Paul J. Shema, age 83, of North Haven, formerly of Stratford, passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 in the Mary Wade Health Center, New Haven. Paul, a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean War, was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to the late Joseph and Mary (Marcinko) Shema, and has been a life long area resident. He was a retired clerk for the U.S. Postal Service, and was an avid gardener, and New York Yankee fan. Paul enjoyed oil painting, and framing his works, which decorated the homes of his family. Survivors include his devoted sister Helen Liska, of North Haven, a niece Lisa Cullen and her husband Larry of North Haven, and 3 nephews Jan Liska, Raymond Liska and his wife Karen, and Robert Liska and his wife Paula, all of Cape Cod, MA, and several great-nieces and nephews. Funeral services will take place on Friday, October 26th at 11:30 a.m. in the Adzima Funeral Home 50 Paradise Green Place Stratford, and at 12 noon in Holy Name of Jesus Church for a Mass of Christian Burial Interment with full military honors will be in St. John's Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may cal on Friday from 11-11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers those desiring may make donations in Paul's memory to Holy Name of Jesus Church.