Margaret Kulik

Margaret Kulik, (nee Stefancik), age 92, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Friday, July, 3, 2020 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Margaret was born and raised in Passaic and was the older of two children to Michael and Mary Stefancik.  She was a member of a group in our society known of late as “The Greatest Generation.”  People of the Greatest Generation are people who grew up during the struggling times of the Great Depression and as young adults witnessed and fought for our country in the Second World War.  Marge graduated from High School with the class of 1945 and briefly attended a local secretarial school.  She then found work quickly at a local high school employed as a secretary.  She held this position until about 1949.  

While on a trip to the circus with her Uncle John and his wife Josie, she met a handsome young man (Josie’s brother) by the name of John Kulik.  The two sat apart at the circus but made a connection that would have Marge mailing him letters after he was sent overseas and serving in the Navy during World War II. Upon John’s return from the service, John took Marge to her high school prom and as fate would have it, they soon fell in love. After asking Marge’s parents for her hand in marriage they married at Saint Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Passaic on February 5, 1949 and honeymooned in Florida.

After getting married, Marge and John settled in Passaic and soon started their family in 1953 with the birth of Joanne.  It was time to move out to the country and expand their family so in 1956 they built a house in the Pines Lake section of Wayne the year Michael was born and in 1964 their third child Carol arrived.  John and Marge lived their entire lives in that house that they built.  Shortly after getting married and starting a family, Marge decided to become a full-time homemaker.  This was truly her calling and where she flourished.  She was everything her children could ask for in a Mother and more. She cared deeply about all of her children equally and gave them unconditional love.  She made sure her family had everything they needed and made a good life for them growing up in Pines Lake.

Over the years the Kulik house was filled with family and friends especially on Christmas and Russian Easters.  Marge enjoyed dancing, Jazzercise, and Aerobics, and was a member of the Seniors Follies of Wayne where she treasured performing on stage.  Throughout her life there were many family vacations to the Jersey shore and the big one in 1970 touring the United States in their family camper, a 9,000 mile journey.  Marge also cherished her visits to Florida for a few months in the winter to see her daughter Joanne, her son in law James and her grandson Jimmy.  While there, she would go bowling with Jimmy and never missed his baseball games.  When Marge’s daughter Carol would go on vacation, she and John would dog-sit their pet, Scrufty.  They would frequently take him for walks and truly considered him to be a part of the family.  Being a dancer and performer, it was no surprise that Marge was a fan of the show “Dancing with the Stars.”  She was fortunate enough to attend a touring production of the show at Continental Area along with her daughter Carol.  Marge looked forward to spending Christmas Eve’s with Michael’s family and all the great grandchildren dubbed “Chaos at the Kulik’s”.  Taking the group family photo of 17 all in the same jammies was always a challenge that she enjoyed being part of and then spending a more mellow Christmas day with Carol’s family.  She loved the Holidays.

On several occasions, when Joanne would visit from Florida, Joanne, Carol and Marge would spend a girl’s weekend together dining at Portobello’s Restaurant in Oakland, drinking Moscato wine and eating chocolate mousse cake.

She was a soft spoken lady and very private.  However, Marge was an extremely strong woman.  Not only was Marge dedicated to her family she was also devoted to her Orthodox Faith.  She and her family were members of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Wayne for many years.  She was a long time member of the Pines Lake Women’s Club, Wayne Elks Lodge and the Golden Age Club of Wayne as well.  Marge was devoted to her husband and her children and was adored by her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Marge and John were always on the sidelines watching Michael play soccer and ice hockey through high school and college.  They continued that same support for all five of their grand children attending the various sporting events that they were involved in.

Marge and John cherished sixty seven years of loving and loyal marriage together until John passing in 2016.  In her final 4 years Marge counted on her three children to assist her with shopping and driving her to doctors appointments. Michael assumed “the man of the house duties” to handle all of the things that John used to do. Joanne and Carol would call her almost daily to check up on her.  It was her children’s way of caring for the mother that they loved so much. She loved her independence and didn’t want to live anywhere but home.  People were amazing that she lived all alone and took care of herself until her passing.  Marge was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by everyone that knew her.

Margaret is survived by her son Michael Kulik and his wife Michelle of Kinnelon, two daughters, Joanne Ferrara and her husband James of Port St Lucie, FL, and Carol Bencivengo and her husband Peter of Flanders, NJ, one brother William Stefancik and his wife Virginia of Denville, five grandchildren; Matthew Kulik and his wife Sarah of Montville, Amanda Galluscio and her husband Robert of Kinnelon, Mark Kulik and his wife Samantha, James Ferrara of Port St Lucie, FL, Justin Bencivengo of Flanders, NJ, eight great grandchildren; Kaylee, Leah, Everly, Adalyn, Alivia, Austin, Maxton, Madisyn.  She was predeceased by her husband John Kulik in 2016.

Margaret will be laid to rest with her husband John Kulik in St Peter and Paul Cemetery, Saddle Brook, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Margaret’s name to Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 285, French Hill Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470.   https://www.heisrisen.org/