Lt. Col. Mary A. Kuczynska, (ret.)

Lt. Col, Mary A. Kuczynska, USANC, (ret), age 94, died Friday, January 13, 2012 at The Arbors, Bedford, NH. Ms. Kuczynska was born in Nashua, NH on January 23, 1917, the daughter of the late Paul and Antonia (Tursewicz) Kuczynski.

She was a graduate of Nashua High School, class of 1934, The New Hampshire Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and the College of the Holy Names (Oakland, CA).

She enlisted in the United States Army Nurses Corps in 1941 and retired in 1972. During World War II she served in the Middle East, Persian Gulf Command and Burma-India Command. She saw duty at various hospitals in the United States, France, and Germany and served in Viet Nam where she was awarded a Purple Heart. She was also awarded many other ribbons and medals for her service in both wars.

Following retirement she returned to Nashua. She worked as a substitute school nurse and volunteered with the American Red Cross and the Nashua Senior Activity Center.

She was a member of several organizations including the St. Stanislaus Ladies’ Guild, the Catholic Daughters of America, The Nashaway Women’s Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Retired Military Officers Association, and the Military Officers Association of America.

She was a communicant of the former St. Stanislaus Church.

She was predeceased by three sisters, Antosia (AK) Axton, Pauline (Polly) Friedman, Nellie Lombardi and three brothers, Albert Kuchinski, Fabian Kuchinski, and Donald Kuchinski.

She is survived by one brother Steve Kuchinski and his wife Tsuya of Nashua, NH and several nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm in the Zis-Sweeney Funeral Home, 26 Kinsley St., Nashua. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30 am Wednesday, January 18, 2012 in St. Louis de Gonzague Church, 48 West Hollis St., Nashua. Interment will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Nashua.