Obituary published on Legacy.com by Phillips Memorial Home - Massena on Oct. 1, 2025.
Peggy Joyce Puhlmann, 65, passed peacefully on July 7th, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, FL, surrounded by loved ones after a prolonged struggle with cancer and associated complications. Throughout this journey, Peggy maintained unwavering faith and grace, inspiring everyone close to her.
Peggy was born in Minneapolis, MN, on June 4, 1960, to Eugene Peter Koshenina and Beverly Cambio Koshenina. After moving several times, her family settled in Clear Lake City, near Houston, TX, when Peggy was beginning middle school. She excelled academically, but her true passions for dance, music, and theater flourished in high school when she proudly joined the Clear Creek Cavaliers dance team. Two years ago, Peggy reignited her love for dance by beginning ballet lessons, which quickly became her favorite weekly activity. Peggy's other passions, pleasures, and interests include her faith, fashion, art, flowers, shopping, meeting new people, a love for animals, and spending time with friends.
In her late twenties, Peggy continued her work in NASA shuttle support while attending the University of Houston in the early 1980s. She studied computer science, mathematics, and business, alternating her academic pursuits with a position at NASA Mission Planning as a cooperative education student.
In addition to her studies, Peggy was involved in various activities, including jazz dance, martial arts, and modeling. She also enjoyed competing in pageants, where she became a finalist in the Miss Harris County and Miss Houston competitions. Her pageant career reached its peak when she was awarded the title of Miss Clear Lake City and subsequently competed in the Miss Texas-USA pageant in 1982.
In her late twenties, while working on NASA shuttle support contracts for Unisys, she was completing her bachelor's degree at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. There, she met her beloved future husband, Michael Puhlmann, who hails from
Massena, NY. They formed an immediate bond, sharing common interests in travel, food, and theater. As their relationship deepened, Peggy and Michael eventually got married at St. Paul Catholic Church in Nassau Bay, TX, on August 15, 1992.
In 1994, Peggy and Michael moved to Orlando, FL, for work and eventually settled in Oviedo, where they lived for 18 years before relocating to Winter Springs. Peggy initially worked for Hughes Training and later consulted companies like Lockheed Martin. In June 2001, she and her husband, Michael, established their own company, Cornerstone Software Solutions, Inc. As the CEO, Peggy provided overall strategic direction for the company, with a mission that emphasized employee well-being and charitable contributions to the community.
Anyone who met Peggy quickly recognized her genuine desire to connect with and understand others, which often resulted in true and lasting friendships. While she was beautiful and always stylish, it was her generosity, faith, love, and charity that she would want to be remembered for most. Peggy had a sincere wish to help anyone in need and easily formed cherished friendships with those around her. She will be deeply missed by many.
In 2001, Peggy continued demonstrating her charity by committing support to the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) program. Helping children and the underprivileged are two passions that BBBS allowed her to combine. One of Peggy's proudest achievements is that she had a positive influence on her little sister Lindsey Andrade, who has blossomed into a successful well-rounded woman as an accomplished engineer, devoted wife, and now a loving new mother.
She was predeceased by her mother, Beverly Koshenina, in 1994. Peggy shared a deep bond and a profound love for her mother, who was her greatest influence.
Surviving family members include her beloved husband, Michael Puhlmann, of Winter Springs, FL; her kindhearted brother-in-law, Ralph Puhlmann, of Jacksonville, FL; and her precious little sister, Lindsey Andrade, who resides in Orlando, FL, with her devoted husband, Tobi, and their sweet, treasured three-month-old son, Isaiah. Isaiah's many visits always brought brightness and joy to Peggy, even in her darkest moments.
Also surviving are her adored father, Eugene Koshenina; her caring stepmother, Chu Wan Koshenina; and her loved brother, James Koshenina, all of whom live in Houston, TX. Peggy had an eternal love for her father, from whom she cultivated her deep devotion to the Catholic faith. Additionally, in Houston, Peggy is survived by her wonderful stepsister, Cecilia Shinn, and her husband, Joe. In Spring Branch, TX, she is also survived by her generous stepbrother, James Kittley, his wife, Brittany, and their young darling daughter, Collins, whom Peggy cherished.
Calling hours will take place Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 1-3 pm and 5-8 pm at Phillips Memorial Home in Massena. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart Church. Burial will follow in Louisville Community Cemetery, Louisville. A celebration of life was held in Oviedo, FL. Followed by a Catholic Mass in Winter Springs, Winter Springs, FL. In July.
In place of flowers, donations can be made to any of the following charities in honor of Peggy's memory:
• Covenant House, 733 Breakers Ave. Fort Lauderdale 33304
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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 220 E. 42nd St. Rm 435, New York, NY 10014
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 2502 N. Rocky Point Drive, Suite 100, Tampa, FL. 33607
• Dress for Success; https://dressforsuccess.org/affiliate-list/
Peggy's outer beauty was surpassed by her generous heart. She recognized that she lived a blessed life and always sought to share that grace with others. Her legacy of love and inspiration will continue to impact the lives of those she touched.
Online memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family by visiting www.PhillipsMemorial.com
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