Obituary of Grace C. Kulpa

"Palmer, Grace (Carlson) Kulpa, 77, died peacefully on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at Life Care Center in Wilbraham with loving family by her side. Born in Palmer, March 22, 1932, she was the daughter of the late John and Greta (Tiselius) Carlson. Born and raised in Palmer, Grace attended Palmer Public Schools and resided in Palmer all of her life. When Grace was 4 years old, she performed with her closest friend, Barbara Barrett, and the girls were known as "Palmer's Baby Tap Dancers and Radio Stars". Despite their ages, they were the first local persons to sign a radio contract and believed to be the youngest radio entertainers in Western Massachusetts. They performed at various locations throughout New England. The highlight of her dancing career was when she performed in Philadelphia, PA for the King and Queen of Sweden. As a teen, Grace led the high school band as drum majorette. A devoted communicant of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, she was also a member of its Parish Council and its Women's Guild. She was a member of Club 55 and always enjoyed their trips to the casino. Grace enjoyed both working and playing bingo at Sts. Peter & Paul and St. Thomas Church. In her working career, she devoted many years to Chopyk Insurance Agency, and Moulton Insurance Agency as a customer service representative, retiring in 1997. She had also been an aide at the Three Rivers Elementary School from 1970 – 1977. Though she had many interests, her greatest love was her family. She will be deeply missed by her husband of 58 years Edward J., along with her three devoted daughters, Deborah A. Smola and her husband Richard, Laura A. Zoschak and her husband Michael, and Susan E. Roche and her husband Michael, all of Palmer, along with her 7 cherished grandchildren, Scott and Todd Smola, John, Andrea and Renee Zoschak, and Connor and Monica Roche. Grace also leaves her five precious great grandsons, Deven and Colby Zoschak, and Derrick, Trevor and Gavin Smola. She also leaves her brother Kenneth Carlson and his wife Jackie of Palmer, along with many extended family members and friends, including her lifelong friends Sonny and Jean Baldyga of Springfield. Besides her parents, a brother Alfred Carlson and sister Ingrid Czech preceded her in death. The family wishes to extend their deep appreciation for the loving care of the nurses and staff from Baystate Hospice and Life Care Center. Her funeral will be held Wednesday, October 21 at 9:00 a.m. from the Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home, followed by a liturgy of Christian burial at 10:00 a.m. in Sts. Peter & Paul Church. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. For those wishing, donations may be made in her memory to Sts. Peter & Paul Church, 2267 Main Street, Three Rivers, 01080. "