Helen Charlene Cukjati, 84, died peacefully on July 20th in San Antonio, Texas after a long illness. Charlene as her friends called her was born in Kansas City, Kansas on August 17, 1937. She was the daughter of the late John P. Lillig, III and Gertrude Lillig of Kansas City, KS. She is preceded in death by her older brothers Jack and Jim.
Charlene is survived by her four children. Her son Joe and his wife Andrea of San Antonio, Tx, her daughter Julie and her favorite son-in law Billy Faulkner of Rowlett, Texas, and her twin sons Curt of San Antonio, and Chris and his wife Susan also of San Antonio. She also leaves 12 beautiful grandchildren, Jessica, Chelsea, Joseph, Charlotte, Zachary, Nicholas, Jacob, Tanner, Isabella, Katrina, Rachel, and Jackson, and five great grandchildren, Brody, Ava, Benson, Aubrey, and Olivia. Her nephew Mike and her niece Colleen, as well as numerous friends she has had the pleasure of knowing.
Charlene graduated from Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City then went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Kansas State University. After college she married and moved to North Carolina where she taught school, primarily 2nd grade. After having two children, they moved to Wichita, Kansas, then finally settled in Irving, Texas raising her four children.
Charlene went on to work as Ticket Agent for Eastern Airlines, an Executive Secretary for Southwestern Bell, owned her own Secretarial Service for numerous years, and ultimately retired from the Irving School District after 10 years as a Clinical Assistant.
Her joy in life was her children, grandchildren, seeing her girlfriends on Friday nights, and quilting. She will be missed by so many.
Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM, Thursday, July 28, 2022 at the Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 AM Friday, July 29, 2022 at the Cathedral of St. Peter, 416 North 14th Street, Kansas City, KS. Burial at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.