Heini Rosilda Paas was born on 6 October 1918 in Mõniste Parish in Võru County.
She attended Mõniste primary school followed by Valga Common Gymnasium and left in 1938.
She attended the University of Tartu from 1938 until 1945, studying art history as her major subject in the Faculty of Philosophy.
[5] After graduating, although her degree was not formally awarded until 1948, Paas worked as a laboratory assistant in the Department of Art History at the University of Tartu from 1945 until 1950.
[5] These include:[6] In 1983 she was awarded the Annual Prize in the Art Scholars Section of the Estonian Artists' Union for her book "Jaan Koort 1883–1983".