Kuhlman was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, on 3 October 1879. She was raised as a Lutheran but decided to convert to Catholicism when she was about 9 years old. It all began when she befriended a girl who attended St. Leo School. Inspired by her friend, Kuhlman decided to accompany her to the school, bringing along her younger sister, Millie, without informing their mother. They attended church together for two years, keeping it a secret from their mother and participating in various activities, including confession and daily Mass. One day, sensing her unfamiliarity with the sacraments, the priest asked if she was Catholic, and she confessed her situation. This saddened her, prompting her mother to take the children back to St. Leo’s and join them in converting to the Catholic faith.

At the age of 16, she was asked to teach her first Christian doctrine class as St. Leo School in North Side. She later taught religion classes for St. Mary Church in Lawrenceville, before her mother, sister, and two brothers moved to Mars in 1942.

Her mother, Mary, who was born in Germany, passed away in December 1952, aged 103.

At the age of 102, she continued to teach Christian doctrine in classes held at Saint Kilian Roman Catholic Church, imparting fundamental principles to children such as following God’s commandments, learning about Jesus’ virtues, and understanding the sacraments of the church. During that period, about 17 students regularly attended her weekly classes, which took place at her home near the church throughout the school year. At the time, she was still attending Mass every day at St. Kilian Church, also making a second daily visit to recite the rosary or the stations of the cross for those in need of prayers.

Kuhlman passed away in Mars, Pennsylvania, USA, on 13 December 1989, at the age of 110 years, 71 days.