Carlena KUKUCHKA

May 18, 2012 Times West Virginian Carlena Thompson Zirkle, of Monongah, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday (May 16, 2012) at her home. She was born in Kilarm, June 27, 1922, daughter of the late Karolina Novak and Joseph Kukuchka. Her husband of 33 years, Joseph Zirkle, survives. She was a lifetime member of the Holy Spirit Church, previously active in the Holy Rosary Society, a 1940 graduate of Monongah High School and a 1974 graduate of the Fairmont State College School of Nursing. She retired from Fairmont General Hospital in 1991 after 17 years as an RN. Previous employers were St. Barbara's Nursing Home, and in the 1940s she worked at Westinghouse. She also worked as a seamstress in her home while raising her family and going to school. Her interests included gardening, sewing, travel and her family. Her travels took her to Poland, British Isles, Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and other parts of United States. She was the hostess of three Kukuchka family reunions, the last of which was in 2006. She thoroughly enjoyed the yearly trip to Capon Bridge with her children and grandchildren for a weekend of fishing to honor her birthday. In addition to her husband, she is survived by four daughters, Carol and John Spatafore of Fairmont, Sandra Barton of Beaver, Pa., Rebecca and Philip Cole of Fairmont, and Bernadette and Ernie Naegele of Middleton, Md.; three sons, Jerry and Kathy Thompson of Mannington, Sam and Mary Thompson of McLean, Va., and Dan and Letha Thompson of Monongah; 17 grandchildren, Craig Harley of Creamridge, N.J., Annette Rohr of Bridgeport, Shannon and Mike Lutz of Fairmont, John Spatafore Jr. of Kilarm, Frank and Jonna Spatafore of Monongah, Gina and Steve Croteau of Hilton Head, S.C., Aimee Thompson, Chad and Jodi Underwood, of Ogdensburg, N.J., Jonathan Barton of Washington, Anne and Charley Modro of Beaver Falls, Pa., Heather Thompson of Great Falls, Va., Stephanie Beech of Monongah, Benjamin Foster of Morgantown, Celeste Foster of Fairmont, Joseph, Willa and Leah Naegele of Middleton, Md.; a special cousin, Krys Kolek and wife Josie of Fairmont; 15 great-grandchildren; six stepchildren, Sandra and Gary Fain, of Lumberport, Ron and Barbara Zirkle, Jeff and Vicky Zirkle, Ted and Rhonda Zirkle, Terry and Janet Zirkle and John Zirkle. One sister survives, Helen Lancki of Parma, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Samuel Thompson in 1976; two sisters, Anne Conley and Mary Maruschak; and three brothers: Adam, John and Frank Kukuchka. Special thanks to Amedisys Home Care, her nurse Mark Wothring, and her special caregivers Letha and Dan Thompson. Friends and family may call at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Ave., Fairmont, from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a vigil service being held at 7:30 p.m. Friday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Monongah, with Father Steve Joseph as Celebrant. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Monongah. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.domicofh.com.

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