Pauline Ann (Chalupka) Kretchek of Wilmington, OH, who passed away on May 27, 2024, at the age of 88.

Pauline, born November 25, 1935, in Sharon, PA, was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Pauline and her late husband, John, of 68 years, lived in a peaceful home they built in Wilmington, OH surrounded by serene woods. There, they enjoyed their gardens, feeding the birds, and hosting her family.

Pauline was a passionate and skilled self-taught creative person who enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking, baking, sewing, and crafting. She often hosted many friends and family at her home to share a meal of her infamous spaghetti and meatballs, to work together on a craft project, or to play a game of scrabble. Pauline instilled in her family that they could do anything they set their mind to, much as she had. "No one ever told me I couldn't" was a phrase she loved to use frequently to motivate family to follow their dreams or reassure them in times of uncertainty. Pauline never shied away from a new idea or project because she knew she could figure it out. That was evident by all of the handmade pieces that filled her home, inside and out, as well as countless quilts and dresses she made and gifted over the years. She led by example and inspired her family to always try, regardless of fears of failure.

Her family would tell you that she was everyone's biggest cheerleader, and her lessons in accepting others' differences and hard work did not go unheard of by anyone who had the pleasure of spending time with her. She will be missed by all who know her, but her kind spirit and life lessons will not be forgotten.

Pauline was preceded in death by her beloved husband John Kretchek, parents Paul and Susan Chalupka, sister Jean Edell, and son Larry Kretchek.

She was the proud mother of Mary (Dave) Gough, and Jack (Sandie) Kretchek; mother-in-law, Sandy (Larry) Kretchek; loving grandmother of Stefanie (Scott) Gough Wolf, Mike (Staci) Gough, Kristen (Peyton) Gough Nau, Jemmae Morgan, John Kretchek, Adam (Whitney) Kretchek, Alex (Carlos) Kretchek, Austin Kretchek, and Ashley (Anthony) Cardosi; great-grandmother of Charlotte Wolf, Chance White, Leon Tyman, McKenzie Morgan, Braydon Kretchek, Noah Kretchek, Addison Kretchek, Bli Kretchek, and Louie Cardosi; great-great-grandmother of Grayson Kretchek; Sister of Dorothy Goncz, Lillian Thurber, Suellen Burns, Ron Chalupka, and Mike Chalupka, who reside in Pennsylvania.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donation considerations to One Tree Planted, a non-profit organization aiming for reforestation around the world. For every dollar donated, one tree is planted. Visit, onetreeplanted.org

Pauline will be cremated and laid to rest at Clarksville Cemetery on June 6, 2024.

The funeral service will be held at 12pm on June 6, 2024, at Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home, 120 W Main St., Blanchester, Ohio, where friends will gather from 11am until the time of service.