Obituary of Paula Ruth Rogenes

Paula R. Rogenes

(August 29, 1949 – December 4, 2020)

Paula Ruth Rogenes was born in Grand Forks, ND, on August 29, 1949, to Arthur and Ruth (Mickelson) Rogenes. She was baptized and confirmed at Grue Lutheran Church, rural Buxton, where her great grandparents had been founding members in the 1880’s after emigrating from Norway in the late 1870’s.  She attended Belmont #2 rural elementary school, Climax High School, and Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Paula moved to Madison, WI, in 1971, where she met her husband, John F. Stewart, from Orange, CA. They were married December 29, 1973. They both attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison where John earned his PhD in Economics in 1976, and Paula earned an MS in Physiology in 1975 and an MS in Nursing in 1976.

Paula and John moved to Chapel Hill, NC, in 1975, where John took a faculty position and Paula pursued and received a PhD in Physiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research interests were centered on reflex interactions in the autonomic nervous system.

Paula and John were blessed with two daughters, Jennifer Ruth in 1984 and Marissa Catherine in 1986. Jenni and Marissa transformed their lives, and the family thrived in Chapel Hill. They were and are very proud of their daughters and their academic achievements.

Paula joined a new family at the Church of Reconciliation (Presbyterian USA) in 1984, where she enjoyed being active for the rest of her life. She especially enjoyed her involvement with the handbell choir which she fostered and enjoyed watching grow into multigenerational choirs.

Paula took a position in research and development at Glaxo Inc., a British-based pharmaceutical company that had recently moved to Research Triangle Park in central NC. Paula held various positions at Glaxo, but her favorite was directing clinical research to develop topical steroids for the treatment of allergies in respiratory diseases.

Paula and John both retired in 2014 and entered an active and very happy period of extensive travel, getting to know and cherish their wonderful neighbors, and enjoying their daughters and their lives together. Paula continued to be active in her church activities and relished getting to know her neighbors and friends in Chapel Hill.   

Paula loved her family beyond measure.  She is survived by her beloved husband, John Stewart, their daughter Jennifer (and husband, Babak, and son, Aidan Asha) Joobbani of Gaithersburg, MD, their second daughter Marissa Stewart of Bladensburg, MD, her sister, Laurie Moss of Hailey, ID and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was predeceased by her parents, Arthur and Ruth Rogenes, her sister, Mary Layne, and her brother, Charles “Charlie” Rogenes.

Paula passed peacefully at her home in Chapel Hill, NC, surrounded by her family.

Ashes to be distributed at the Church of Reconciliation, Chapel Hill, NC

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Paula should be made to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill is assisting the family