Janet M. Kulaga

Born in Buffalo, New York, she was the daughter of the late Earl Haas and Elsie Paeplow. Janet was an only child and grew up enjoying summers at Chautauqua Lake in New York. She was a 1950 graduate of Bennett High School in Buffalo New York. Janet attended SUNY at Buffalo, where she met Mathew, her husband of 61 years, graduating in 1954 with a degree in Medical Technology. She worked at the Buffalo General Medical Center blood bank while raising her young family. She took a hiatus from her career after relocating to Bainbridge, NY in 1973 to focus on raising her children. Following her relocation to New Albany, IN in 1977, she later returned to the blood bank at University of Louisville Hospital where she had a career revival of 25 years and retired at age 74.

Janet was a voracious reader, engaged in frequent library runs and could often be found with a good book in hand. She was a huge lover of animals and could be likened to the neighborhood “Dr. Doolittle” where stray animals would seek her out and she would take them in with loving arms. There were so many pets of all sorts in the Bainbridge home that our house was jokingly referred to as “the zoo.”

She was passionate about music and the arts; she could play the organ and had a particular affinity for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. Post-retirement she enjoyed nature, feeding the many species of birds frequenting her backyard, and fondly named the other wild creatures that were drawn to the backyard as well. She and Matt participated in “grandparently” duties and activities with all three grandchildren. She was affectionately known as “Babci”and enjoyed frequenting the zoo with her grandkids.

Janet was an example of giving and generosity and supported many causes and charities dear to her heart, along with her husband. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Jeffersonville, IN. She was very devoted to her family and loved by many.

Besides her parents, Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Mathew Kulaga. Janet is survived by her son, James Kulaga of New Albany, IN; her daughter Kathleen (Perry) Johnson of Georgetown, IN; her daughter Jennifer (Christopher) Jaffe of Bloomington, IN; her grandchildren Matthew “Severin” Johnson of Georgetown, IN; Benjamin Jaffe of Bloomington, IN; and Lorelei Jaffe of Bloomington, IN.

Visitation will be held on Monday March 10, 2025, from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at Kraft Funeral Service, located at 2776 Charlestown Road New Albany, Indiana 47150.

The family would like to thank the Staff of Windsor Ridge for their kind and compassionate care and the staff of Kraft Funeral Services for their kindness, care and professionalism.

Janet will be interred with her husband, Mathew Kulaga at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery in New Albany, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the World Wildlife Fund.