Obituary for Hope Cullen Rood
Hope Thompson Cullen Rood, 89, passed away on September 22, 2022, in her Spring Township home surrounded by her loving family after a brief illness. She was the daughter of Hervey and Priscilla Thompson.
Born in Stamford, CT, and raised in Greenwich, CT, Hope attended Greenwich Country Day School and graduated from Garrison Forest School in Baltimore, MD, in 1951. She matriculated into Vassar College in that same year. As was typical of her generation, she left college and married John N. Cullen, Sr., her first husband of 29 years, whom she met at her older sister’s wedding.
An honorary member of Vassar’s Class of 1955, education remained important to Hope throughout her life and she went on to earn a degree in Social Work from Alvernia University in the 1970’s, a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Millersville University in the early 1980’s, and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Temple University in the late 1980’s. In her later years she enjoyed numerous educational trips with the Berks Art Alliance and with several elder hostel programs.
When Hope entered the work world, she did so with the intention of helping children with special needs as a means of giving back for being blessed with ten healthy children of her own. She was employed by the Berks County Intermediate Unit for 15 years as a social worker and ended her career with the Governor Mifflin School District as a learning support teacher at Cumru Elementary.
Hope retired to Lewes, DE with her second husband of 27 years, Harold E. Rood, before returning to Berks County to be closer to her children in her twilight years. She was predeceased by John, Harold, and her sister, Diana Oldham. She is survived by her children from her first marriage: Priscilla Kovalsky, widow of Kenneth Kovalsky, M.D., Bonita Springs, FL; John Cullen, spouse of Susan Denaro, Wyomissing, PA; Jeffrey Cullen, Wyomissing, PA; David Cullen, spouse of Jill Haley, Exeter Township, PA; Hope Cullen, Bethesda, MD; Virginia Rush, spouse of Jeffrey Rush, Wyomissing, PA; Peter Cullen, partner of Polly Barr, Atlanta, GA; Mark Cullen, M.D., spouse of Michelle Cullen, M.D., Dover, NH; Matthew Cullen, spouse of Kerry Cullen, West Reading, PA; and Sarah Reed, spouse of Matthew Reed, Blandon, PA. Hope is also survived by seventeen grandchildren.
Her membership in the following groups and associations enriched her life: AAUW, Berks Art Alliance, Rehoboth Art League, MENSA, Mayflower Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Pennside Presbyterian Church where she was a member of the choir. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory be sent to Pennside Presbyterian Church, 253 N. 25th Street, Reading, or the Berks Art Alliance, 3000 Penn Avenue, West Lawn, PA.
Hope will be remembered for her creativity and love of the arts, for her generous and endless devotion to family, and for her ability to spread sunshine and make friends everywhere she went. A memorial service to commemorate her remarkable life will be held on October 29, 2022, promptly at 10:00 a.m. at the Pennside Presbyterian Church. Friends may call at the church the hour before. The service will be live-streamed. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc. is entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.
Born in Stamford, CT, and raised in Greenwich, CT, Hope attended Greenwich Country Day School and graduated from Garrison Forest School in Baltimore, MD, in 1951. She matriculated into Vassar College in that same year. As was typical of her generation, she left college and married John N. Cullen, Sr., her first husband of 29 years, whom she met at her older sister’s wedding.
An honorary member of Vassar’s Class of 1955, education remained important to Hope throughout her life and she went on to earn a degree in Social Work from Alvernia University in the 1970’s, a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Millersville University in the early 1980’s, and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Temple University in the late 1980’s. In her later years she enjoyed numerous educational trips with the Berks Art Alliance and with several elder hostel programs.
When Hope entered the work world, she did so with the intention of helping children with special needs as a means of giving back for being blessed with ten healthy children of her own. She was employed by the Berks County Intermediate Unit for 15 years as a social worker and ended her career with the Governor Mifflin School District as a learning support teacher at Cumru Elementary.
Hope retired to Lewes, DE with her second husband of 27 years, Harold E. Rood, before returning to Berks County to be closer to her children in her twilight years. She was predeceased by John, Harold, and her sister, Diana Oldham. She is survived by her children from her first marriage: Priscilla Kovalsky, widow of Kenneth Kovalsky, M.D., Bonita Springs, FL; John Cullen, spouse of Susan Denaro, Wyomissing, PA; Jeffrey Cullen, Wyomissing, PA; David Cullen, spouse of Jill Haley, Exeter Township, PA; Hope Cullen, Bethesda, MD; Virginia Rush, spouse of Jeffrey Rush, Wyomissing, PA; Peter Cullen, partner of Polly Barr, Atlanta, GA; Mark Cullen, M.D., spouse of Michelle Cullen, M.D., Dover, NH; Matthew Cullen, spouse of Kerry Cullen, West Reading, PA; and Sarah Reed, spouse of Matthew Reed, Blandon, PA. Hope is also survived by seventeen grandchildren.
Her membership in the following groups and associations enriched her life: AAUW, Berks Art Alliance, Rehoboth Art League, MENSA, Mayflower Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Pennside Presbyterian Church where she was a member of the choir. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory be sent to Pennside Presbyterian Church, 253 N. 25th Street, Reading, or the Berks Art Alliance, 3000 Penn Avenue, West Lawn, PA.
Hope will be remembered for her creativity and love of the arts, for her generous and endless devotion to family, and for her ability to spread sunshine and make friends everywhere she went. A memorial service to commemorate her remarkable life will be held on October 29, 2022, promptly at 10:00 a.m. at the Pennside Presbyterian Church. Friends may call at the church the hour before. The service will be live-streamed. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc. is entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.