Paula Casillas

CHULA VISTA — Paula Casillas, née Paula Silva, was born on the Pala Indian Reservation (California) on November 25, 1923, to a life of extreme poverty and hardships. At a young age, Paula exhibited a talent for art. Unable to access proper tools for painting, she would cut pictures out of magazines and paste them on the walls while visualizing the revisions she would make to the photos.

In 1942, her father, Rafael Silva, accepted a job as a tractor operator on a farm and moved the family to Chula Vista, CA. The children labored in the celery fields planting, weeding, and harvesting before and after school.

During WW II Paula was employed at Rohr Aircraft as a spot welder, a real life “Rosie the Riveter.” Her

November 25, 1923 - December 5, 2022 career at Rohr allowed her access to the “American Dream” and she was proud to have purchased a house for her mother in Otay, CA.

Paula married Nicolaz Casillas, on April 21,1946. Paula continued painting throughout her marriage to Nicolaz, while raising three exuberant daughters, Gloria, Mary and Alicia.

Paula and Nicolaz were

part of the founding members of Precious Blood Church. Paula demonstrated her deep faith and devotion for many years as a member of the Altar Society, a Eucharistic Minister, and Catechism teacher. With her many talents, she designed murals, vestments, altar cloths, and paintings. This includes the 12 Stations of the Cross that adorned the walls at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Otay.

Paula’s husband Nicolaz passed away suddenly in 1987, and she turned to her art as part of grief therapy. Her work included a wide variety of mediums including oil, water color, colored pencil, acrylic, scrap materials, and woodcarving which she would embellish with gold leaf and small colored crystals.

In November 2022, the Casa Casillas Gallery and Art Incubator, located at 50 North Fourth Avenue in Chula Vista, was dedicated in her name. The opening of Casa Casillas (2023) will showcase Paula’s talent and will feature works completed by Paula over the years.

Paula will be remembered by her family as a strong, caring, and compassionate matriarch. She is survived by her three daughters, 8 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. Services will be held on January 21, 2023 at 10 a.m. at Precious Blood Church in Chula Vista. Please sign the Guest Book online obituaries.sandiegouniontribune.com