Top Banner for Catherine Ann "Kay" Culichia Obituary
Catherine Ann "Kay" Culichia Obituary

Brought to you by Hoffmann-Gottfried-Mack Funeral Home & Crematory

Catherine Ann "Kay" Culichia

Tiffin, OH

September 9, 1931 - January 13, 2021

Catherine Ann "Kay" Culichia Obituary

Catherine “Kay” Ann Culichia (Wagner) died on Wednesday January 13, 2021 at the Willows at Tiffin, Ohio.

Catherine was born on September 9, 1931 in Leipsic, Ohio to John and Helen (Barger) Wagner.  She was raised in Tiffin and attended Calvert High School and Heidelberg College.   Catherine was the youngest of the six Wagner children all of whom predeceased her:  Mary of Tiffin, John of Marion, Richard (Lois) of Tiffin, Eileen Detray of McCutchenville and William (Norma) of Tiffin.

After graduating from Calvert and attending Heidelberg College, Catherine worked for LaSalles Department Store in Toledo and Tiffin as a buyer for the women’s clothing department.  She loved her work and was always admired as a smart dresser.

Catherine married Charles Culichia of Tiffin on April 23, 1955.  She is survived by her loving husband and three sons:  Mark (Fern) of Easton, PA; James (Susan) of Montana/Arizona and Phil (Kathy) of Cranberry Township PA.  Catherine’s infant daughter Joanie died in 1957.

Catherine is survived by eight grandchildren: Jacob, Nathaniel, Daniel, Corissa, Benjamin, Jordan, Fernanda and Morgan; and one great-grandchild Cooper; and many nieces and nephews.

After they were married, Catherine and Charles lived in Fremont then moved to Youngstown in 1961 where they resided until 1997 when Charles retired from his job as Architect for the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation.  They relocated to Ocala, Florida and returned to hometown Tiffin in 2013.

Catherine was a water safety instructor, lifeguard and taught swimming to children for many years.  She was a great (and a bit ruthless) card player and an avid and excellent golfer – she was club champion at their clubs in Youngstown and Ocala. 

Catherine was very charitable and donated significant time to many different organizations, including teaching swimming to Easter Seals special needs children, St. Christine’s school and convent in Youngstown, the Ursuline Sisters’ Center in Canfield and all of the churches she and Charles have been members of through their long lives.

Catherine had many friends, was a great cook and loved to entertain - bustling around the kitchen with a cocktail in one hand and (in her younger days) a cigarette in the other – doing three tasks at once in a whirlwind.  All three sons are excellent cooks and entertainers so they must have listened well.

Catherine was one of the original “grizzly” moms – she ran a tight ship and was a fierce defender, protector and overseer of her family, husband and children. Her family loved her deeply and owe her a great deal.  With all of her positive influences, Catherine left the world a better place than before she arrived and that is a life well lived.  She will be greatly missed.

A Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, April 30, 2021 at St. Mary Catholic Church with Rev. Matthew Rader officiating. A Rosary will be prayed 30 minutes prior to Mass.  The Mass can be livestreamed at https://www.st.marychurch.com.  Burial will be at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery.  

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at St. Francis and the Willows for the love, care and support they provided to Catherine during her final years.   

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis Home.

Hoffmann-Gottfried-Mack Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.

Condolences may be sent and the guestbook signed at www.hgmackfuneralhome.com.

To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Catherine Ann "Kay" Culichia hosted by Hoffmann-Gottfried-Mack Funeral Home & Crematory.

Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Catherine Ann "Kay" Culichia.