Obituary of Viola Cullen

Cullen, Viola M. (nee Conschack) April 25, 1911 - November 28, 2012 Age 101. Passed away Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center. Born on a farm in Livingston County, Illinois; she was the youngest of eight children born to Frank and Mary (nee Klein) Conschack. A 1929 graduate of Odell High School, she began her working days as a stenographer, typing 90 words a minute (long before electric typewriters). After moving to Joliet in 1954, she went to work for Folger Adam Company, retiring from the position of Credit Manager there in 1978; then continued working for several years as evening receptionist at her parish church, St. John the Baptist. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, doing crossword puzzles, rooting for the Cubs, and was an avid "garage saler". At the age of ninety she began writing poetry, and wrote prolifically for the next ten years. A resident of Park Tower Apartments for more than twenty years, before moving to Rockdale, Illinois to live with a daughter; she will be remembered by many of the residents as their unofficial poet laureate; always sharing her poetry with them at the weekly bingo games. When asked what she thought contributed to her longevity, she would say, "A sense of humor...you have to laugh." She had a wonderful, witty sense of humor right up to the end. Preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Agnes Eich, Elizabeth Masching, Gertrude Worm, Bertha McGinnis, George Conschack, Arthur Conschack, and Leona Blansette; her former husband, Lloyd B. Cullen; and one great-great grandson. She is survived by her two daughters, Carol (late James) Yonke of Texas and Susan (John) Carlton of Rockdale; eight grandchildren, Mark Yonke, Jane Yonke ( husband Jeff Huber), Leslie Yonke, Bernard (Linda) Yonke, Jennifer McCarthy, Joletta (Raymond) Hyder, Jerry L. Bush Jr. and Jessica (Robin) McCarthy; one nephew, Michael (Bernadine) McGinnis of Florida; 11 great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; and numerous great nephews and nieces. In lieu of memorials, the family asks that you visit with someone and give them one of life's most precious gifts...a laugh! Funeral Services for Viola M. Cullen will be Monday, December 3, 2012 at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Interment St. John Cemetery. Visitation Sunday 2:00-4:00 p.m. at: FRED C. DAMES FUNERAL HOME 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet For information: (815) 741-5500 www.fredcdames.com