Henry Frank Kulesza
March 20, 1926 ~ October 29, 2016
In heaven there is no beer
That's why we drink it here
And when we're gone from here
Our friends will be drinking all the beer
Friends, Henry Frank Kulesza left us here and went to heaven on Saturday, October 29, 2016. He was born on March 20, 1926 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His parents were Polish immigrants, Frank and Stella Kulesza, and he had a brother, Eddie, who died in 1994. Henry joined the Navy in WWII when he was 16 and was a helmsman on the USS Pasadena. His time in the war showed him much of the world but also left him deaf in both ears.
After the war he finished high school and went on to Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, PA. The college was supported by the Polish National Alliance. While at Alliance, he traveled south to New Kensington, PA and met Norma Jean Getz, who became his wife. They had five children togetherJenny (Allen) Flanigan, Frank (Donna) Kulesza, Joni (Joe) Ulsh, Amy (Kevin) DeBeck, and Carrie (Eric) DuPuy. Henry worked in Pittsburgh when the three older kids were little, then he and Norma Jean moved to Northern Virginia for a change in careers and the youngest 2 were born in VA. Together the family would camp, visit family in Massachusetts and PA, watch 1970's TV, and entertain loads of friends and family often. Norma Jean died in 1983 and Henry never looked at anyone else.
When Henry retired from Safeway bakery in Landover, MD as their chief engineer, he kept working in refrigeration and air conditioning. Vienna Inn and American Legion Post 180 kept him busy. He also bought a beach house in Kill Devil Hills, NC. He named the beach house the Moor Better, because even when something was good, it could always be "more better". Henry was happiest in OBX and spent many days there with friends, family, and the grandchildren. They called him Pap and needed Pap to show this new generation how to bait hooks with hot dogs instead of worms. Every seagull was called Oscar. Pap enjoyed grandchildren Jason (Amber), Tim (Miranda), Randee (Mike), Ryan (Todd), Emily, Casey, Henry, and Charlie and great grandchildren Jake and Gabby.
Always a lover of good food, he started to collect cookbooks and was an avid cooks.com recipe collector. When he received good service at restaurants or anywhere, or just wanted to be friendly, he handed out $2 bills. His disappearing quarter trick was legendary. Polish to the core, his last meal that was being prepared as he drew his last breath was stuffed cabbage with enough garlic. He loved polka dancing and music and often recited off-color poems with Polish last lines so we never knew if it was dirty, but figured it probably was.
Henry was loved by many people and was larger than life.
In lieu of flowers please donate to a Medicare Hospice near you. Also, please listen to a polka and eat some kielbasa.
A Memorial Service will be held at Money and King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, VA on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 11 AM.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
That's why we drink it here
And when we're gone from here
Our friends will be drinking all the beer
Friends, Henry Frank Kulesza left us here and went to heaven on Saturday, October 29, 2016. He was born on March 20, 1926 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His parents were Polish immigrants, Frank and Stella Kulesza, and he had a brother, Eddie, who died in 1994. Henry joined the Navy in WWII when he was 16 and was a helmsman on the USS Pasadena. His time in the war showed him much of the world but also left him deaf in both ears.
After the war he finished high school and went on to Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, PA. The college was supported by the Polish National Alliance. While at Alliance, he traveled south to New Kensington, PA and met Norma Jean Getz, who became his wife. They had five children togetherJenny (Allen) Flanigan, Frank (Donna) Kulesza, Joni (Joe) Ulsh, Amy (Kevin) DeBeck, and Carrie (Eric) DuPuy. Henry worked in Pittsburgh when the three older kids were little, then he and Norma Jean moved to Northern Virginia for a change in careers and the youngest 2 were born in VA. Together the family would camp, visit family in Massachusetts and PA, watch 1970's TV, and entertain loads of friends and family often. Norma Jean died in 1983 and Henry never looked at anyone else.
