Lucretia Ann Budak Popa

On October 3, 2017 our sweet and funny Mom joined Dad and  her loved ones in heaven. Mom  Lucretia (Lucy ) was the second oldest child of four and was born on August 25, 1927. A   first generation American,  Lucretia was  born to homesteading  Romanian immigrants Mattieu and Laurentia Budak in Chelsea , Montana. Lucy graduated from Poplar High School and Northern Montana College . Lucy pursued a medical secretary job in Struthers , Ohio where she met and married  the love of her life, John C. Popa Sr. Together Lucy and John had four children, Laura, Annette, Joanne, and John Jr., and in 1955 moved to Columbia Falls where they made their home. While raising the children Lucy worked as a receptionist for 13 years for Dr. Robert Cotner DDS, a  wonderful job she loved.

Lucy had many interests and  loves that made her smile; love for her  Budak family, for hiking, for cross country skiing, for her yard and plants, for her faith, for her friends, for her four children and spouses, and visiting and  playing with her  grandchildren. A most loved time was spent  with her husband John  in many visits to  Hawaii.

Mom Lucy was preceded in death by our Dad John Sr., her mother and father, two sisters Sylvia and Mary Jane,  and one brother George. Lucy is survived by her children and spouses, Laura and Bill Bishop, Annette and Bob Bjelland, Joanne and Tom Lindlof, and Jan and John Popa Jr. Mom Lucy was a fun loving grandmother of eight grandchildren and five  great grandchildren.

We would like to extend a deep heartfelt thank you to all of her caregivers over the years, and most especially to Pat Zinke RN and her husband Ed , and their very loving caring staff at Expressions, Hidden Meadow Memory Care. The respect and dignity in the  loving care for Mom Lucy in this  last three years has made those at  Expressions  our extended family.

An “ Aloha Celebration of Life for Lucy Popa”   is planned for  Saturday June 9, 2018 at 1:00 pm , at Columbia Mortuary. Internment of both Mom and Dad together will follow at St. Richards Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association at alz.org/donate

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