Obituary of Elizabeth A. Kukucka

KUKUCKA Elizabeth Agnes Betty (Phillips), 89, Ebensburg, died Oct. 11, 2015, at home. Born Feb. 22, 1926, in Nanty Glo, the seventh child of 13, daughter of Emery and Helen Philip. Preceded in death by parents; husband, Dr. Stephen M. Kukucka; sons, Dr. Stephen P. and Thomas; daughter, Christina; and siblings, Cyril, Thomas, Helen, Emery, John, Anne Wolfe, Marge Bartoletti, Maryann Strugala and Barbara Krupa. Survived by son, Dr. Michael A. Kutcher (Ellen); two daughters, Janet (Ed Blazina) and Beth; brothers, Paul and Steve; sister, Theresa Sirawsky; three grandchildren, Dr. Matthew Kutcher (Paloma); Patrick Kutcher; and Carrie Blazina; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Betty was anticipating her first great-grandchild in February. Betty graduated from St. Mary s Parish School in 1939. A member of the Nanty Glo High School, Class of 1943, she was first in her family to graduate from high school. During her teenage years, she developed her drawling and reading skills that she used her whole life. She was employed as a typist in the office of the Cambria County Recorder of Deeds in Ebensburg. She married Dr. Stephen M. Kukucka in 1947, and had six children in the next 11 years. She made a warm and welcoming home for them through many moves, including Yorktown, Va.; Lancaster; Castle Shannon; and numerous Cambria County towns before settling in Ebensburg. For 50 years, she was a member of Holy Name Parish, where she was involved in choirs and served as a Eucharist minister. She was member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 680, serving in local, diocesan and state offices. In her later years, Betty use her calligraphy and artistic skills for parish and family activities. Her extensive vocabulary came in handy as she solved word and Jumble puzzles. A voracious reader, she continued reading a book a day despite poor vision. She will be remembered for capturing family, church and community events through photos and eight millimeter film. Many of those family films ended with leaving visitors saying, Goodbye, Aunt Betty. The family would like to thank Stephanie Roy for her care and companionship and the staff of Conemaugh Regional Hospice for their expert medical care. Family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Matevish and Matevish Funeral Home, Ebensburg, where vigil wake services will be held. Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Name Catholic Church, Ebensburg, the Rev. Monsignor David Lockard. Internment, Holy Name cemetery. CD of A rosary at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.