Ann Golden Kirstukas

Ann Golden Kirstukas died on April 28th at Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville from complications following hip surgery. She was 88.

The former Ann Rosaleen Golden was born on January 31, 1932, in Baltimore, MD. Her father, Philip Eugene Golden, was an electrician with the Baltimore Streetcar system. Her mother, Mary Margaret Griffin Golden, loved working outside the home. Ann was born in Baltimore and raised on Wade Avenue in Catonsville. Along with her five sisters—Mary, Catherine, Margaret, Susan, and Sheila—she was one of the six “golden girls,” each one prettier, more graceful, and smarter than the next. At least that’s what she told us. Her sisters were her best friends.

She was a proud graduate of Seton High. She worked for the telephone company before meeting and marrying Sylvester (Kris) Kirstukas in 1959 with whom she recently celebrated their 60th anniversary together. Ann cherished being a stay-at-home mom and being active in her children’s activities. She loved being a den mother for the cub scouts and was always cheering her kids in football, baseball, wrestling, and track events. When her kids were into extracurricular activities in high school, she rejoined the workforce, first in retail at Hutzler’s department store and later in administrative work for the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab.

For Ann, Catonsville was the center of the universe. She occasionally traveled beyond its limits to visit family and friends, but she was always comfortable to return.   Her gift was connecting with people. An interaction with someone new often resulted in a new friend. Her children’s, nieces', and nephews' marriages further enlarged her already large family. The associated extended family members were welcomed into her clan and she loved them all. Her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving and she loved entertaining a huge crowd of family and friends. She and Kris would work all night to make sure the turkey was cooked perfectly, and they had plenty of home-cooked food, pumpkin and apple pie, football, and laughter. It is a special memory for all who attended.

She moved to Charlestown in 2009 and continued to live an active life. She loved playing cards, especially pinochle, volunteering at the Treasure Sale, and keeping active by walking around the property with Kris.

She was a long-time member of St. Mark’s Church in Catonsville, St. Paul Catholic Church in Ellicott City, and more recently Our Lady of the Angels at Charlestown.

She is survived by husband Kris, and their three children: Steve Kirstukas and Tina (Alex and Allison) of Avon, CT; Donna Kirstukas Noel and Billy (Will and Katie) of Oakton, VA; and Paul Kirstukas and Anne (Grant and John) of Timonium, MD. She is also survived by her sisters Peggy Cocco of Goodyear, AZ, and Susan Golden of St. Petersburg, FL.

A private family burial will be held at the New Cathedral Cemetery in Baltimore. The family plans to have a Memorial Mass at Our Lady of the Angels and a Celebration of Life reception when larger gatherings are again permitted.

Should friends desire, donations in Ann’s memory may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/ , or to Our Lady of the Angels at Charlestown, https://www.givecentral.org/appeals-form-registration/acp5e7b616962415/user/guest .