are a fair number of fans cheering as well.

Settling in. . . .

The process of moving went very well, even though most of our friends were away on spring break - good timing :) I was grateful that Emily came home both weekends and that Tommy M was available every day to help. Danny and Tommy christened the hot tub the first weekend and convinced Emily to spend the night on Friday so that they could set up the fire pit and continue to enjoy the hot tub. She relented and when they tried to convince her again on Sunday night, she told them "not without my bed". They left in Tommy's jeep and returned shortly afterward with her bed strapped in! The movers came Monday morning and the rest of the day and night was spent getting it all over here and cleaning the old house. Monday night we fell onto mattresses and Tuesday began the process of settling in. I was glad to have the week of spring break to work on unpacking.