* Carol Mae Hulce; 40-Year Ventura Resident

Carol Mae Hulce, a 40-year resident of Ventura and a volunteer with the Ventura County Medical Center Auxiliary, died Wednesday in Colorado Springs, Colo., after a lengthy illness. She was 65.

She was born Dec. 11, 1931, in Sioux City, Iowa, and attended school there. In 1953, she married childhood friend Robert Hulce.

“Friends in the neighborhood is how it started, and then it blossomed into love,� he said.

They started a family, and in 1956 the Hulces moved to Ventura.

Carol Hulce had worked as a gift wrapper at the Broadway department store, said her daughter, Nancy M. Melendez of Aurora, Colo. From 1988 to 1993, Hulce was a cook for the medical center auxiliary.

Hulce enjoyed bowling, crafting and needlepoint and had attended Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Ventura.

In addition to her husband and daughter, Hulce is survived by two other daughters, Deborah Cromwell of Colorado Springs and Susan Pridmore of Ventura; a son, Steven Hulce of Vancouver, Wash.; and five grandchildren.

Friends may call Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, and a memorial service will be held there Tuesday at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Larry Dowdell of Our Lady of the Assumption Church officiating. Burial will follow in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home.