Theresa Pickunka

THERESA PICKUNKA

Turner's Falls, MA - It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dearly loved mother, Theresa F. Pickunka, 83, passed away in her sleep on November 23, 2024 at Regal Care, Greenfield, MA. after a long battle with Parkinson's Dementia. Theresa was the first child born, December 31, 1940 to Andrew Jekanowski and Frances (Serowick) of Hadley.

She attended local schools and graduated from Hopkins Academy. Theresa along with her siblings, Andrew, Janet, Arlene and Carol were a farming family and continued the family tradition for many years with their parents. Theresa married Ronald J. Pickunka on November 19, 1960 and began their married life in North Hadley. The family quickly outgrew their first home with the birth of their three children, Sandy, Jimmy and Anne-Marie and soon built their next home in Hatfield where they settled until Ronald's passing in 2003. She moved from Hatfield to Belchertown where she met her second husband, Camile Racine. They celebrated 10 years together and many happy memories on cruises and trips before his passing in 2022.

Theresa chose her career in the early years of Xray Technology and continued on at Cooley Dickinson Hospital until her retirement in 2005 after 42 years. She valued her time spent with her co-workers and so loved the profession she chose as she assisted many patients with mammography's over the years.

She loved cooking and baking and was known to the family as "Betty Crocker". In her down time, you could find her in the kitchen cooking something good like baking desserts or the family favorites of Polish Foods. The holidays were her specialty along with any event that the family had. Theresa was "The hostess with the mostess"! Theresa and her sister Carol shared a very special bond. They would spend many years together cooking and baking anything, especially the Christmas pierogies and Christmas cookies but the love went beyond that. It was a best friend and sister in one. She loved her gardens and all that grew, she would spend hours planting or weeding and then enjoying the fruits of her labor.

She was a hard-working, strong woman and a devoted Catholic. She was a member of the Rosary Sodality for Holy Trinity Church in Hatfield and The Hatfield Historical Society.

Theresa leaves behind her children, Sandy and husband Mark Bailey, of Turners Falls, James Pickunka (Christine) of Brooklyn, CT and Anne-Marie and husband Derek Lauder, of South Hadley. She also leaves Grandchildren, Katie Bailey of Providence RI, and Brendan Mohan of Missoula, MT. Step Grandchildren, Nick and Will Lauder, Megan, Emmon and Hannah Mohan and seven step great grandchildren. Her sister Janet Ross of Georgia, her very dear sister Carol Doktor and brother-in law, Thomas of Hatfield., her sister-in- law Sue Jekanowski of Hadley, brother-in-law Douglas Hall of Maine, sister-in-law, Nancy Pickunka of Hatfield, and her high school best friend Eileen Muzyka of PA. In addition several nieces and nephews and cousins.

She is pre-deceased by her parents Andrew and Francis Jekanowski, father in law and mother in law, Walter and Ceal Pickunka, first husband, Ronald Pickunka, second husband, Camile Racine, brother Andrew Jekanowski, sister Arlene Hall, brother in law, Walter Pickunka Jr., brother in law Percy Ross, and a niece, Nancy Jekanowski. You will forever be in our hearts, we love you.

Please go to Czelusniakfuneralhome.com for online condolences and tribute book.