Paula C. MacKenzie, 62, passed away at home on March 22, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on August 7, 1962, to Robert and Margaret (Marge) Constantino, Paula was the youngest of three daughters. She graduated from West Catholic High School in 1980 and went on to earn her undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University. It was there Paula met the love of her life, David MacKenzie.

Paula and Dave were married on November 2, 1985, in Grand Rapids before moving to Chicago to start their life together. Paula received a master's degree from DePaul University, and it was in Chicago where she and Dave welcomed daughter Maggie. When Maggie was just a year old, they returned to Grand Rapids where son Ian was born.

Paula's family was the true center of her life. She and Dave were not only blessed with a happy 39-year marriage, they were the best of friends. Maggie and Ian were her pride and joy. She was thrilled to welcome Cohen Mead to the family when he and Maggie were married in 2022, and she was so happy to learn of Ian's engagement to Rebecca Ceriotti this past October. Paula always looked forward to weekend lunches with her sisters Robyn and Julie, and the MacKenzie extended-family gatherings in Plymouth each Christmas were an annual highlight.

Paula had a passion for life that was bigger than life itself. She was an amazing cook and loved hosting family and friends — making everyone feel welcome and at home. And if you were lucky enough to be counted among her many friends, you cherished every get-together and looked forward to the next. She cherished spending time at the cottage on Long Lake, relaxing with Dave and the kids, her wonderful sister-in-law Jan, old friends, and her sweet black Lab, Zoey.

A consummate professional, Paula had an extraordinary 40-year career in public and media relations and strategic communications. An articulate and unflappable communicator, there wasn't a crisis or challenge that Paula couldn't handle with calm leadership. She had a 10-year tenure with Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), where she was most recently Principal, Strategic Communications. Many thanks to Paula's friends and co-workers at Corewell for their unwavering support during her illness.

Paula is survived by her loving husband David; daughter Maggie (Cohen) Mead; son Ian MacKenzie (fiancée Rebecca Ceriotti); sisters Robyn (Constantino) Brow and Julie Constantino; sisters-in-law Jan MacKenzie and Pam (Bob) MacKenzie; nephews Bobby Brow, and Jason MacKenzie; and nieces Kylie Sulen, Annie MacKenzie, and Erin Kenning. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Marge Constantino; her father- and mother-in-law Donald and Janet MacKenzie; and brothers-in-law Bob MacKenzie and Tony Brow.

Thank you to Paula's healthcare team at Corewell Health and Henry Ford Health for providing loving care during her cancer journey.

There will be a celebration of life at Zaagman Memorial Chapel, 2800 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, on Friday, March 28th from 3 – 6 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to ALK Positive, Inc. - a patient-driven organization dedicated to improving the life expectancy and quality of life for ALK-positive cancer patients worldwide. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/alkpositive/