Sister Barbara (Florence Ann) Kukla, O.P.

Sister Barbara Kukla, O.P., 88, passed away at Siena Center, Racine on Sunday, September 7th, 2025.

Barbara Ann was born March 4, 1937 to Walter S. and Florence (nee: Keelan) Kukla in South Milwaukee, WI. On September 10, 1954 she joined the Racine Dominicans and at her reception in 1955 she was given the religious name Sister Florence Ann. She professed her first vows in 1957 and her final vows in 1963. In 1968 she returned to using her baptismal name, Barbara.

Sister Barbara spent many years in service to others in teaching, parish work, counseling and working as an art therapist. She began her ministry in 1958 at St. Joseph, Racine. Other places in Wisconsin where she served were St. Mary, Mineral Point; St. Mary Tomah; and St. Edward, Racine. From 1970-1977 while working at St. Patrick Parish, Racine she was also the Community Formation Director. She then did downtown campus ministry in Milwaukee before moving to Martinsburg, WV where she was a counselor and house manager at the Shenandoah Woman’s Center. After graduating from Ursuline College Cleveland, OH as an art therapist, she spent many years doing art therapy in Ohio and Racine. She became a resident at Siena Center in June 2018 where she continued to create art.

Sister Barbara is survived by the Racine Dominican Sisters and Associates; her brothers Michael and Mark Kukla. She was predeceased by her parents and her sisters Mary Spilger, Rosemary Schram and Sara Freund.

A Remembering Service will be at 8:45am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:15am in the Siena Center Chapel on Friday, September 12th. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery Hwy 32 on Monday September 15th, at 12:30pm. Memorials to the Racine Dominican Mission Outreach have been suggested.

The Racine Dominicans would like to extend their thanks to the Supportive Living and Hospice Alliance staff who cared for Sister Barbara at Siena Center.