Vita Defrancis Paulino, 91 of Port Arthur, TX, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2015 surrounded by her loving family.
Vita was born on July 3, 1924 to Josephine Bordonaro Defrancis and Carlo Defrancis in Port Arthur, TX, where she was a lifelong resident.
In February 1943, she married Benjamin Paulino and they had four children. Vita’s catholic religion was an important part of her life. She and her husband, Ben were charter members when St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was established in the summer of 1951 in Port Arthur, TX.
Vita retired from J.C. Penny’s in 1988 after 30 years of service. She then became more active in her church, attending mass every morning.
She was an early member of the Italian Club of Port Arthur, always eager to help when needed. She was instrumental in the preparation of several St. Joseph’s Altars.  She was also a member of the St. Joseph’s Altar Society and the J.C. Penney Retirement Club.
Vita was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Benjamin Paulino, her second husband Louis Paulino, her son David Paulino, Sr., her brother Tony Defrancis and sisters Rosita and Rose Defrancis.
She is survived by her children, James Paulino and wife Ellen of Port Neches, Carlo Paulino and wife Pati of Orange, daughter Donna Kountz and husband William of Lumberton, niece Josie Tomplait and husband James of Port Neches, brother Frank Defrancis and wife Ruth of Port Arthur and sister-in-law Amelia Defrancis of Deerpark.
She is survived by nine grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.
Special  thanks to Len Rose Assisted Living of Beaumont and their staff for their loving care of Vita.  The family would like to extend an extra special thanks to Mrs. Brenda Honeycutt and Southeast Texas Hospice, without whose help and guidance this would have been a much more difficult journey.  Thank you so much Brenda for your kindness, patience, compassion and prayers.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM at Grammier – Oberle Funeral Home. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 6:30 PM.  Grammier – Oberle Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.