Rose & Ray

THE ROSE BENCRISCUTTO
&
RAYMOND PULDA FAMILY

I was the last of ten children born to and raised by Gregorio and Caterina Bencriscutto. They were proud, hard-working, honest and giving people. They were not trouble-makers or gossips. They were there for their children and set a good example to follow. My older brothers and sisters were all strong, independent and accomplished people who achieved many things without much help from their parents. I admired them and wanted to be like them. They all found good people to share their lives with.

Although I loved all of my brothers and sisters, I was closest to Elrida (Irene) who I thought of as a second mother. I could talk to her about anything. I would often stop by to visit or baby-sit her children when she got married and left home. I looked up to my older brothers and I remember Santo because he used to tease me all the time in a boyish but loving way. My brother Mike used to look after me in a fatherly way, noticing when I needed guidance in health matters or regarding common sense issues like getting to bed at a reasonable hour. My mother was wonderful but she couldn't read or write English so I often needed information and my sister Irene would help me. When I was 12 years old, my sisters, Toni and Esther, were out working which left me to help Ma with the household chores. I had to do the dishes and clean certain parts of the house on certain days. I learned a work ethic by observing everyone around me. Those values stayed with me throughout my school and adult years.

I completed high school and my first employment outside of our home was with the telephone company. From there I went to Walker Manufacturing. It was around this time that I met Ray, my future husband. My best girlfriend had been dating this handsome Bohemian boy and I knew that they were breaking up. We started dating and grew close very quickly. The war was on and we decided to get engaged before Ray went into the service. When he returned from the Navy we were married.

Ray came from a hard-working family with a fisherman's tradition. His father was a fisherman in Michigan when he met Ray's mother. They relocated in Racine where his family resided. He fished and operated a fish market until the perch population in Lake Michigan declined. Ray began his working life as an apprentice printer at the Journal Times. Then he began helping his brother transport fish in refrigerated trucks. He expanded into trucking other perishable foods and produce. His work provided our family with a good living but the hours were long and the work was dangerous.

On one occasion Ray was caught in a snow storm while driving through the state of North Dakota. For three days we didn't know if he was alive or dead. Eventually he left the trucking business and worked for the city of Racine in the water department. During the first two years of our marriage my two boys, Jeff and Tom were born. Four years later our daughters were born, JoAnn(1958), Corine(1959), and Mary(1962). They all went through St. Rose, St. Joseph, and St. Catherine's parochial schools.

Jeff earned a scholarship to Dominican College; Tom went in the service then earned a Bachelors Degree at UW-Parkside. JoAnn went to UW-Eau Claire and became a medical technologist. Mary attended Gateway Technical Institute and completed training as a registered nurse. Corine attended LaCrosse State University for three years.

ROSE & RAY'S FAMILY

ROSE
Born: 10-30-1930, Died 09-07-22
Vocation: Homemaker
Activities: Golfing, cards, Bible story class, attending grandchildren’s athletic activities
Phone: 262-886-5690
Address: 1040 Prairie Drive #18 Racine, WI 53406

RAY
Born: 5-30-1930
Vocation: Trucking Company, Printing, City Water Utility Employee, Retired in 1995
Activities: Golf, cards, handyman, attending grandchildren’s athletic activities
Phone: 414-886-5690
Address: 1040 Prairie Drive #18 Racine, WI 53406

ROSE & RAY'S CHILDREN

THE JEFF PULDA
&
DEBBIE MOLBECK FAMILY

JEFF
Born: 4-24-1953
Vocation: Teacher - Kenosha Unified
Activities: Basketball, Coach at Bradford High School, golf, Recreation Director for Mt. Pleasant (18 years)
Phone: 262-554-6280
Address: 4512 Lathrop Ave Racine, WI 53403

DEBBIE
Born: 2-17-1954
Vocation: Teacher - Jerstad Elementary
Activities: Follow children’s student activities, dancing
Phone: 262-554-6280
Address: 4512 Lathrop Ave Racine, WI 53403

JEFF & DEBBIE'S CHILDREN

BRIAN
Born: 7-11-1978
Vocation: Attending School - Gateway Tech Business Program
Activities: Basketball, golf, Freshman Basketball Coach at St. Catherines
Phone: 262-554-6280
Address: 4512 Lathrop Ave Racine, WI 53403

