Anna C. Cully has closed up her sewing machine, put down her tennis racket, multitude of books, and hair cutting scissors. Unbelievably she has finally stopped worrying if her grandchildren have adequate footwear. She is and will always be greatly missed.
Obituary
Anna (Propeck) Cully, 80, a woman whose life was a unique blend of grit, grace, and relentless worry over everyone else's well-being, passed away peacefully on October 1st. Born in 1945 to Harold and Jane Propeck, tenant farmers in central Illinois, Anna's early life laid the foundation for her can-do attitude. As a child, she had the uncanny ability to call her cows in by name for milking, a skill that strangely did not translate to getting her three children to come in for dinner. At the age of eight, demonstrating an early flair for the dramatic—and questionable safety—Anna drove a five-ton farm truck to the end of her driveway just to catch the school bus, likely setting a local record for both vehicle size and parental heart attacks.
Anna, who was one of five children, often joked that she spent her entire childhood practicing for the multi-tasking required to raise a family. She was attending beauty school when she met William Cully, and they were married shortly thereafter, starting a family that grew to include three children, living in 4 states.
In their early, leaner years, Anna became a master of making do, a necessity that blossomed into her most enduring hobbies. She could sew anything—from her children's entire wardrobes to, later in life, countless glittering leotards for gymnasts, proving she could handle any fabric from durable denim to unforgiving spandex. She also served as the family's resident, and highly opinionated, barber, ensuring no family member ever paid for a bad haircut (though they received a few free ones).
Anna approached her leisure time with the same commitment she showed to worrying about everyone else. She loved playing tennis, proving that a woman who could wrestle a truck could also dominate the net. She cherished her book club, where the discussions spanned literary theory the latest gossip and politics. Her cooking was legendary, provided you didn't ask a frozen lasagna to be thawed and baked at a particular time at the Florida beach house. Just sayin.
While her many passions filled her days, her greatest role was as "Nana." Her greatest joy was seeing her grandchildren grow up, but only after she thoroughly vetted their schools, checked they were doing their homework, working hard, and, most importantly, confirmed they all had brand-new, properly fitted shoes.
She leaves behind a legacy of love, perfectly hemmed clothing, and several adult children who still reflexively look down at their feet before entering a room.
Unfortunately Anna was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. She valiantly fought the disease for over 17 years until it caught up with her. She faced adversity head-on. She had several renovations done at her house to help her cope with the challenges of her disease, that let her live comfortably for many years. Eventually it was determined that an assisted living facility would be a better fit. We truly believe that she made friends with almost every resident, staff and professional she met.
Anna is survived by her husband, three children, nine grandchildren, and a significantly diminished need for the local shoe stores. The family asks that you honor Anna’s memory by reading a good book, hitting a powerful forehand, or simply buying a new pair of shoes—just to be on the safe side.
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Photo, Marty, Pat, Alba, Marcy, Anna, Jeanne - Chicato 2009
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Anna lived with Parkinson's Disease for 17 years, facing her challenges head-on with grace. Even adapting her home to maintain her independence. She believed in making the most of every day and connecting with everyone she met. We ask that, in lieu of flowers, you consider a memorial donation to:
* The Parkinson's Foundation to support their dual mission of advancing research for a cure and providing resources to help people with Parkinson's live life to the fullest. ( www.parkinson.org/tribute )
* The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. While heavily research-focused (over 90% of spending goes to programs), their mission is to find a cure by aggressively funding research and ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today. ( https://give.michaeljfox.org/give-tribute )
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