Paula’s story begins in Nottingham, England in January of 1951. One of two daughters born to Michael and Marjorie Castleton, she led an active early life, building many friendships and involved in a wide variety of interests. Later, she and her sister would set up and run a successful family business in catering.
She met her future husband Ferri (Faramarz) Hassani at Nottingham University. They were married in 1981; their son Rostyn (Ross) was born in 1982 followed by daughter Parisa four years later. In 1984, the family moved to Montreal when Ferri accepted a position in the Mining and Material Engineering Department of McGill University. He currently holds the Webster Chair in Mining Engineering.
Thus began Paula’s saga in Canada - a young family to nurture and a husband’s career to encourage as they settled into the West Island community of Beaconsfield.
Paula was an exceptional and lovely woman with a potent mixture of qualities. She was inspirational to work with, yet pragmatic. She was always compassionate and encouraged people with her optimistic outlook on life. Her welcoming smile seemed to brighten every room and put people at ease. Paula rapidly established herself as a popular and caring member of the community
She became committed to good causes, sponsoring third world orphans, supporting a charity for Tibetan exiles and financing the education of a young girl in India. She then turned her organizational talents and energies to a local cancer fundraiser (Jimbo’s Crusade Against Cancer) which during her watch was to gain status as a charity – the West Island Crusade Against Cancer.
As its President, she worked tirelessly to ensure that the charity’s fund raising events were well-organized and successful. Her sociable character enabled her to attract a large number of volunteers including her family, who gave their time and energy assisting in these projects. Paula was a force majeure, planning and establishing major events which were well-attended and supported in the West Island community and beyond. Over the fifteen years of her involvement hundreds of thousands of dollars have been collected and donated to Cancer Research, Palliative Care and Caregiver Organizations.
Paula was still not done … she agreed to help out with Ferri’s professional commitments as she took on the role of President of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering’s Women’s Section with responsibilities for organizing ladies’ activities at the Institute’s annual congress.
Always a sports lady, Paula learned to swim at an early age and loved the outdoors. Later, she would concentrate her physical energies on the game of squash, becoming a skilled and determined competitor throughout her life.
Ironically, the disease she labored to see defeated, one day reached out and took her life without warning in early 2010. It is another measure of this extraordinary woman that she would face her final challenge with grace and dignity. Paula touched the lives of many in the West Island community and around the world, and we are richer for knowing this very special lady.