Ottie Therese Cullinane

Ottie Therese Cullinane died on October 29, 2025 at the age of 97. She was born in the northwest corner of Illinois in the medium-sized town of Freeport, about 20 miles south of the Wisconsin border, on March 12, 1928.

She lived through the Great Depression during her childhood and teenage years. Nevertheless, she had many found memories of these times. She enjoyed grade school and high school and had many friends. She was certainly multi-dimensional. She marched in the high school band and was singled-out by the conductor her her ability to step to the music and toss the baton. She was also fond of short running races and belonged to a club she and her friends named, "Transignificans-Bandanduality". They discussed books and ideas and had fun!

She attended Rosary College in the Chicago area and received a degree in Library Science. After graduation she immediately was hired as the Children's Librarian in Freeport, her dream job. 

Shortly thereafter she met Joe Cullinane form Chicago who had recently been hired as a sports announcer in Freeport. They were married less than six months later. After a few months Joe was hired as a sports announcer in Peoria, Illinois. While in Peoria her first child, Pat, was born. Over the next three years they moved four more times: to Houston, Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; Ogden, Utah; and Pocatello, Idaho. Her second child, Susan, was born in Houston and Michael, the third child, was born in Pocatello. Ottie was in charge of the all the moving: packing, unpacking, and taking care of three infants or young children. 

She made friends everywhere she lived. 

In 1962 the family moved from Pocatello to Rochester, New York, again for a new announcing job. Her children were aged three, nine and ten years old. In 1975 they moved for the final time to Denver, Colorado where Ottied lived until her death. 

During the years in Denver she volunteered at Most Precious Blood church. She was a member of the "Marthas" and ran the church library. She also volunteered at the nursing home for many years, serving the residents coffee and sweet rolls once a week. Ottie was always generous with her time and was always there to help people in need. She truly lived her faith. 

Her funeral will be held at St Vincent de Paul Parish at 10:00 a.m. on December 9, located at 2375 E. Arizona Ave., followed by a reception at the Quaker Meetinghouse located at 2280 S. Columbine St. in Denver. The burial will be at Ft. Logan National Cemetery located at 2698 S. Sheridan Blvd., staging area Blue.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to some of her favorite charities, including the ASPCA.org/donate/ps-gn-p2?ms=MP_PMK_Googlebrand&initialms=MP_PMK_Googlebrand&pcode=WPSN7GO2PK01&lpcode=WPSN7GO1PK01&test&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11652982553&gbraid=0AAAAADp0NlV8izzvIaRDJoi8hU5luYod7&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_8TJBhDNARIsAPX5qxR7V0MNqcl-Fz6aIkdUm5zwYM2TlsnGQwMrni8DN6NSoYOOCqHpshMaAl2IEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ASPCA, Hope for Humanity, or the Sierra Club.