The Life of Paulette Kay Martin Korns

Paulette Kay Martin Korns of Alexandria, VA, was born on Good Friday, April 4, 1947, and passed away from complications from cancer, surrounded by her family, on Good Friday, April 7, 2023.

Paulette was born to Paul and Norma Martin and was raised on her family’s wheat farm in Wilbur, WA.  This rooting on the farm would form the attributes for which she was most loved: passion for and commitment to family, adaptability, a love of adventure, and the patience to see good things grow even if it takes a lifetime to realize.

Family was the center of Paulette’s world her entire life.  She cherished the small-town world her parents created for her and for her brothers, and early on became the nurturer and planner that became her hallmark.  From helping to “drive truck” during Harvest to working alongside her mom to make sure all the hungry farmers – and anyone else! – had something to eat at a moment’s notice, she wanted to participate in everything around her.  She immersed herself in everything the town of 1,100 had to offer.  In addition to the life on the farm, she played high school basketball, was the editor of her school yearbook, cherished her 4-H activities and blue-ribbon accomplishments and relished time spent with an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins who lived nearby.  The example her parents provided would form the mother she would become herself.  Wilbur remained a heart center throughout her life, and she maintained lifelong friendships and connections there until her last days.

Paulette attended Washington State University, where she earned a degree in Business Administration.  Her gift of organizing – a passion that never faded! – continued in her role as “dorm sponsor” in her residence hall, where she orchestrated activities for her classmates.  She continued her work on the yearbook and served as assistant editor her senior year.

After college, Paulette moved to Washington, DC to work for the CIA, where she was preparing to achieve a dream of being placed on the Norway desk, honoring her heritage, but concluded the social expectations of embassy life were not for her.  She transported her ability to manage complexity to Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering law firm where, as a legal secretary, she was assigned to and met her future husband, John.

Paulette and John married in 1974 and settled in Alexandria, VA, where she harvested the lessons of her own childhood in raising their three sons.  She devoted herself to her family with a joy and a determination to make their childhoods as magical as hers.  She volunteered as a Cub Scout den mother, was involved in the PTA, led school fundraisers, served as their number one fan at countless sporting events and provided a home where they could explore all the potential they had for their own lives.  The Korns’ house was open to any and all of their friends and remains to this day a place that many beyond her family consider a place of memories and love.

While being present to all with which her boys were involved, she concurrently harnessed her talents as a gifted seamstress – a trait passed on from her mother – to both her boys’ lives and the major life moments of many others.  She sewed numerous original Halloween costumes, many of which would see a second life with her own grandchildren.  She started her own personal business designing and making wedding dresses, working out of her home.  She was a perfectionist.  Her family still remembers the days and nights she once spent hand-sewing thousands of beads onto a client’s wedding dress (using glue was beneath her standards).  One of the last wedding dresses she made was for her daughter-in-law, Katherine.

Paulette was a devout Lutheran and brought her belief in volunteering to her faith communities, especially Messiah Lutheran Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church.  These sanctuaries are adorned with her banners, altar clothes and several other creations. She was a pillar of council leadership, altar care and craft groups that made church life more beautiful.

She called on her organizational skills in a later career in meeting planning for national associations and met great friends while working at her local Hallmark store.  She spent countless hours volunteering.  Beyond her church volunteer work, she brought her love of helping others to Alexandria Hospital, Georgetown Day School, Silverado Alexandria Memory Care Community, and Washington-Reagan National Airport. 

Alongside her commitment to others, Paulette had a passion for adventure.  She loved taking vacations domestically and internationally with her family, and her fearlessness knew no bounds.  In her last international trip, at 75, she was the first to jump off the mountain in Austria to go paragliding; an apt metaphor for a woman who viewed each day as a chance for joy and new possibilities.

She was a lifelong learner who found great meaning in the later part of her life at Chautauqua Institution in western New York state.  She immersed herself in special studies classes, morning worship, lectures and concerts, and found a whole new community on which she made a profound impact.

Paulette served her family and friends in big and small ways. After raising her own sons, Paulette helped to raise her grandsons. She spent countless hours caring for them, playing their sports with them in the yard and cheering them on from the sidelines.  She adored her time with them, whether serving as their cheerleader or hosting overnights at her house.

Paulette is survived by the love of her life, her husband of 48 years, John Hamilton Korns; her sons Michael (Katherine Wray), Peter (Michael Hill) and Paul; and grandsons Jackson and Andrew.  She is also survived by her brothers, Larry and Randy Martin, two nephews, and numerous cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Paulette’s honor to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA.

A memorial service to celebrate Paulette’s life and legacy will be held on Friday, April 21 at 10:30am at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 5952 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310 with a lunch reception to follow hosted by the church.  Family and friends are also welcome to greet the family and share memories of Paulette from 4pm – 6pm at the Korns’ family home.

Request for Memories:

Our mom brightened the lives of many people – friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers.  Her world and her influence spanned generations and geographies.  We would like to encourage anyone to share some favorite memories, stories, a thought, and/or a photo of our mom to help us remember all the joy, laughter and love she exemplified.  We have created an email address in her honor as ask you to send remembrances to:  paulettekorns@gmail.com