Feb. 26, 1943 - Aug. 13, 2024

Kathleen A. Pullia (Nielsen) had a smile that turned strangers into friends, and the culinary brilliance to turn friends into family. She died at 81 of Alzheimer's on  Tuesday, Aug. 13.  She is survived by her children, Nick, Raymond, Dorothy (Nina) and Vincent (Cris), and her grandchildren, Morgan (Dan) Gehrke; and Michael and Henry Pullia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (1938-2000) her son Bobby (1963-1989), and her siblings Brice (Carol) Nielsen and Dee (Floyd) Jones.

Known as the "holiday lady," she made every day a celebration, but she especially loved entertaining her large extended family, including Rosalie, Tom, and Marsha Pullia and Mary and Wayne Oleson. She was longtime office manager of Re/Max East West.

Viewing is 9 a.m. and Mass is 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19, both at Visitation Catholic Church, 779 S. York Road, Elmhurst. Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.