Brita Moller Batts Puckett

Brita Moller Batts Puckett, 83, passed away on April 20, 2013 at Mary Immaculate Hospital. Born on April 7, 1930, in Esbjerg, Denmark, she was raised in Copenhagen, which included the time of German occupation of her favorite city. Brita was a strong willed, brave young woman who crossed the Atlantic on a freighter in 1951 to visit two uncles who had emigrated to the US and lived in Newport News. She went back to Denmark but then decided to return to America in 1952 to stay. She began working at the old Miller and Rhoads Department Store in Newmarket Shopping Center in the mid 1960's and retired as a divisional manager at the Newmarket North location. She was a Lutheran and was one of the original members of Hope Lutheran Church in Hampton. Upon retirement, she and her husband, L.H. Puckett, built a wonderful home on acreage in Capahosic in Gloucester, where she tended gorgeous gardens and played with her beloved long haired dachshunds, Mitzi and Baron. She returned to the Peninsula in 2000 after the death of her husband and lived in Yorktown until her passing.

Predeceased by husbands, Robert (Bob) Batts and L.H. Puckett, as well as half brothers, Birger and Otto Tolstrup of Denmark. Brita is survived by her daughter, Sheila Batts Majka and her husband, Jim of Seaford. She is also survived by her beloved granddaughter, Christina Majka and her husband, Mike Watkins of Newport News. Christina was "Nana's" favorite dining out companion, the person who understood "Nana" better than anyone else on earth, and the absolute light of her life. Mike loved her like she was his own grandmother and would do anything for her. Additional survivors include stepdaughter, Pam Pavlik and her husband, Steve, their sons, Paul (Kristal) and Alan (Emily) and youngest family member, Pete, stepson, L.H. Puckett and his wife, Jane and their children, Meg and Lucas, plus her extended family in Denmark. We would like to thank the 3rd floor telemetry/hospice staff at Mary Immaculate Hospital for their overwhelming kindness and care shown to all of us for Brita's last twelve days.

A private graveside service will be conducted at Parklawn Memorial Park, followed by a family gathering at IHOP, Brita's favorite late lunch stop this past year. She is now with L.H., Mitzi, and Baron in heaven, and we know that she received an enthusiastic greeting of "Hey Babe!" from L.H. upon her arrival.

We will miss her independence. integrity, strength, and courage and hope that these qualities have been passed to all of us to sustain us during this time. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the ASPCA or the Humane Society of Virginia.

Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family.

Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armisted Avenue, Hampton, VA 23666.