When Henry retired from Safeway bakery in Landover, MD as their chief engineer, he kept working in refrigeration and air conditioning. Vienna Inn and American Legion Post 180 kept him busy. He also bought a beach house in Kill Devil Hills, NC. He named the beach house the Moor Better, because even when something was good, it could always be "more better". Henry was happiest in OBX and spent many days there with friends, family, and the grandchildren. They called him Pap and needed Pap to show this new generation how to bait hooks with hot dogs instead of worms. Every seagull was called Oscar. Pap enjoyed grandchildren Jason (Amber), Tim (Miranda), Randee (Mike), Ryan (Todd), Emily, Casey, Henry, and Charlie and great grandchildren Jake and Gabby.
Always a lover of good food, he started to collect cookbooks and was an avid cooks.com recipe collector. When he received good service at restaurants or anywhere, or just wanted to be friendly, he handed out $2 bills. His disappearing quarter trick was legendary. Polish to the core, his last meal that was being prepared as he drew his last breath was stuffed cabbage with enough garlic. He loved polka dancing and music and often recited off-color poems with Polish last lines so we never knew if it was dirty, but figured it probably was.
Henry was loved by many people and was larger than life.
In lieu of flowers please donate to a Medicare Hospice near you. Also, please listen to a polka and eat some kielbasa.
A Memorial Service will be held at Money and King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, VA on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 11 AM.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Fair winds and following seas Pap. Enjoyed being your daughter-in-law all these years, learning the Polish wisdom you shared, and of course cooking tips! You were one of a kind! Dopki siÄ™ znowu nie spotkamy
Pap, what great memories we have of you. Your kind and fun ways will linger with us forever! Jake and Gabby talk about the quarter trick all of the time… “Perhaps they are not stars in the sky but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy!” Shine on Pap!!
What a colorful and fun man he was. Truly loved life and appreciated and good joke as well as some good beer and whiskey! He has left a legacy of kids and grandkids who can bait a hook with a hotdog. What wonderful memories he has left for all. I will eat some kielbasa and raise a toast to Henry! Love to the beautiful Kulesza family. May the many happy memories bring you joy.
Have memories with Henry over the many years that it is hard to pick just one He allows made Mark and I feel so welcome and included us in so many family get togethers in Fairfax and the OBX. Feel blessed that he was in our life..and he also gave our little dog Nola her middle name because she just looked like a “Lucy”
I teared right up reading the beautifully warm tribute/obituary for your Henry Frank Kulesza. Sending loving thoughts for peace and comfort in these and all memories, and in one another’s arms as you share this grief.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Sadly, an important chapter of our lives is closed now. We enjoyed Henry’s company and the times we spent at the beach house as well as at Henry’s home in Chantilly, sharing recipes, political discussions (!) in the sun room. He loved his family so much. We will miss him so much. Thanks for the friendship, Henry.
Amy, so very sorry for your loss. As I read the obituary, the love for your Dad was palpable and that brought a tear to my eye. Losses such as this make you hug your family a little more tightly.
So sorry, Amy.
Our sincerest sympathy to the family of Henry Kulesza, and especially to our dear pastor Amy Debeck and family. Enjoy memories of the past, but always have faith in the future. Bev and Art
Our family is sorry of Henry’s passing, we always enjoyed our times with him, how lucky is heaven to have him now, may he shower heaven above and beyond with his bright presence and 2.00 bills! Our condolences to the family, The Shazams
will always remember the good times with henry at the beach house and post 180. my thoughts and prayers go out to the kulesza family
Uncle Hank was always a happy person. Enjoyed life. As a child he took me home with him to stay with Aunt Norma Jean, Jenny,Frankie and Joni. It was a wonderful trip. We rode the bus. One Easter uncle Hank allowed me to go with him and the kids the church. I was so excited I got to wear white gloves and have a little tiny pocket book and new dress .He loved food and feeding you.So today Uncle Hank I will drink beer and eat kabasi in memory of you. With Love Cecilia