Candice J “Candy” Cullen, age 73, of Wales was called home to our Lord on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Candice was born April 23, 1950 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Robert (George) and Orpa (Nikki) (Glenzke) Jones. To all that knew her, she was a selfless woman who put all others before herself. She was strong-willed and continued to fight her cancer until the very end.
She married Robert Cullen in 1974 in Milwaukee and began their family there. They later moved to Wales in 1988. Candy found a position as a Para Professional at Wales Elementary where she worked for 27 years. Candy was mother to Kimberly (Eric) Heine; loving sister to, Sandra (William) Wagner; very involved grandmother to, Aiden and Aynsley Heine; and devoted Aunt to her nephew, Nicholas Wagner. She also cared deeply for many other relatives and friends.
When we think of Candy, we think of her smile and her laugh. Her willingness to do anything to help anyone. Her compassion and empathy were unmatched. Her main goal in life was to make memories, and that she did. She did a lot of traveling with her family. Last August she made her dream trip to Ireland with her daughter and son-in-law. LOTS of memories were made. She said she wasn’t going to climb the Blarney castle, well guess what she did. She said once she got up there, she wasn’t going to kiss the stone, well guess what she did. She wanted to live her life to the best of her ability.
When Candy was away from family and wanted to give them a hug, she would say “Squeeze your elbows”. This was a tradition passed on by her mother. Whenever we would get off the phone with her, she would say, “Squeeze your elbows”.
Candy was also a very active member of Jerusalem Presbyterian church and donated a lot of her time at the Kettle Moraine food pantry and many other church related functions. She could strike up a conversation with anyone and instantly would become their friend. Her calendar was always full with parties, brunches with friends, lunches with “the oldies” from Wales Elementary, dinners with lifelong friends, and games and concerts for her grandchildren. She loved to be a social butterfly and make memories with everyone.
Candy lived everyday as a gift from God. On her nightstand she kept daily devotional readings and motivational quotes to keep her faith strong and strength growing. Some of them included:
- It’s a new day. I’m alive. I’m blessed. I’m happy. I’m grateful. God is good. Amen.
- You only fail when you stop trying.
- The “Serenity Prayer”.
We are certain that Candy’s parents were waiting for her when she was welcomed into heaven.
Squeeze your elbows!
We would like to invite you to celebrate the life of Candy Cullen on Thursday, August 10th at 3pm at the Jerusalem Presbyterian Church in Wales. A reception will follow the service from 4-7pm at Revere's Wells Street Tavern in Delafield.
505 Wells St, Delafield, WI 53018
Please come and celebrate a beautiful life lived, share all the amazing and (most of all) hilarious memories of our beloved and sweet Candy girl!
Hope to see you there!
Candy would like any monetary memorials to be made to the ProHealth Cancer Center.
N16W24131 Riverwood Drive Waukesha, WI 53188 (262)696-0909
Those wishing to share a memory or those wanting to just sign the on-line guest registry, please click the Share A Memory button below her photo. Thelen Funeral Services of North Prairie/Genesee is honored to be assisting the family. 262-392-4251
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To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Candice J CULLEN, please visit our floral store.
ProHealth Cancer Center
N16W24131 Riverwood Drive, Waukesha WI 53188
Tel: 1-262-696-0909