Paula A. Duarte

Paula A. (Smith) Duarte of Fabius passed away on May 25th 2025. She was born in Community General Hospital in Syracuse on May 24th, 1962. Her parents, Dawn and Otis Smith resided on a dairy farm in Tully at the time of her birth. Paula attended and graduated from Fabius Pompey School in 1980. She joined the Army for a short time and then attended Crouse School of Nursing and graduated in 1985. It was in nursing that she found her true passion. Nursing was both challenging and rewarding for her, and she took pride in helping people. She worked at Crouse Hospital, Community General (Upstate) Hospital, Cortland Memorial Nursing Care facility, private doctors’ offices as well as Home Care. Interesting to mention, she did a full circle at Community Hospital - where she was born, worked, and passed. In 2018, her career abruptly ended when she became sick and diagnosed with MS. This disease took over her body, crippling her and causing endless pain. Through all of this her brain remained active and alert. Her final years she was cared for by her unconditionally loving husband. A passion of her family was animals, they provided a haven for many dogs and a few stray cats; sick, neglected or old and just needed a comforting home to lay their head. Paula was predeceased by her parents, L. Dawn Smith in 1969 and E. Otis Smith in 2006. She is survived by the love of her life, her husband, Kevin Duarte of Apulia Station; her greatest blessings, her two daughters, Rebecca (Liam) O’Neill of Connecticut, and Samantha Duarte (James Andrews) of Fabius. Paula also leaves behind five siblings, three cherished grandsons, and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all of whom hold loving memories of her in their hearts. At Paula’s request, there will be no services. Paula gave in death as she gave in life, her final act was to being an organ/tissue donor. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to the Cortland County SPCA, 879 McLean Rd, Cortland, NY 13045 or online https://cortlandspca.org/donate Arrangements by B.L. Bush & Sons Funeral Home, Camillus. Please sign her guestbook at www.BLBUSH.com

Paula A. Duarte

May 24, 1962 - May 25, 2025