When James Kukurin decided to start his own business in 1978, he found that he had an important asset in his wife, Ilene.
Through the rough years for J.R. Kukurin Associates, Mrs. Kukurin worked by her husband's side every day as the vice president, secretary and treasurer of the industrial distribution business in Turtle Creek.
Ilene D. Kukurin, of Churchill, died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003. She was 69.
"It was a real struggle for the first couple of years," James Kukurin said. "She was so dedicated to it, though. She was always there for me."
After working 10-hour days, Mrs. Kukurin would go home and cook dinner for the family.
"If she hadn't done what she did, we never would have had the success we attained," her husband said. "She was a wonderful wife and a wonderful mother. The epitome of both."
Ilene Urban grew up in Turtle Creek. While attending Turtle Creek High School, she met Mr. Kukurin and they were married in 1954.
Mrs. Kukurin was employed as a secretary with Westinghouse in East Pittsburgh. When the couple's first child was born, she quit her job to raise a family.
Her greatest challenge as a mother came when her son, James, was born, and the couple found that he suffered from severe mental retardation.
Through her son, Mrs. Kukurin became involved with Verland, an assisted-living home for people with mental retardation. When her son went to live at the center in Sewickley, she visited him every Sunday and brought doughnuts for the residents. Mrs. Kukurin also did fund-raising for the home.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Kukurin is survived by three daughters, Cheryl Katz, of Penn; Carolyn Kukurin, of Monroeville; and Christine Kokal, of Chesterfield, Va.; a son, James J., of Sewickley; a brother, Robert Urban, of Boone, N.C.; and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and Sunday at the James F. Kutch Funeral Home and Crematory, 433 Greensburg Ave., East McKeesport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday in St. Bernadette Church, Monroeville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Verland Foundation, 212 Iris Road, Sewickley, PA 15143.
