Jean Williams Kukucka

Smithfield – Jean Williams Kukucka, 80, passed away August 11, 2026, in Fairview Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Franklin, Virginia. Born on July 16, 1946, in Washington DC to the late Helen Hagan Daymude and the late Patrick Lennie Williams, she considered her stepfather, the late George Edward Daymude, her true “daddy.”

As a young girl, she spent several happy years at the Visitation Academy, a Catholic girl’s boarding school in Frederick, Maryland. After attending Wheaton High School, she spent her senior year at Frederick High and graduated in 1965.

In the early 1970s, she moved to the Tidewater area of Virginia, where she received her LPN license after graduating from Riverside Nursing School. Then after graduating magnum cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from Christopher Newport University, she attained her RN license. She spent many years as a dedicated nurse, both in hospitals and in private homes. Being a nurse was her true calling, and many people benefited from her loving care.

Always the star of any gathering, Jean adored jewelry and sparkled wherever she went. She had a lifelong passion for knowledge, with a particular interest in ancient Egypt, mythology, the arts, and international travel. Never one to sit idle, Jean was talented in many forms of art. Numerous brides trusted her to handcraft their floral bouquets and beautiful wedding veils. She loved ceramics, and her friends and family have been gifted her pieces over the years. Jean also had a lovely singing voice and was a former light opera society member. Decorating for Christmas and making each holiday as memorable as possible was one of her greatest joys. She also had a deep love for dogs, which she kept as pets for many years, and she supported organizations that provide support for all abused and neglected animals.

For much of her life, she dealt with health issues that at times caused her to be blunt, but at heart she was a sweet, gentle soul.

Among those who will miss her greatly and cherish her memory is her beloved husband of 49 years, Thomas Emil Kukucka; her sister, Joan Hopkins and brother-in-law Ralph Hopkins; niece, Deborah Henry (Brian) and daughters Olivia and Sydney; and nephew, Brandon Hopkins (Misou) and sons George and Kiên; along with many cousins and other extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the ASPCA or a local charity supporting abused and neglected animals. Or perform an act of kindness for an animal in Jean’s memory.

Services will be private.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org