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November 28, 2023
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 3:00-7:00 pm on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ. Funeral services will begin at 8:30 am on Monday, December 4, 2023, at the funeral home, and then move to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 580 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, at 9:30 am, where a funeral mass will be celebrated.
Interment will be in Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery, 172-00 Booth Memorial Ave, Flushing, NY.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Florence R. Mischuk (nee Zbytniewski), age 88, of Wayne NJ and formerly of Flushing, NY.
Florence passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, while receiving the loving care of her family. She was born and raised in Maspeth, NY, and was one of four children to Joseph and Helen Zbytniewski.
In her youth, Florence attended Bishop McDonnell High School in Brooklyn and graduated with the class of 1953. Following graduation, she was employed by American Airlines in the company’s Lost and Found Department and was often amused by the variety of lost items they collected. As an employee of the airline, Florence received the benefit of free airfare, which helped spur her love of travel and adventure.
In 1954, she caught the eye of a handsome American Navy Veteran named Myron Mischuk, while attending a Catholic Youth Organization dance. Florence’s beauty and elegant sense of style, in addition to their shared faith and Polish heritage, encouraged Myron to ask her out on a date to White Castle, and as fate would have it, they fell in love and soon married. On August 6, 1955, they became husband and wife at St. Stanislaus Church in New York City, where her father was the organist. A reception at the Governor Clinton Hotel in Manhattan followed the ceremony.
The newlyweds settled in the Auburndale section of Flushing, NY, where they purchased a two-family home along with Florence’s sister Theresa and brother-in-law George. While living there, they welcomed their only child, their daughter Maria (who they nicknamed Mia), and Florence left her job to become a full-time homemaker. This was truly Florence’s calling and where she genuinely flourished. Florence poured her time, energy, and nurturing spirit into creating a supportive and loving environment for her daughter’s childhood. Once Mia set off to college, Florence, with pride and fulfillment, decided to reenter the workforce. She accepted a job with the Registrar department of St. John’s University in Queens, NY, and held this position until her retirement.
Florence was very creative and often enjoyed crafting and learning new skills such as piano and crocheting. As part of a family of accomplished musicians, artists, and performers, she developed a deep appreciation for music and art. She spent much of her life enjoying diverse genres of music, from classical to jazz to pop and beyond, each resonating in the walls of her home. Florence loved to dance, and she and Myron continued perfecting their Lindy Hop dance moves at such events as the Kosciusko Foundation Balls and the Cresthaven Yacht Club socials. She was a devotee of Big Band music and Broadway Musicals and enjoyed creating elaborate décor for theme parties she and her family hosted in the rumpus room of their home. She became known for entertaining with style and for her perfect Manhattan cocktails.
Florence and Myron also found great joy in traveling the world. Some of their destinations included Hawaii, Poland, Germany, Bermuda, England, and France, as well as many US tourist locations.
Above all, Florence’s greatest passion in life was for her family. Nothing in the world meant more to her than providing for and spending time with her friends and family. She was a truly devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and godmother. Florence and Myron cherished thirty-four years of loving and loyal marriage until Myron’s passing in 1989, after which she took on the role of caregiver for her mother in her advanced age and for her sister when she became ill.
Florence was not only devoted to her family, but also to her Catholic faith. While residing in Queens, she and her family were parishioners of St. Kevin’s RC Church. In addition, she had been a hostess at the 1964 World’s Fair Vatican Pavilion exhibit, where she was among those who gave tours to bishops, actors, politicians, and the public. After the passing of her sister, she moved to Wayne, NJ, to be near her daughter and son-in-law and help raise her granddaughter, Stephanie. There, Florence became a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, where she relished the liturgical music of Warren Helms so much, she became a contributor to the funding of the church’s new organ and her name appears on the plaque of donors.
Florence will be forever remembered as a woman truly dedicated to her family and faith, and as one who always had a smile on her face. She will be sincerely missed by all who knew her, especially her daughter who confirms that she was the most sincere listener and shoulder to lean on.
Florence is survived by her daughter Maria “Mia” Mischuk-O’Brien and her husband William of Wayne, NJ, her brother John Zbytniewski and his wife Natalie of Southold, NY, one granddaughter Stephanie O’Brien, several godchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. Florence was predeceased by her husband Myron Mischuk, her grandson Brendan O’Brien, her sister Theresa Cognard, and her brother Joseph Zbytniewski.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Florence’s name may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family from 3:00-7:00 pm on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ. Funeral services will begin at 8:30 am on Monday, December 4, 2023, at the funeral home, and then move to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 580 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, at 9:30 am, where a funeral mass will be celebrated.
