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Feb. 5, 1951-June 14, 2024

Kay Kathleen Tularak, a devoted mother, grandmother, godmother, friend and lifelong teacher, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2024 at the age of 73.  She was born on Feb. 5, 1951 to Lloyd Randall and Kathryn Virginia (Sappington) Randall.  She graduated from Niles High School and went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Western Michigan University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University.  Kay converted to Catholicism in her early 20’s.

Kay is survived by her two sons, Phillip (Elina) and Stephen (Cristina) Tularak, and her grandkids;  Zoe Tularak, Sophia Tularak, Tuck Tularak, and Bodi Tularak, her sister Marcie Aurand, her nephew Wesley (Beth) Aurand, her niece Shelley (Zack Rossow) Aurand, her god-daughter Allie Conner, her dearest friend of 39 years Dawn Conner and a loving host of extended family and friends.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Sandy (Pat) Whiting, and Mary Ellen Hesser.

Kays’s greatest joy came from her family. She was a proud and doting grandmother to her four

grandchildren: Zoe Tularak, Sophia Tularak, Tuck Tularak, and Bodi Tularak. She cherished every moment spent with them, creating lasting memories through family gatherings, holiday traditions, and weekend adventures. Kay also had the special role of godmother to her dear goddaughter, Allie Conner, with whom she shared a close and loving bond. Kay loved doing everything or anything with Dawn Conner. They were like frick and frack. When you saw one you saw the other. Even upon retiring Kay helped Dawn in her classroom in large part so they could spend time together.

Kay dedicated her life to teaching, shaping the minds and hearts of countless students over her 45 year career. She taught for 28 years in the Niles Community School District and was proud to become the last principal at McKinley Elementary School in the Dowagiac. After “retiring” she  continued work in various schools in a variety of positions in the surrounding area for 11 years.  She officially retired in August of 2023.

In her spare time, Kay loved decorating her home. She had a keen eye and could put a room together with style. She also loved her flowers and always made sure every home she had was beautifully decorated with a variety of flowers and shrubs.
Kay’s wishes were to be cremated. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Kay will be dearly missed by all the lives she touched.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, July 7 at Orchard Hills Country Club in Buchanan, Michigan from 2 to 3 p.m.

Kay was a supporter of the American Cancer Society. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society – https://donate.cancer.org/