Paula Ann Maras

Paula Ann Maras, 61, went home to the Lord “Passon” Sunday, March 17, 2024, 12:26 p.m. peacefully and after receiving the Holy Eucharist in her home, with her husband Daniel at her side.  

Paula was born on August 21, 1962 in Champaign, Illinois to Paul and Doris Bermingham. She attended the University of Illinois where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Art History. She later attended the Pastoral Studies Institute and received her Masters of Theology summa

cum laude from Ave Maria University.

Upon graduation, Paula worked as a courtroom illustrator for WCIA-3 in Champaign, IL.  In 1985, the founders of ESPN started RCM Sports and Paula was asked to be their Creative Director…this is where she met and married her best friend, Daniel Maras. Before relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1991 to work for Winnercomm, the two lived and worked in Chicago, Verona, Toronto, London and Seoul.  Paula was a 3x National Emmy award winner for graphic design with NBC sports and her broadcast portfolio included: Wimbledon, 1988 Olympics, the Kentucky Derby, National Finals Rodeo, US Equestrian Team and ESPN Outdoors.

In 1993, Paula and Daniel started their family. She retired to homeschool their five children with a traditional classical education and curated a home filled with historical works of literature, beautiful artwork, music, and expressions of her Catholic faith to instill in them her love of all things “...good, true, and beautiful”.  Paula embraced motherhood and loved her children! 

Paula was exposed to farm life in Central Illinois by her father. During her childhood she spent countless hours helping him at the family farm milking cows, driving with him on the tractor, learning about horticulture, riding horses and caring for the animals.  Her love of horses and art ultimately led her to take up Dressage riding and they moved their family to the country…at one point the animal count was 3 horses, 6 dogs, 8 goats, and 18 cats!  After retiring from riding, Paula’s creative outlet became Irish Dexter Cattle where she had been a member of the American Dexter Cattle Association (ADCA) for the past 15 years. She was also I-Dairy Pro certified from the Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois.

She was a devout parishioner of Holy Family Cathedral Tulsa, Oklahoma for 30 years and volunteered for many activities over the years including the first Cathedral Youth Group under the guidance of Fr. Peter Wells and her best friend, the late Sister Eugenia Brown, making sandwiches and caring for the homeless and the Bethany prayer group. Her most favorite place on earth was at Eucharistic Adoration.

Paula was preceded in death by her father, Paul Bermingham. She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Daniel Maras, of Haskell, OK; Son, John Maras and Wife, Nikki Maras; Son, Michael Maras and Wife, JoziRose Maras; Daughter, Rachel Maras; Daughter Sarah Maras; Son, Paul Maras; all of Tulsa; Mother, Doris Bermingham of Champaign, IL; Sister Christa McCaffrey and Husband, Carl McCaffrey of Geneva, IL., and many nieces and nephews.

Adoration, Rosary and Visitation are scheduled for Thursday, March 21st at 7pm at Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 22nd at 10am at Holy Family Cathedral Tulsa. She will be laid to rest at the Foot of the Cross in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities in her name.   

https://cceok.org/donate

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