Margaret Anne Pulkkinen

She was a woman with a strong Christian faith which began in her pre-teen years and remained strong to the very end, even through her later years battling dementia.

She was born, February 14, 1945, in Niagara Falls, New York, the daughter of Kenneth and Evelyn (Hunt) Kernan who preceded her. She was the younger sister of Karyl Siejka (Joseph). She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Robert Pulkkinen. Also holding loving memories of their mother are Kristi Hoffman (Steven) and Bethany Mauney (Bryan). Grandchildren include Clarissa Garriott (Hunter), Christian, Lorianne, Haley, Courtney, and Sydney Hoffman,and Kim Mauney.

Children were important in her life; her children first, grandchildren second and children she

taught in public and private schools last but not least.

She graduated from Niagara Wheatfield High School, followed by Eastern Nazarene College, Wollaston, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in Elementary Education. At 55 years of age, she graduated from North Carolina University, Charlotte, Summa Cum Laude, with the degree Master of Education major in Reading, Language and Literacy. She was a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Chapter of UNCC. Teaching for her was more than a job, it was a calling to serve the younger generation under her care.

She was an accomplished pianist and used that talent with her high school musical productions, church camp meetings and while serving alongside her husband in his pastorates in the Church of the Nazarene.

Of special meaning to her were family gatherings at Bluegreen Resorts, a mission trip to Quito, Ecuador, a trip to the Netherlands to visit Bethany, and a two week visit to Finland to visit the homeland of her husband's paternal grandparents. While living near Charlotte, N.C., she could never get enough visits to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.

The family express thanks to Hanover Adult Care who provided day care for the family. We also express heartfelt thanks to the staff of Heritage Green Assisted Living and Memory Care in Mechanicsville, Virginia. They provided dignity and exceptional care during her last two years.

Per her wishes she has been cremated and her remains will be interred in a niche in the mausoleum of Washington Memorial Park, Sandston, Virginia. A memorial service will be held 2 pm, Friday, March 8, 2024 at Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA., with interment to follow at Washington Memorial Park

Anyone wishing to make donations in her memory are asked to send them to either Eastern Nazarene College, 23 E. Elm Ave., Quincy, Massachusetts,

02170 or Heritage Green Assisted Living and Memory Care, 7080 Brooks Farm Rd., Mechanicsville, Virginia 23111.