Honoring the Life of Paulette Rae Archuleta

My name is James, and on January 14th, I lost my wife, Paulette, after more than 17 years of fighting primary biliary cholangitis — a disease doctors originally said she wouldn’t survive even a month. But Paulette was a miracle. She lived with courage, grace, and a strength that inspired everyone who knew her. She gave us 17 extra years of love, laughter, and borrowed time that I will forever be grateful for.

Paulette wasn’t just my wife — she was my best friend, my lover, my everything. She will always be in my heart. We were together for 35 years, married for 30 and a half, and every day with her was a gift I never took for granted.

As many of you know, I was her full‑time support at home. We made sacrifices — gladly — to give her the best care, the best food, the best comfort, and the best chance at life. I don’t regret a single thing. Those choices gave me years with her that I never should have had.

In December, I became very sick with shingles and missed three weeks of work without pay. It was a blessing in disguise because it gave me precious extra time with Paulette, but it also created a financial strain at the worst possible moment. As the only income in our home, I’m now trying to manage her final expenses, the cost of her cremation, and the celebration of life she deserves — while also trying to keep our household stable during this transition.

Her service dog, Milo, has been grieving right alongside me. He never left her side, and now he stays close to me as we both try to adjust to a world without her.

I’m asking for help not because I want to, but because I need to. Anything donated will go toward Paulette’s final arrangements and the essential expenses that allow me to stay on my feet while I navigate this loss and adjust to life without her. Your support will help me honor her properly and keep the home we built together from slipping away during this difficult time.

Paulette loved every living thing — dogs, cats, birds, butterflies, even the tiniest bug she’d gently rescue. She lived with a heart bigger than the desert sky. If you choose to help, you’re not just supporting me — you’re honoring her spirit and the love she gave so freely.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping me give Paulette the farewell she deserves.

—James & Milo