Paula Jean Pestka, age 69, a resident of Carol Stream, passed away on February 7, 2020, surrounded by family at home. She was born August 8, 1950 in Geneva, Illinois to Walter & Dorothy Sanders.

Paula grew up in Lombard and Wheaton and she graduated from St. Francis High School in 1968. She attended University of St. Francis in Joliet and graduated in 1972 and earned her Masters in Education. She married Gary Pestka on February 5, 1972. She stayed at home to raise her family after having two children Doug & Sarah. Paula was passionate about children and education. She taught preschool at Green Tree in Wheaton for many years before becoming an elementary teacher at St. Isidore School in Bloomingdale for 15 years. She was a two-time cancer survivor after initially being diagnosed in 2004. She loved her eight grandchildren who brought her great joy.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Gary Pestka; her children: Douglas (Jennifer) Pestka & Sarah (Matthew) Scannell; her grandchildren: Joseph, Andrew & Gabriella Pestka and Gabriel, Nikolas, Kaileigh, Isabelle & Tristan Scannell. Also survived by four sisters: Cathie (James) Tonkin, Laura (Dean) Bladel, Deborah (Ken) Bray and Carol (Joe) Szczepaniak and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by many other close friends & relatives. She was preceded in death by her sister Barbara (Glen) Zeman and her parents.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, February 11, 2020, from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home , 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL. Chapel prayers will be held at the funeral home at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, proceeding to St. Isidore Church for mass at 10:45 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in Wheaton.

Memorial gifts may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital .

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.