Pearl Kriksciun

Mrs. Pearl LaNora Kriksciun, 90, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt, of Oak Island, NC, formerly of West Hartford, CT, passed away with her family by her side from natural causes on October 17th, 2009.?Miss Pearl? was born January 30, 1919, in Chicago, IL to Harriet Sahs Reuss and Edwin Sahs. She graduated from high school and cosmetology school in Chicago, IL. She worked as a beautician for many years, even serving such clients as the late Al Capone's mother. She married, Dr. Kriksciun, on April 26, 1941 and moved from Chicago to West Hartford, CT. She worked with her husband in their dental office for over 30 years in Hartford, CT. She also served as the President of the Connecticut Dental Association Women's Auxiliary as well as the President of the Holy Trinity Blessed Mother's Sodality. Additionally, she was an active member of The Organizer's Club and belonged to various other civic groups in the greater Hartford area. She was a communicant of St. John the Baptist and St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Churches in West Hartford and Sacred Heart Church in Southport, NC. She enjoyed big band and organ music as well as entertaining guests. Miss Pearl was known for her big heart, her flair for dressing, her welcoming hospitality, and her love of family. Everyone was always welcome at her table and there was always room for one more. In addition, she loved supporting her children and grandchildren in all of their hobbies and interests and could often be found cheering them on from the sidelines of a game or applauding their theatrical or musical efforts from the audience. She truly believed that she was blessed and was often quoted saying, "I am rich, rich with my family." She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Dr. Edward Florian Kriksciun, her parents, her step-father Charles Reuss, and a sister Marcella Helmbold. Surviving are three sons, Dr. Edward J. Kriksciun and wife Kim of Las Vegas, NV, James B. Kriksciun, and Gary T. Kriksciun and wife Sandra all of Oak Island; two daughters, Judith Anne Gregson and husband Robert of Oak Island, and Carol F. Kula and partner Louis Gagnon of Southport. She is additionally survived by Anne Furey and Gary Kula as well as fourteen grandchildren, John Kriksciun, Joseph Kriksciun and wife Deborah, Edward Jeffery Kriksciun, James C. Kriksciun and wife Michelle, Timothy Kriksciun and wife Tricia Jessica Lusk and husband Christopher, Sara Kriksciun and husband Dr. Alex Wolf, Alicia Aghevli and husband Arash, Matthew Gregson and Jennifer Armstrong, Briana Kula, Gary T. Kriksciun, Jr. and wife Jennifer, Jason Kriksciun, Erin Pearl Kriksciun and Melanie Kriksciun. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren Valentine Petrillo, Maya Petrillo, Martin Kriksciun, Mitchell Kriksciun, Skylar Kriksciun, Dawson Kriksciun, Mia Kriksciun and Zoe Lusk, and ; two nieces, LaNora Helmbold and Linda Ripley; and three nephews, William Helmbold, Paul A. Kriksciun, and Phillip Kott; as well as the many new and wonderful friends she made in North Carolina. And her special canine companion, Miss Cozette. The funeral mass was held on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Southport with Reverend Doug Lawson officiating. She will be buried Friday from the Molloy Funeral Home 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford at 10 am with her husband in Cedar Hill Cemetery 453 Fairfield Ave. Hartford in a 10:30 am graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive Wilmington, NC 28401 or to The American Cancer Society, Greenville Office, 930 Wellness Dr # B, Greenville, NC 27834; or at www.cancer.org

Pearl Kriksciun

January 30, 1919 - October 17, 2009