Full Obituary

ANNA M. CUKLA, age 98, of Thorp, passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at Our Lady of Victory Hospital, in Stanley. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Monday, December 30, 2013 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, in Lublin. Rev. Madanu Sleeva Raju will officiate and burial will follow in the parish cemetery, with Anna's grandchildren serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be held at the church, on Monday, from 10am until time of service.
Anna Mary Pancyrz was born on July 30, 1915 in Ironwood, MI, the daughter of Frank and Sophia (Iskra) Pancyrz. When she was 4 years old, her family moved to the Mitterhofer area, rural Thorp, where she was raised and educated at area schools. Anna was united in marriage to Charles A. Cukla on September 3, 1932 at St. Mary's Czestochowa Catholic Church in rural Stanley. They farmed for over 50 years in the Town of Taft until their retirement. She continued to live in the Town of Taft after Charlie's death, until entering the CoHo Assisted Living Center in Thorp.
Anna was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and its PCCW.
She loved and cared for all of her children. Her love for cooking, gardening, and canning kept a family of eleven going, and never with a complaint. Anna also loved her hats. She wore a hat wherever she went, and was a person who could wear one with style, just like the Queen. At present, she has 69 hats. She also loved to read. Anna would cut out clippings, save them, and put them in an envelope. If it reminded her of someone special, she would put it in a special envelope with their name on it. Many of her children follow the same pattern.
She loved to dress up. Her family understood and helped her have the clothing that brought her joy. If she was going to Church or any outing, she would lay out her clothes on the bed, the night before, and make sure everything was pressed to perfection. She passed this on to her children as well. Not only was she a perfectionist in her appearance, but she could also bake the best apple pie and filet a fish better than anyone in Taylor County.
Thanks to the great neighbors and friends, she was able to stay in her home until age 94. They called her morning and night, made sure her driveway was plowed out, and took care of the necessary things in everyday life.
Anna is survived by 9 children: Gertrude (Roman) Kostick of Ladysmith, Evelyn (Peter) Debold of Jump River, Carole Kowalczyk of Loyal, Pat Struck of Milwaukee, Harriet Denzin (Special Friend Tom) of Milwaukee, Mary Barker of Phoenix, AZ, Barbara (Leonard) Heiting of Phillips, James (Karen) Cukla of Rockport, TX, Delores (Dale) Piekarz of Phoenix, AZ; 30 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren. Ann is further survived by her special family friend, Donna Cukla; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles; 3 grand- children: Ralph Kostick, Paul Shea and Corey Clark; one son-in-law: Joseph Kowalczyk; 5 brothers and 4 sisters.
Mom and her family were so very appreciative of all the care givers at CoHo Assisted Living. Also, special thanks to all the great staff at Hope Hospice, what a blessing they are. My mother believed that each day was a gift and how we chose to unwrap it would determine our happiness.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given in Anna's name for a memorial to be designated at a later date.