ORONO – After losing her battle with cancer, Paula Gelb Kagan, of 12 Alpine Court, passed away Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at her home. Born March 22, 1929, to Gertrude Sandler and Arthur Henry Gelb of Brooklyn, N.Y., Paula grew up in Teaneck, N.J.
After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, Paula married Irving Kagan of Bangor. For 55 years they were lifelong residents of the Greater Bangor area and Carrabassett Valley, near Sugarloaf.
Paula is survived by her four children and their spouses, Candace Kagan Platz and James Andrew Platz of Poland, Maine, Leslie Jane Kagan and Robert Frederick Coulam of Rockport, Mass., Nikki Lee Kagan and Itzik Ben Shlomi of Tel Aviv, Israel, and Daniel Gelb Kagan and Julie Langerman Kagan of Freeport; also her grandchildren, Alexandra Marie Jarige, Elliot Andre Jarige, Emily P. Kagan, Jesse Kagan Peters, Shana Elizabeth Platz, Rebecca Sandler Platz, Max Ivan Kagan and Rachel Pearl Kagan; her brother and sister-in-law, George and Maxine Gelb; her sister-in-law, Edith Grossman; her brother-in-law, Ronald Striar, M.D.; eight nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held noon Monday, Nov. 21, at the Jewish Funeral Chapel, 118 Center St., Bangor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Eastern Maine Healthcare Charities, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931 or online at www.easternmainehomecare.org designated either for CancerCare or Eastern Maine HomeCare. A minyan shiva will be held 5:30 p.m. Monday at 12 Alpine Court, Orono.