Obituary: Vito Cuccia

MADISON/ MAUSTON - Vito S. Cuccia, age 80, died on Tuesday, March 23, 2004, at his home in New Lisbon. He was born on Aug. 27, 1923, in Madison, the son of Nicolo and Francesca (Stassi) Cuccia. Vito attended Madison Central High School. He married the former Alma Cornell on June 3, 1987. Vito worked for the city of Madison in maintenance for 36 years. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Alma; three daughters, Rosemary, Lonna and Debbie; six grandchildren, Keith, James, Vicki, Juanita, Lisa and Laura; two great-grandsons, Russell and Trenton; a sister, Georgia; and two brothers, Sam Cuccia and John Cuccia. Vito was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Juanita; and two brothers. Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2004, with Father Dall presiding. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Entombment will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Vito was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and was very devoted to his family. Gunderson East Funeral Home (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 25, 2004

Obituary: William H. Hughes - Class of 1936

MADISON/ RICHLAND CENTER - William H. Hughes, age 85, died peacefully on Friday, March 19, 2004. He was born on July 29, 1918, the younger of twin sons, to Raymond R. and Lillian (Ross) Hughes. He was united in marriage to Lorraine E. Finnegan, daughter of Dr. Bernard T. and Alma (Waldorf) Finnegan, on July 17, 1948. He was an employee of the state of Wisconsin, serving in various departments for 32 1/2 years. He was employed as a municipal accountant/auditor, an income tax auditor, supervisor of credit unions for the office of the Commissioner of Banking and was appointed by Governor Patrick Lucey for two terms as Wisconsin's first Commissioner of Credit Unions. He served in that capacity under Governors Lucey, Schreiber and Dreyfus. He was also manager of the Oscar Mayer Credit Union for 10 years and was active in the Credit Union Movement for 30 years. He received many honors and awards for his service to credit unions including election by his peers as president of the National Association of the State Credit Union Supervisors. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lorraine; his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. William H. (Carol) Hughes of Greendale; his daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen M. (Timothy) Keller of the town of Haney, Crawford County; grandchildren, Anne, Patrick and Maureen Hughes, and Elizabeth, Benjamin, Matthew and Sarah Keller; nephews, Robert L. (Judy) Hughes of Waunakee, Michael (Kathy) Hughes of Madison, and Kevin (Mary) Hughes of Middleton. He was preceded in death by his parents; and twin brother, Robert L. (Lucille) Hughes, Brigader General, Retired. A memorial Mass will be held at noon on Wednesday, March 24, 2004, at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, with Monsignor Kenneth J. Fiedler officiating. Friends may greet the family from 11 a.m. until the time of Mass on Wednesday. Memorials may be made to the Richland Center Ambulance Service. The family wishes to acknowledge the special care provided by Schmitt Woodland Hills Retirement Community and to the Richland Hospital. Cress Funeral Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 22, 2004

Note: William H. Hughes' class year is based on information provided in an article published on June 12, 1936 in The Wisconsin State Journal:

Obituary: Helen (Brown) White

MADISON/ STOUGHTON - Helen M. White, age 103, died on Thursday, March 11, 2004. She was one of 10 children born to Irish immigrant parents, the late Mary McShane and Patrick Brown, in the town of Dunkirk, Dane County. She resided in Madison for most of her life. She attended St. Raphael Grade School, Madison Central High School, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before her marriage to Francis B. White, on Sept. 15, 1927, she was secretary to Dr. Joseph S. Evans, Director of the University Hospital. Her husband preceded her in death on Sept. 24, 1974. For several years she supervised a group of clerks and stenographers at the Department of Natural Resources. Later she served as administrative assistant at the UW School of Social Work. She retired in 1967. After retirement, she worked as receptionist and secretary at St. Raphael Cathedral Rectory. She served there for 20 years. While at St. Raphael's, she was a member of their council and was a lector and commentator. She worked as a volunteer at the Madison Area Technical College, teaching English to refugees. She also did volunteer work for the Madison Police Department. Through the years she was active with the Girl Scouts and Parent-Teacher Associations, serving as secretary of the Madison Council of PTA's. On June 20, 1988, Madison Downtown Rotary awarded her the Rotary's Senior Service Award for outstanding community service. She was a member of Madison Civics Club, Madison Catholic Women's Club, St. Raphael Altar Society, and Catholic Order of Foresters. Helen traveled extensively and visited Ireland, a country she loved, several times. She is survived by two sons, Neal C. (Eileen) White of Cudahy, and Jerry White of Madison; a daughter, Mary Nelson of Madison; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; six sisters; three brothers; a son, John F. White; and a son-in-law, DuWayne Nelson. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. RAPHAEL'S CATHEDRAL, 222 W. Main St., Madison, on Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at 10 a.m. with Monsignor Paul Swain officiating. Friends may visit on Tuesday at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will be at Resurrection Chapel. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Nazareth House for the three years of loving care they provided. I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun, of happy memories that I leave when life is done. Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services 2418 N. Sherman Ave. (608) 249-8257

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 14, 2004

Obituary: Stephen William Beld - Class of 1939

MADISON - Stephen William Beld, age 82, died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, March 2, 2004. A lifetime resident of Madison, he was born on July 18, 1921. He and his wife, Angeline Parisi, enjoyed 55 years of marriage together. Steve grew up on the south side and graduated from Central High in 1939. During high school he was a paperboy and then worked at Rennebohm's on the Square. Steve was a member of the 32nd Red Arrow Infantry Division-Company G during World War II from 1940 through 1945. He served in the Paupuan, southern Philippines, Luzon, and New Guinea campaigns, receiving the Presidential Unit Citation Badge. Following his discharge, he was employed at the University of Wisconsin as an electrician until 1977. Steve enjoyed reading, music, and spending time with family, neighbors, and friends. He and his family regularly made trips to northern Wisconsin and around the United States and Canada. In his free time, Steve spent many hours in his basement workshop and dabbled with oil painting, gardening, golf, and many other hobbies. He was proud to help assemble the large tile mural of Christ's life at Midvale Lutheran Community Church. He lived his life with dignity, courage, and good humor. Surviving Steve are his wife, Angie; daughters, Susan and Joan (Jon Curti); grandchildren, Jennifer, Julie and Peter; sister, Anna Haessig (Robert); brother, Bill (Alyce); and many nieces and nephews. His parents; sister, Grace Faust; and brothers, Ambrose, Joe, Fritz, and George, are in Heaven to welcome him. The family will greet friends at the RESURRECTION CHAPEL AT OAKWOOD LUTHERAN HOMES, 6201 Mineral Point Road, from 1 p.m. until the time of the memorial service at 2 p.m. with Pastor Bruce Loewenhagen officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Oakwood Foundation Endowment Fund. Steve will always remain in our hearts as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Cress Funeral Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 4, 2004