Obituary: Joseph Kulaga, 14; Fairfield Resident

From the Spear-Miller Funeral Home

Joey Kulaga, 14, of Fairfield, beloved son of Dr.’s Mark and Ellen Kulaga, and cherished brother of Sarah and Grace Kulaga, passed away tragically in a motor vehicle accident Tuesday, December 29, 2015 in Virginia.

Born in Norwalk, Joey graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas Grammar School and was currently in his freshman year at Fairfield Prep where he was a member of the Crew Team.

Joey loved sports, especially baseball. He was a talented pitcher and known for his calm demeanor under pressure while on the mound. His teammates would often refer to him as having “ice in his veins” while he pitched, making him a formidable opponent. He played Fairfield American Little League and for the Fairfield Rage.

Joey was an avid New York Yankee and Giants fan. He was an altar server at St. Thomas Church where he loved serving Mass. Joey was a deep thinker, was thoughtful and kind and chose “Kindness” over “coolness.”

He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, classmates, teammates and friends whose lives he touched.

Survivors in addition to his parents and sisters include grandmothers, Margaret Doane of Kennebunk, ME and Jane Kulaga of Spring Lake, NJ; an uncle, Tod Doane and his wife Leandra of Mathews, VA; two aunts, Jo-Anne Harrell and her husband Jerome of Norfolk, VA and Patrice Ventura and her husband Paul of Spring Lake Heights, NJ; and several cousins. He was predeceased by his grandfathers, Kenneth Doane and Edward Kulaga.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, January 6, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. meeting directly at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Fairfield. Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield.

Friends may call Tuesday from 3-8 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to either St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1719 Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824 or to Fairfield American Little League, 857 Post Road, Box 361, Fairfield, CT 06824.

For information or to leave online condolences, visit the Spear Miller Funeral home here.