Interment will be in Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery, 172-00 Booth Memorial Ave, Flushing, NY.
November 28, 2023
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 3:00-7:00 pm on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ. Funeral services will begin at 8:30 am on Monday, December 4, 2023, at the funeral home, and then move to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 580 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, at 9:30 am, where a funeral mass will be celebrated.
Interment will be in Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery, 172-00 Booth Memorial Ave, Flushing, NY.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Florence R. Mischuk (nee Zbytniewski), age 88, of Wayne NJ and formerly of Flushing, NY.
Florence passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, while receiving the loving care of her family. She was born and raised in Maspeth, NY, and was one of four children to Joseph and Helen Zbytniewski.
In her youth, Florence attended Bishop McDonnell High School in Brooklyn and graduated with the class of 1953. Following graduation, she was employed by American Airlines in the company’s Lost and Found Department and was often amused by the variety of lost items they collected. As an employee of the airline, Florence received the benefit of free airfare, which helped spur her love of travel and adventure.
In 1954, she caught the eye of a handsome American Navy Veteran named Myron Mischuk, while attending a Catholic Youth Organization dance. Florence’s beauty and elegant sense of style, in addition to their shared faith and Polish heritage, encouraged Myron to ask her out on a date to White Castle, and as fate would have it, they fell in love and soon married. On August 6, 1955, they became husband and wife at St. Stanislaus Church in New York City, where her father was the organist. A reception at the Governor Clinton Hotel in Manhattan followed the ceremony.
The newlyweds settled in the Auburndale section of Flushing, NY, where they purchased a two-family home along with Florence’s sister Theresa and brother-in-law George. While living there, they welcomed their only child, their daughter Maria (who they nicknamed Mia), and Florence left her job to become a full-time homemaker. This was truly Florence’s calling and where she genuinely flourished. Florence poured her time, energy, and nurturing spirit into creating a supportive and loving environment for her daughter’s childhood. Once Mia set off to college, Florence, with pride and fulfillment, decided to reenter the workforce. She accepted a job with the Registrar department of St. John’s University in Queens, NY, and held this position until her retirement.
Florence was very creative and often enjoyed crafting and learning new skills such as piano and crocheting. As part of a family of accomplished musicians, artists, and performers, she developed a deep appreciation for music and art. She spent much of her life enjoying diverse genres of music, from classical to jazz to pop and beyond, each resonating in the walls of her home. Florence loved to dance, and she and Myron continued perfecting their Lindy Hop dance moves at such events as the Kosciusko Foundation Balls and the Cresthaven Yacht Club socials. She was a devotee of Big Band music and Broadway Musicals and enjoyed creating elaborate décor for theme parties she and her family hosted in the rumpus room of their home. She became known for entertaining with style and for her perfect Manhattan cocktails.
Florence and Myron also found great joy in traveling the world. Some of their destinations included Hawaii, Poland, Germany, Bermuda, England, and France, as well as many US tourist locations.
Above all, Florence’s greatest passion in life was for her family. Nothing in the world meant more to her than providing for and spending time with her friends and family. She was a truly devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and godmother. Florence and Myron cherished thirty-four years of loving and loyal marriage until Myron’s passing in 1989, after which she took on the role of caregiver for her mother in her advanced age and for her sister when she became ill.
Florence was not only devoted to her family, but also to her Catholic faith. While residing in Queens, she and her family were parishioners of St. Kevin’s RC Church. In addition, she had been a hostess at the 1964 World’s Fair Vatican Pavilion exhibit, where she was among those who gave tours to bishops, actors, politicians, and the public. After the passing of her sister, she moved to Wayne, NJ, to be near her daughter and son-in-law and help raise her granddaughter, Stephanie. There, Florence became a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, where she relished the liturgical music of Warren Helms so much, she became a contributor to the funding of the church’s new organ and her name appears on the plaque of donors.
Florence will be forever remembered as a woman truly dedicated to her family and faith, and as one who always had a smile on her face. She will be sincerely missed by all who knew her, especially her daughter who confirms that she was the most sincere listener and shoulder to lean on.
Florence is survived by her daughter Maria “Mia” Mischuk-O’Brien and her husband William of Wayne, NJ, her brother John Zbytniewski and his wife Natalie of Southold, NY, one granddaughter Stephanie O’Brien, several godchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. Florence was predeceased by her husband Myron Mischuk, her grandson Brendan O’Brien, her sister Theresa Cognard, and her brother Joseph Zbytniewski.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Florence’s name may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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