Erna Cucurull

Erna Cucurull, 93, died of natural causes on June 29th, 2024 in Anchorage, Alaska.One of eight children, Erna was born on April 2, 1931 in Weidenhausen, Germany, to Heinrich and Christina Muller. Although the loss and trauma of her early years would remain with her throughout her life - Erna somehow managed to remain joyful, positive and forward thinking. Erna was soft-spoken but people were immediately drawn in by her warmth, honesty, and sincerity.Erna was no stranger to hard work, and she began working at a very early age. It was at one of her first jobs as a housekeeper for an American military family that she met her future husband, and after this improbable meeting and romance, Erna married Philip J. Cucurull in 1952. This joyous union lasted until his passing in 2000. Phil’s military career included numerous US and foreign postings and during this time Erna discovered her love of travel and sense of adventure. With each new posting Erna would find new jobs and acquire new job skills. She worked as a bank teller, childcare site manager, and retail salesperson then manager.New postings were also accompanied by the birth of sons including Daniel in Virginia, David, in a return to Germany, and James in San Francisco. Erna had desperately wanted a daughter but at that point felt unwilling to take another chance! To her children, it was in motherhood that Erna transcended all else. She embodied unconditional love and loyalty and seemed incapable of putting her needs before those of her offspring.The war years made it impossible for Erna to receive a complete and formal education, but this did not deter her natural inquisitiveness or desire to learn. She taught herself English (on the job no less) and throughout her life she was a voracious reader. Her “try anything” approach had her learning to ski from the legendary Hans Metz, becoming an ardent golfer and golf course resident, an outdoors and fishing enthusiast, and keen-eyed interior decorator.Most likely due to childhood malnutrition and want, Erna became an accomplished cook and was completely comfortable crafting classic recipes in European, Asian, Latin, and American cuisine – as well as creating her own dishes. The excellence of her cooking was such that in the 70’s the friends of her teenage sons would allow her to cut their hair in exchange for meals!Erna had an impeccable sense of style and fashion. Her eye for color, fabric and quality set her apart; she innately understood the difference between fashion and fad and could find a way to achieve the desired results without an unlimited budget. Her keen eye was also evident in her abilities as an interior decorator and landscaper, and she truly enjoyed applying these skills as often as she could.Erna is survived by her son Jim and partner LeAnne, brothers Horst and Hans-Dieter, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as many wonderful friends. Erna was preceded in death by her husband Philip, sons Daniel and David, father Heinrich, mother Christina, brother Karl, and sisters Annalise, Gerrtrude, Maria and Irmgard.Erna will be interred at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery along with her husband and sons, and at her request no services are planned. In lieu of cards or flowers, please consider donating to the cause or charity of your choice. Arrangements for Erna's remains were made by the Cremation Society of Alaska.