Carol Ann Bulcavage, 67, died January 19, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital , Tulsa , Oklahoma (OK). She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Connie, and infant brother Frederick. Carol was cremated on January 22, 2009 . A Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph 's Catholic Church in Cleveland , OK on February 4, 2009 .

Born in Mahanoy City , Pennsylvania (PA) in August 1941, she attended St. Joseph 's Parochial Elementary School . As the first of 6 children, "Big Sister" Carol helped to keep her siblings in line. With 30 aunts and uncles, over 40 first cousins and both sets of grandparents within traveling distance, frequent visits to relatives were fun for all. Carol considered herself blessed to be part of such a large family.

In 8th grade she was honored to be chosen as May Queen, leading the annual Marian Procession and placing the crown of flowers on the Blessed Virgin Mary statue. Throughout high school Carol sang in the Lithuanian choir along with her Mother. In 1959, she graduated from Mahanoy City High School .

Growing up in a small coal mining town generated life-long memories of life's simple pleasures. These included one cent candies from "Bunnies," milk shakes and ice cream sodas at Timm's Pharmacy, hoagies from Hardy's, lunch at the Mansion Hotel restaurant, movies at the Victoria Theater, ethnic foods and rides at the many church bazaars, platters from Tunilla's, bus trips to neighboring towns, and Lithuanian Day at Lakewood Park.

For several years, she worked in retail at the W. T. Grant Store in Mahanoy City , until leaving at age 21 to attend St. Francis Novitiate in Pittsburgh , PA. During her several years there, she attended Duquesne University . Later she worked in a Catholic orphanage in Philadelphia , PA and a Catholic hospital in Illinois . For over 25 years, she lived in the Northern Virginia area. While living in Arlington , she was employed by the Xerox Corporation and attended Saint Charles Borromeo Church . While living in Vienna , she worked for TDX Corporation, and Cable and Wireless, Inc. and attended Saint Mark's Church. She also lived and worked in Las Vegas , Nevada , and Whittier , California .

Carol loved to travel and especially liked Hawaii , Toronto and Montreal , Canada , and Vermont . She toured the Grand Canyon , Disneyland , and Busch Gardens . Attending events at the Kennedy Center in Washington , DC was a real treat for her! Carol traveled from coast to coast, visiting family and friends, especially her dear friend Nancy (Truskowsky) Cohn. She loved plants and flowers, often taking pictures of them. Her favorite flowers were lilies of the valley.

Carol loved to decorate for the Christmas holidays, hanging Christmas cards received on the wall along with her favorite decorations. She especially enjoyed family get togethers: holidays, weddings and christenings. Carol fondly remembered the Bulcavage weddings—"good polka dancers and such a good-looking family" were her words. She thought Mahanoy City had the most beautiful churches. And she always had time for a cup of tea!!

Her favorite pastimes were listening to classical music, and vocals by Mario Lanza, The Three Tenors, Burt Bacharach, Perry Como, and Andy Williams. Carol loved watching movies such as South Pacific and Sound of Music and anything with John Wayne. A very religious person, she often read religious books and collected inspirational cards. Also she enjoyed reading Life, Look, The National Enquirer, Star, People, and Newsweek magazines. Carol liked to write letters, notes, and research information of interest to her, especially medical articles. In her neat handwriting, she gave descriptive detail of flowers, churches, and sights of interest to her.

Since 2003, Carol resided in Tulsa , OK . She enjoyed activities such as geography bingo, music, and talking with her friends among the Southern Hills residents and staff.

Carol would like to be remembered for her kindness to others. She had a kind heart and helped her family and was grateful for the help given her. She prayed for her relatives and appreciated and loved all who were so warm and kind to her.

Surviving are her sisters Rosemarie Hunter of Soddy Daisy, TN; Theresa Beall of Vero Beach , FL ; Connie and her husband Dale Carter of Cleveland , OK ; and brother Francis Joseph Bulcavage of Vienna , VA. Surviving nieces and nephews are: Terri and husband Erik Melendez, Sierra Vista, AZ; Edwin and Mandy Hunter, Cleveland, TN; Keith Adam Beall, Las Vegas, NV; and John Carter and fiancée Natasja Kemp, Amersfoort, Holland,. She is also survived by numerous other relatives and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 2, 2009, preceded by a Rosary at 10:30 am and DVD viewing at 10:00 am, all at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church (formerly St. Joseph's) with internment in St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Cemetery in Mahanoy City, PA where a white dove will be released in her memory.  Arrangements are under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc. of Cleveland , OK and Louis Truskowsky Funeral Home, Mahanoy City , PA. Donations in memory of Carol Ann Bulcavage may be mailed to Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Church Building Fund, 1002 Bahama Ave , Fort Pierce , Florida 34982

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