Henry Frank KULESZA

20 MAR 1926 - 29 OCT 2016

• BIRTH: 20 MAR 1926, New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts
• DEATH: 29 OCT 2016, Vienna, Fairfax, Virginia

INDEX

[N28808] Henry Frank Kulesza
Vienna, Virginia
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 together-Jenny (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