Barbara Jean Puchacz (previously Moody and née Carpenter) passed away at the age of 84 peacefully in her home in Fairview, Texas on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Born in Louisville, Kentucky on June 12, 1939, to George Carpenter, Sr. and Annetta Carpenter (née Daugherty), Barbara lived in many places across the southern U.S. including Georgia, southern Ohio, Texas and Florida finally settling in Fairview, Texas.
Barbara graduated from Sullivan University and enjoyed an exciting career. She trained herself the needed skills to become a switchboard operator for Cissell Manufacturing. Her last position was as the assistant to the vice president of conventions at KFC, helping to conduct some of the largest conventions of the time. Upon Barbara’s move with Ted to Dallas, she had a successful 20 year career as the Executive Assistant to the Presidents of Addison Bank, Republic Bank and Waste Management.
She was a loving and much loved mother to Danny, Kim and Melissa. As a young mother, she struggled and self-sacrificed to provide for her three children.
She married Theodore Sigmund Puchacz (“Ted”) on June 10, 1978, and they enjoyed 45 happy years together. Affectionately called BJ, Barbara was creative and enjoyed crafting. She had a keen eye for design and was an amazing hostess. She loved cruising, casinos and world travel. Barbara was a truly loving individual who was generously charitable and always took other people's feelings into account. She and Ted especially enjoyed spending time with their best friends Sheri and Don Steele.
Barbara is predeceased by her parents and siblings Nellie Bernice, Sarah Beaugh, James N. Carpenter, George Carpenter, Jr. (Butch) Sheila Lynn Gentry, and Theresa Sandman.
She is survived by her husband, Theodore Sigmund Puchacz of Fairview, Texas, her children Dan P. Moody of Louisville, Kentucky, Kimberly and Alan Prochnick of Plano, Texas and Melissa A. Oxentine of Taylorsville, North Carolina, as well as her grandchildren Shannon D. Hasenfratz Gardner, Staff Sergeant Dan Moody and wife Rachel, Jason Oxentine and wife Megan, Jeremy Oxentine, Heather Oxentine, 10 great grandchildren, and her sister Sergeant First Class Roberta Hardy of Brandon, Florida.
Visitation will be January 3, 2023, at 6:00 PM at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home located at 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, TX 75013.
The Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be held for Barbara Puchacz in the main chapel of St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 North Greenville Avenue, Allen, Texas 75002, on Thursday, January 4, 2023, at 10:00 am. The service will be presided over by Father Andrew Semler. Cremains will be present. A reception will immediately follow mass in the parish hall.
Following the reception, Barbara will be interred at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery at 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75211.
Memorial donations may be made in BJ’s name to the American Heart Association.