Paula Marzicola was very active in the mountain community for decades. She was known by almost all who have lived on the mountain for any length of time as a cook for various restaurants and free meals for the community. She died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday morning, February 6, 2025.
Paula was born on April 1, 1947, in Winnipeg, Canada. She had lived in Crestline for decades. She was a well-known waitress at the Loose Caboose and then she moved down Crest Forest Drive and bought and owned Paula’s Crestline Cafe. She moved the restaurant to Lake Drive years later. The Crestline Cafe still uses some of her recipes.
Paula cooked the annual spaghetti dinners at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church for many years. She could cook for large groups, also cooking full dinners for the St. James Feast for the Twin Peaks Masonic Lodge, after their installations. Paula cooked dozens of turkeys for the community Thanksgiving dinners with Tanya Michel in the Masonic Lodge’s kitchen for several years.
“I am in great sorrow that our beautiful Paula Marzicola has passed away. She has left a lasting legacy that will forever be cherished. She is forever in our hearts! May she dance with the angels,” said Michel.
Paula Marzicola at the 2022 community Thanksgiving dinner, which she helped prepare. (File photo by Mary-Justine Lanyon)
Paula cooked the Masonic Lodge’s monthly stated dinners for many years on Wednesday nights. Last Wednesday, Feb. 5, after she cooked their dinner, she seemed to be fine when she left for the evening. The lodge members are devastated by her death, with Twin Peaks Lodge Secretary Ken Witte stating, “Our Paula devoted her time and generosity to many people on the mountain as demonstrated by her donating her time, energy and skills cooking for hundreds, for free, on Thanksgiving, for Meals on Wheels.”
Paula always had a smile and was the master of feeding others. Jack Cooperman of Mountain Meals on Wheels noted that Paula gave him more than 20 years of enjoyment and pride, working together on preparing all those many thousands of Thanksgiving dinners. “You were an angel then and you’re an angel now,” Cooperman said.
Paula was known for often giving free meals to those in need in her restaurant. She also did many things on her own, not seeking notice, such as paying for wedding flowers for one of her customers.
She resided with her significant other of 15 years, Chester Olson, in Crestline for 10 years. Paula is survived by her three adult children; Gianna, Anthony and Gina, who are very distraught over her sudden departure. Daughter Gina is married to Anthony Vitale, who owned Pazzo’s Pizza. They live in Murrieta. Daughter Gianna is married and lives in Texas. Her son, Anthony, has lived all over the world, but is currently in the Philippines.
Services will be on February 25 at the Twin Peaks Community Church in Twin Peaks at 1 p.m. The reception will be held next door at the Masonic Lodge, where Paula cooked many meals for the Masons.
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