Adeline K. Puccini
Adeline (Jo) Kulig Puccini, 95, died March 29, 2023, in Potomac Falls, VA.
Adeline was born in Independence, to William and Elizabeth (Wiench) Kulig, August 11, 1927. After graduating from high school, she spent one year working as a private secretary at the U.S. Treasury Department in Chicago before enrolling as a freshman at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Adeline earned a Bachelor of Science degree in speech correction in 1950, and a Masters degree in speech pathology from Northwestern University in Chicago in 1957. Her professional career spanned 40 years of work in Illinois, California, Rhode Island and Virginia, and included work with public schools, hospitals and speech and hearing clinics.
Her marriage to U.S. Navy aviator, Captain Joe Puccini, led to various assignments on the east and west coasts in the U.S. As part of her Navy life in Washington, D.C., she was chosen to welcome Senator Jeremiah Denton and his wife at a special ceremony honoring him as a POW.
After her retirement, Adeline became a world traveler and the author of three books: “Angels in My Valley”, a memoir published in 2002, “Solo Traveler”, published in 2005, and “The Perfect Navy Wife”, published in 2007. Her travels took her around the world twice, over the North Pole and “down under” to Australia.
Adeline’s charitable works involved child protective agencies. She was honored at the University of Illinois for her support in the building of the Veterans’ Center for Higher Education and an addition to the Labor and Employment Relations building. Trusts have been set up for scholarships and fellowships at the university and memorials at a church and hospital in Texas. She wanted to help senior citizens and the handicapped attending church, so she had an elevator addition added to Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Independence.
Adeline was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; daughter, Nancy; and her siblings/spouses: Verna (Aloysie) Halama, Eleanor (Art) Drangsveit, Ben (Ruth) Kulig, Adolph Kulig, Clifford Kulig, Clarence (Theresa) Kulig, Anton (Doris) Kulig, Edward (Arlene) Kulig, William Jr.; also half brothers/sister: Robert and Richard Kulig, Rosemary (Ben) Sosalla; and a brother-in-law, Martin Marsolek.
She is survived by half brother/sisters: Roland (Doris) Kulig, Renita (Art) Bohn, Ruth (Gordy Nepstad) Marsolek; and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Independence. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Father George Thayilkughihottu and Father Woodrow Pace will concelebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
