Maria Pucel

Maria (Jerovsek) Pucel, age 89, passed away peacefully Friday, July 31, 2026, surrounded by her family. Maria was born to Ivanka and John Jerovsek April 02, 1937 in present day Slovenia. Maria immigrated from Slovenia to the United States in 1961 settling in Chicago, Illinois where she worked as a seamstress. It was there that she met and married Robert Pucel and enjoyed 57 years of marriage before his death in 2020. After their marriage, they settled on the farm in Knox, IN where together they embraced the farm life. Maria was an excellent homemaker and enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking authentic Slovenian dishes, sewing our school clothes and serving food and drink to anyone who would visit her home. Her greatest joys were babies and children, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Knox, IN. Her faith was a guiding foundation her entire life. She was a beautiful example of sacrificial love to her family, always putting others before herself. She is survived by her children, Roberta (David) Krause, Joe (Jodi) Pucel, Terry (Lori) Pucel, her grandchildren, Brad Krause, Matt Krause, Jordan (Sarah) Pucel, Lindey (Tim) Johnson, Bobby (Michelle) Pucel, Becky (Matt) Roeder, Jonathan (Haley) Pucel, Emily (Zach) Abair, and Lauren (Quentin) McGaughey and 13 great grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by sister Boza Radoman, brother Philip (Milka) Jerovsek, sister-in-law Jozi Jerovsek and many nieces and nephews all of Slovenia. She is also survived by nieces, cousins and many extended family living in the area. In addition to her husband Robert and her parents, she was predeceased by sister Silva Jerovsek, brother John Jerovsek and an infant brother of Slovenia and by an aunt from Chicago IL and an aunt and uncle of Racine, WI Visitation will be held at Rannells Funeral Home 102 W. Davis Street Hamlet, IN 46532 on Monday August 10, 2026 from 11am until 12pm CDT. Following the visitation, Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church 406 E. Washington Street Knox, IN 46534 at 1pm CT followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery Hamlet, IN. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Vincent DePaul Society Knox, IN or Starke County Food Pantry 311 E. Culver Road Knox, IN 46534.

Maria Pucel

April 2, 1937 - July 31, 2026