Paula Kay Vandenberg (Brand) left this world the way she lived her life, with a rebellious spirit and a song in her heart. After a long battle with cancer, Paula passed away on June 9, 2026, at the age of 70, at her home in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with two of her children by her bedside.

Paula lived her life like a melody, a beloved playlist that reflected her passions and interests, of which she had many. She loved the song Life Is a Highway, and in many ways, her life mirrored that journey, with exits leading her through education and experience in a variety of fields, including law, medicine, and cosmetology.

When she was 18 years old, Paula moved to California with her feet on the dashboard and Band on the Run playing on the 8-track. It wasn’t long before she returned to Michigan, but she developed a wanderlust that stayed with her throughout her life. Her adventures took her to Jamaica and countless destinations across the country. She even made it to the famous corner in Winslow, Arizona, celebrated in the Eagles song Take It Easy. Still, her favorite place to take it easy was Mackinac Island.

Paula spent most of her life in Southwest Michigan, where she enjoyed a steady rhythm of drawing, reading, hiking, camping, kayaking, attending concerts, and spending time with friends and family.

Paula was preceded in death by her father, Jack Lester Brand, and her mother, June Marie Brand (Ballentine).

She is survived by her sister, Marcia Huizenga; her children, Brandi Read, Brooke Steele, Jack Steele (Candice), and Scott Steele; her grandchildren, Peyton Homan, Chastity Steele, Anessa Read, Jared McWethy (Salysa), Felix Staggs, Andrew Grantham, Joshua White, and Jack Steele; and her great-grandchild, Malcolm McWethy.