Paige Catherine Caldwell-Burkholder passed away on December 10, 2025, after a three-year battle with a rare form of cancer, originating in the bile duct- Cholangio Carcinoma.  She was 35 years old.

Paige was born on September 22, 1990. in Fontana CA.  She lived in Moreno Valley her first 10 months of life, then moved with her family to Redlands CA.  Paige resided in Redlands for most of the next 28 years of her life.  She attended: Kimberly and Mariposa elementary schools, Cope Middle School, and graduated from Redlands East Valley High School in 2009.  She was a member of many local organizations, performance groups, and sport teams.  Namely: Dance Horizons, Cope MS concerts bands, and jazz ensemble, REV HS marching band, wind ensemble, orchestra, and jazz band.  She played catcher for the REV Varsity Softball team.  She was chosen twice to be on the Redlands Pony League All Star Softball team.  She was picked nine times for the San Bernardino County Honor Band and performed with the SCSBOA Honor Jazz Band once.  She was a founding member of the Redlands Jazz Kids Big Band.  She played bass and trombone for the professional jazz combo, the Redlands Zanja 8 for five years.

Paige graduated from the University of California at Irvine in 2013 Majoring in humanities, her focus was on history and education. Over the following 12 years Paige went on to become a much loved and highly respected history teacher at: Rancho Mirage High School in Rancho Mirage, CA., Loyola High School, Los Angeles, CA and Friday Harbor High School in Friday Harbor, WA.

Teaching was Paige's life's work and the legacy she was most proud of—a truth she wrote in her journal in her final days. Over the course of her career, she led the Loyola Debate Team with passion and rigor, chaired the History Department with vision and steadiness, and earned a prestigious Fulbright that took her to Oxford, England. She was an extraordinary educator, one of the rare teachers capable of teaching four different AP History courses each year, a feat that demanded both brilliance and endurance. More than 1,000 students passed through her classroom, where she was not only respected but deeply loved.

In 2016 Paige married Mark Burkholder at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Redlands, CA.  They enjoyed tremendously living in: Palm Springs, CA, Redlands, CA, and Los Angeles, CA. Near the end of her life, Paige embraced one last adventure, moving her family to San Juan Island, WA—a bold, joyful leap that reflected her spirit and the way she lived.

Paige is survived by:  her husband Mark Burkholder, her parents Sandy and Tina Caldwell, Mark's mother Grace Harriman, her brothers: Justin (wife-LaShawn), Heath (wife-Stacy) and sister- Laura Raju (husband Kartik).  In addition, Paige is survived and most adored by:  her 14 nieces and nephews:  Peregrine, Finnley and Zoe, Amadeus, Heidi, Anwyn, Cecily, Anselm, Clement, Dorothy, Abner and Grethel, Asha and Vaani, and brother-in-law John Davis, and sister-in-law Theo Davis.  As well as her many wonderful friends, co-workers, and beloved students.

Funeral Mass will be held at:  St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church 425 Price St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250 on January 3rd, 2026 at 11:00 AM  Burial immediately following at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery

Reception to follow at Friday Harbor Suits, 680 Spring St., Friday Harbor, WA

In lieu of flowers those wishing to make a donation to one of the:  Paige Caldwell Burkholder Memorial Scholarships may do so at:  Redlands Community Scholarship  Foundation (RCSF) P.O. Box 1683, Redlands, CA  (909) 307-9892 www.redlandsscholarships.org Loyola High School  1901 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90006 or via www.loyolahs.edu/giving/gifts-in-memoriam or San Juan Island School District 285 Blair, Ave. Friday Harbor WA. 98250 katieaiello@sjisd.org