CORI
Born: 12-28-1979
Vocation: Attending St. Catherine’s 1998 (accepted at LaCrosse & Eau Claire Universities)
Activities: Soccer, basketball
Phone: 262-554-6280
Address: 4512 Lathrop Ave Racine, WI 53403

AMY
Born: 7-7-1981
Vocation: Graduated from St. Catherines
Activities: Basketball, softball, volleyball
Phone: 414-554-6280
Address: 4512 Lathrop Ave Racine, WI 53403

THE TOM PULDA
&
PEGGY TAJNAI FAMILY

TOM
Born: 5-25--1954
Vocation: Owner of Pro-Tech Sales, Inc.
Activities: Baseball, basketball, coaching
Phone: 262-886-4486
Address: 131 Newman Rd. Racine, WI 53406

PEGGY
Born: 2-28-1956
Vocation: Homemaker
Activities: Baking, Bible Study
Phone: 262-886-4486
Address: 131 Newman Rd. Racine, WI 53406

TOM AND PEGGY'S CHILDREN

GREGORY
Born: 6-23-1979
Vocation: Attending U.W. Parkside
Activities: Sports, music, drama
Phone: 262-886-4486
Address: 131 Newman Rd. Racine, WI 53406

KRISTEN
Born: 10-5-1981
Vocation: Attending School
Activities: Music, drama
Phone: 262-886-4486
Address: 131 Newman Rd. Racine, WI 53406

BRITTANY
Born: 9-1-1987
Vocation: Attending School
Activities: Coloring, music
Phone: 262-886-4486
Address: 131 Newman Rd. Racine, WI 53406

ALISSA
Born: 9-3-1993
Vocation: Elementary school
Activities: Singing, playing with dolls
Phone: 262-886-4486
Address: 131 Newman Rd. Racine, WI 53406

JOSHUA
Born: 12-29-95
Vocation: Growing fast
Activities: Singing, throwing things
Phone: 262-886-4486
Address: 131 Newman Rd. Racine, WI 53406

THE JO ANN PULDA
&
DAN HUCK FAMILY

JO ANN
Born: 7-13-1958
Vocation: Medical Technologist
Activities: Aerobics, school activities
Phone: 262-538-1327
Address: W293 N6685 Hartland, WI 53029

DAN
Born: 1-20-1949
Vocation: Machine sales
Activities: Trap shooting, handyman, golf
Phone: 414-538-1327
Address: W293 N6685 Hartland, WI 53029

JO ANN & DAN'S CHILDREN

MARY
Born: 10-16-1987
Vocation: Attending School
Activities: Soccer, softball, piano
Phone: 414-538-1327
Address: W293 N6685 Hartland, WI 53029

STEPHEN
Born: 10-16-87
Vocation: Attending School
Activities: Soccer, fast-pitch baseball, football, piano
Phone: 262-538-1327
Address: W293 N6685 Hartland, WI 53029

ANNA
Born: 8-14-1991
Vocation: Attending school
Activities: Playing with friends, indoor soccer
Phone: 262-538-1327
Address: W293 N6685 Hartland, WI 53029

THE CORINE PULDA
&
DEAN LUCICH FAMILY

CORINE
Born: 11-21-1959
Vocation: Homemaker
Activities: Volleyball, biking, camping, jogging, photography
Phone: 414-637-2573
Address: 622 Monroe Racine, WI 53405

DEAN
Born: 2-14-1961
Vocation: Owner - Pro-Tech Sales, Inc.
Activities: Golf, basketball, water skiing, volleyball, camping
Phone: 262-637-2573
Address: 622 Monroe Racine, WI 53405

CORINE & DEAN'S CHILDREN

MATTHEW
Born: 2-5-1990
Vocation: St. Edwards’s Elementary
Activities: Soccer, playing with friends, baseball, scouts, camping, reading books, playing on the computer
Phone: 262-637-2573
Address: 622 Monroe Racine, WI 53405

CIERA
Born: 1-11-1993
Vocation: Elementary school
Activities: Dance class, playing with friends, camping
Phone: 262-637-2573
Address: 622 Monroe Racine, WI 53405

MARY PULDA

MARY
Born: 11-15-1962
Vocation: RN - Working at St. Monica’s Senior Citizen Home
Activities: Volleyball, jogging, biking, most sports
Phone: 262-637-0787
Address: 2511 Arthur Ave. Racine, WI 53405