Kathleen (Hennessey) Culhane |
| Posted 2008-08-04 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Friday, April 27, 2007 A quintessentially elegant and admirable woman, Kathleen Hennessey Culhane lived a life of quiet strength, profound faith and constant devotion to her family. She died in peace 93 years and 3 days from the day she was born, April 20,1914. All of her children and many of her grandchildren surrounded her these past weeks and each felt great inspiration as she expressed her love, appreciation and confidence in them. Her insatiable curiosity, keen intellect, indefatigable focus, quiet persistence in all she did, and her abiding devotion and commitment to Jesus Christ guided her every step in her long and blessed life. She left an example of a life to imitate, radiating physical and spiritual beauty to everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her grandchildren have the gift of her long life of grace and intelligence to emulate. Born in Mankato, Minnesota, the third of six children, Kathleen overcame pre-World War II economic hardship with her wonderful spirit, hard work and a memorable sense of humor. She and her sisters loved their first job as Mankato Ballroom and always spent the evenings dancing to the songs of Big Band music once the hats and coats were checked. Kathleen's sense of style and beauty was refined while she worked at Brett's Department Store, spending much of her paycheck on fashion. She met and married the handsome Joseph Culhane on Sept. 1, 1942, in Vallejo, California, where they both worked in support of "The War." Assigned the highest level of civilian clearance, Kathleen decoded messages from the Admiral of the Pacific Fleet. Later, she and Joe returned to the idyllic small town of Mankato where they created a warm and loving home for their six children. She devoted herself to her children, her home and Holy Rosary Church, enhancing all with her dedication and support. A "semi pro" seamstress, consummate hostess, (the Culhane St. Patrick's Day parties were legendary in Minnesota), famous pie baker, (she published her first pie cookbook in 2006), with an intense focus on "always do everything right with no short cuts," Kathleen's drive for perfection inspired both her family and her friends. Kathleen was loved by all who knew her. Kathleen and Joe moved to Prescott in 1970 with their two youngest children, Joe and Sheila, and enjoyed their home on the hill with a view of the town, the mountains, the sunsets and especially life in the west. For the past seven years, Kathleen has lived with her daughter, Sharon and son in law, Oliver, sharing in the busy Harper household. An example of her true grit was evidenced on her 90th birthday, when she surprised the family arriving home one evening in her newly purchased Buick Park Avenue. Her Catholic faith sustained her throughout all her years and when Sunday mass became hard for her she relied on her daughter, Sister Stephen, and her dear Jesuit friends, Jim Flynn, SJ, and Edward Reese, SJ, for spiritual support. Her caregivers, Marta, Barbara, Jenni and Shawna ensured that her last days brought her comfort with her books, her salon visits and her garden walks to enjoy her trees and flowers. Kathleen was preceded in death by Joe, her beloved husband of 52 years. She is survived by her six children, Sister Stephen Culhane, Patricia Kovarik (George), Sharon Harper (Dr. Oliver), Tim Culhane (Mary), Joseph Culhane and Sheila Brower (Michael); grandchildren Shelley Suckow, Amy Kovarik, Laura Cronkhite, Christina Harper, Lise Harper, Joseph Harper, Michael Harper, Yvette Cushman Culhane Baton, Lily Cushman Culhane, Shannon Ulrich, Thomas Ulrich and Spencer Culhane; and great-grand- children, Aiden and Sylvia Suckow, Billy Cronkhite, Nicholas Kovarik, Emma and Jackson Baton. Surviving also are her brother, John Hennessey, and sister Peggy Chambers; and many nieces and nephews. The service honoring Kathleen's life will be at Brophy College Preparatory Chapel on Sunday, April 29, at 2 p.m. and is being coordinated by Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Kathleen's memory to these charities that impacted her life and will continue to impact the lives of others: Brophy College Preparatory, 4701 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, Ariz., 85012; Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, Ariz., 85014; Fellowship of the Burning Bush, 1306 Winter Solstice, Henderson, Nev., 89014-8872. Information provided by survivors. |
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