Paz B. (Buenavetura) Naylor

Paz B. Naylor, PhD
Portage, MI
Formerly of Ann Arbor, MI

Born May 20th, 1928, to Escolástico and Dolores Velarde Buenaventura in Manila, Philippines, Paz B. Naylor passed away peacefully, October 30, 2021, at the age of 93.

In 1951, she married Teodorico Dominado Jr, who was killed in action in Korea in 1953. As a Barbour Scholar, she earned her master's degree in 1954 and her PhD in Linguistics in 1973, from the University of Michigan. In 1957, she married Dr. Bernard Naylor who passed away in 2017. Her brother, Jose Buenaventura and sister, M. Carmen Sanger, also preceded her in death. Survived by her five sons and their wives, they include: Teodorico and Yvonne Naylor; Patrick and Naomi Naylor; Joseph and Kristen Naylor; Bernard and Judith Naylor; and Timothy and Zainab Jah Naylor. Her grandchildren include Sean, Cara, Bryce, Lindsey, Elizabeth, and Luke Naylor.

With a penchant for drama, she won Best Actress in Manila at the age of 17. In 1977, she led the defense fund campaign for Filipina nurses, Narciso and Perez, who were railroaded by the FBI on multiple murder charges — they were both acquitted. This case led to Paz's oft-cited research in discourse analysis and its impact in the courts. Her facility with languages made her the ultimate trip planner, taking her family to destinations across the globe. On a five-hour trip from Rome to Florence, her Italian went from passable to fluent, inciting an Italian sharing the compartment to declare her a "witch." In grad school, upon organizing a trip for foreign students to Boston, she yelled "who else can speak English?" An Englishman stepped forward. His name was Bernard Naylor — setting in motion a partnership that'd last over 61 years.

They were perfect compliments: Paz's assertiveness buttressed Barney's humility. His pragmatism checked her impulse. Her love for the finer things unclenched his tight-fistedness. Both were unabashed romantics. Recalling how he stole Paz's affections from a future Nobel Prize laureate, Barney would say: "He got the prize, I got the girl."

From Bartok to Bach, she was an accomplished pianist. Learning to read music on a fake keyboard as a child, as an adult she made sure to have both a Steinway upright and a Yamaha grand. She travelled often to New York City to attend the Met, while her husband snored peacefully through such classics as "Faust." For many years she taught piano, hosting annual recitals for scores of students. In her last months, memory faded, she found the inspiration to play note-for-note an old Filipino classic.

Paz also had a passion for fine cuisine. But her first lunch date with Barney, was a failure. She unwittingly made him a "sardine sandwich" with anchovies, which he dutifully ate. She went on to master a repertoire spanning from: traditional Filipino, paella Valencia, steak and kidney pie, Yorkshire pudding, leché flan, Escoffier dishes to a Media Noché fit for the King of Spain. She once said, "I only go to restaurants for the service."

How can we forget Paz's parties: from her Filipino Club soirees in the 70's with traditional dances and sing-alongs to lavish dinner parties, entertaining guests from around the world? Serving hors d'oeuvres, caviar, champagne, VSOP, truffles, to petit fours and the like; she made sure those within her orbit were beneficiaries of her refinement. A neighborhood boy recalled years later, "I remember getting caught staring at her while she was smoking a Dunhill in the living room, reading the paper after dinner. I'd never seen a more elegant woman before or since." No one could escape the threshold without being offered a meal, captured by her catch phrase: "But it's light."

Raising five boys, was her crowning achievement. From infancy to puberty, delinquency, college, car crashes, businesses, marriages and so much more; in the end, the kids turned out all right — all loving husbands and loyal to one another. Her husband Barney never took his catch of a lifetime for granted. Though Paz B. Naylor will be missed by all, her legendary run is cause for celebration.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, December 10, 2021, at St. Mary's Student Chapel, 331 Thompson St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. In lieu of flowers, we are suggesting donations to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.

Arrangements entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S. 9th St, Kalamazoo MI 49009. To view Paz's personalized web page, please visit https://www.langelands.com