“My greatest achievement in life is my beautiful, wonderful, interesting family. I have the best children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I hope that I will live until 100 years. This was predicted by one of my children.
~Paula C. Twentyman, September 5, 2022

We’re sad to report that Paula C. Twentyman (née Cretaro), of Lake Forest, California passed away on June 4, 2026, falling just a bit short of her goal to make it to 100, but not for lack of trying!

Paula was born on June 22, 1939, in Newark, NJ and grew up on Rhawn St. in northeast Philly. Paula enjoyed spending time with family, trips down the shore with aunts, uncles and her many cousins, where she loved collecting seashells and standing with her dad while he fished; she had many fun and fond memories at the Seaside Heights boardwalk. Paula graduated from St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls in 1957 and was still communicating with many of her high school friends (“The same great girls!”) all these years later!

Paula met her (first...and only) husband Tom while they were working at Strawbridge’s; they married one year after their first date, on June 17, 1961, in Philadelphia, and started a family in Somerdale, NJ before following Tom’s job west to California in 1978. Though she lived in California for nearly 50 years, ‘Grandma Eagles’ remained a lifelong supporter of her beloved Philly sports teams.

Paula, Mom, Grandma Eagles, Gigi meant a lot to so many and she wore a multitude of hats throughout the years: loving daughter, sister, wife and friend, mom-mom, room mom, sports mom, Cub Scout Den Leader, library volunteer, poll worker, a great cook, and for years, the holiday hostess with the mostess. She was known to enjoy a glass of wine or some Limoncello on occasion, to the merriment of her family (and the detriment of the dinner rolls). For more than 10 years, she excelled in her third act as a receptionist at HR Block; she started out in the office Tom worked in and then continued by popular demand in other offices even after Tom hung up his tax prep hat.

Paula enjoyed spending time with family, taking pictures, and traveling, in particular the adventures she and Tom had with her brother Ralph and sister-in-law Maria. She was an ABC Soaps loyalist (and a General Hospital superfan), a Wheel Watcher and Jeopardy enthusiast. She loved BINGO, puzzles, and word games. In recent years, she honed her social media presence and kept up with family and friends near and far on her tablet, taking great joy in seeing the pictures, videos and stories of folks’ adventures.

She was preceded in death by her husband Tom, her parents Paul and Catherine Cretaro (Mana and Papa to most); her sister Cathie Gabel, and her sister-in-law Maria Cretaro. She is survived by her brother Ralph (Dawn) Cretaro; her children: Paula (Joe) Twentyman, Thomas (Bret) Twentyman, James Twentyman, Andrew (Kim) Twentyman; grandchildren Nikki (Nick) Glaser, Chrissy (Spencer) Arcino, Michael (Jolynn) Samuels and William Samuels; great-grandkids, Ethan Michael, Grayson Thomas, Michael Dean, Nia Doris, Dylan James and Nolan Paul, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Colorado and elsewhere.

A celebration of life and reception will be held on Sunday, July 19th, from 2-4 PM at O'Connor Mortuary. The mortuary is located at 25301 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in memory of Paula C. Twentyman to the American Cancer Society.