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October 8, 2023
Services
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4-8 PM on Friday, October 13th, 2023, at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, October 14th, 2023, beginning at the funeral home at 9:30 AM with a 10:30 AM mass to follow at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church across the street. Following our mass, a burial will take place at St. Michael’s Cemetery, 120 Saddle River Road, South Hackensack, NJ 07606.
Stasia Elizabeth Skula, age 105 of Wayne, passed away on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at home surrounded by loving family members and friends.
Stasia was born in Passaic to parents Joseph and Catherine Siwiec before moving to Wallington, NJ. She was the second of six children. With both of her parents being immigrants from Poland to the United States, they had to work hard to feed so many mouths. This meant that Stasia and her siblings each had responsibilities with house-hold chores that they diligently kept up with. As a result, she and her siblings all became so close with one another that they created lasting relationships for the rest of their lives.
Stasia met her husband Emil after her sister Albina introduced the two. They found themselves falling in love and were married on December 29, 1940. Stasia and Emil found an apartment together, but in 1944 Emil was drafted into the United States Navy during World War II. Not knowing how long Emil would be gone and faced with the stark contrast of an empty home compared with her household of eight growing up, Stasia quickly made the decision to temporarily move back in with her siblings. Fortunately, Emil was able to return from the war a year and a half later and the two decided it was time to start a family together.
Stasia and Emil were blessed with three children: Emil Richard in 1946, Robert in 1948, and Debra Catherine in 1959. Stasia wanted her children to have a good education and a close relationship with God so Emil Richard and Robert were enrolled in St. Mary’s Grammar School for their education. Stasia belonged to St. Mary’s Church while they lived in Rutherford, and she even volunteered in the lunchroom there. Although her volunteer work was ultimately for altruistic reasons, Stasia did make use of her position by making sure her kids all ate their veggies and avoided the all-too-tempting sweets.
In 1959, God blessed Stasia with a daughter, Debbie. Debbie was diagnosed with Down syndrome and therefore required special attention. Stasia did all of that and more for her and the two quickly became inseparable. It was a major responsibility taking care of Debbie, but it was a labor of love for Stasia, and Debbie was a great helper and companion and brought her much joy. In 1960, Stasia and Emil realized that their expanded family needed a home to match them. They decided to build their dream home together in Packanack Lake, customizing everything from the layout and architecture all the way to the landscaping and everything in between. They made Wayne their home and became parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.
In 1982, Stasia lost the love of her life when Emil passed. Her close relationship with her family helped guide her through that challenging time. Her sisters also lost their respective loved ones, and it was their relationship with God and one another that helped them get through those tough times. They went on to travel the world: Aruba, Florida, Poland, Las Vegas, and California were just a few of the places they explored and enjoyed.
Stasia will be remembered for her patient, independent, and strong character (she drove her car until she was 100 years old!). She loved to host parties and cook everything from standard American food to stuffed cabbages and pierogies. And, she was an avid gardener. She was loving and held her family, her relationship with God, and her responsibilities as a homemaker and caregiver above all else. She took care of Debbie her whole life and made it one that Debbie loved. They had a mutual respect and understanding for one another that could only come from a lifelong bond. The two loved to shop, go to Atlantic City and play the slot machines, and vacation at the Jersey Shore over in Chadwick Beach. They were best friends until Debbie’s untimely passing in 2021.
Stasia is survived by her two children: Emil Richard Skula, Esq., and Robert Skula; and her four grandchildren: Joseph E. Skula, Steven R. Skula M.D., Robert E. Skula, and Thomas Skula.
She is predeceased by her husband Emil Skula; her daughter Debbie Skula; her parents: Joseph Siwiec, and Catherine Siwiec; and her siblings: Sophia Kerr, Albina Bulanda, Josephine Kocsis, Jean Popek, and Louis Siwiec.
If you are unable to attend the funeral mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, a livestream will be available at the following link: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4-8 PM on Friday, October 13th, 2023, at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, October 14th, 2023, beginning at the funeral home at 9:30 AM with a 10:30 AM mass to follow at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church across the street. Following our mass, a burial will take place at St. Michael’s Cemetery, 120 Saddle River Road, South Hackensack, NJ 07606.
October 8, 2023
Services
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4-8 PM on Friday, October 13th, 2023, at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, October 14th, 2023, beginning at the funeral home at 9:30 AM with a 10:30 AM mass to follow at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church across the street. Following our mass, a burial will take place at St. Michael’s Cemetery, 120 Saddle River Road, South Hackensack, NJ 07606.
Stasia Elizabeth Skula, age 105 of Wayne, passed away on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at home surrounded by loving family members and friends.
Stasia was born in Passaic to parents Joseph and Catherine Siwiec before moving to Wallington, NJ. She was the second of six children. With both of her parents being immigrants from Poland to the United States, they had to work hard to feed so many mouths. This meant that Stasia and her siblings each had responsibilities with house-hold chores that they diligently kept up with. As a result, she and her siblings all became so close with one another that they created lasting relationships for the rest of their lives.
Stasia met her husband Emil after her sister Albina introduced the two. They found themselves falling in love and were married on December 29, 1940. Stasia and Emil found an apartment together, but in 1944 Emil was drafted into the United States Navy during World War II. Not knowing how long Emil would be gone and faced with the stark contrast of an empty home compared with her household of eight growing up, Stasia quickly made the decision to temporarily move back in with her siblings. Fortunately, Emil was able to return from the war a year and a half later and the two decided it was time to start a family together.
Stasia and Emil were blessed with three children: Emil Richard in 1946, Robert in 1948, and Debra Catherine in 1959. Stasia wanted her children to have a good education and a close relationship with God so Emil Richard and Robert were enrolled in St. Mary’s Grammar School for their education. Stasia belonged to St. Mary’s Church while they lived in Rutherford, and she even volunteered in the lunchroom there. Although her volunteer work was ultimately for altruistic reasons, Stasia did make use of her position by making sure her kids all ate their veggies and avoided the all-too-tempting sweets.
In 1959, God blessed Stasia with a daughter, Debbie. Debbie was diagnosed with Down syndrome and therefore required special attention. Stasia did all of that and more for her and the two quickly became inseparable. It was a major responsibility taking care of Debbie, but it was a labor of love for Stasia, and Debbie was a great helper and companion and brought her much joy. In 1960, Stasia and Emil realized that their expanded family needed a home to match them. They decided to build their dream home together in Packanack Lake, customizing everything from the layout and architecture all the way to the landscaping and everything in between. They made Wayne their home and became parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.
In 1982, Stasia lost the love of her life when Emil passed. Her close relationship with her family helped guide her through that challenging time. Her sisters also lost their respective loved ones, and it was their relationship with God and one another that helped them get through those tough times. They went on to travel the world: Aruba, Florida, Poland, Las Vegas, and California were just a few of the places they explored and enjoyed.
Stasia will be remembered for her patient, independent, and strong character (she drove her car until she was 100 years old!). She loved to host parties and cook everything from standard American food to stuffed cabbages and pierogies. And, she was an avid gardener. She was loving and held her family, her relationship with God, and her responsibilities as a homemaker and caregiver above all else. She took care of Debbie her whole life and made it one that Debbie loved. They had a mutual respect and understanding for one another that could only come from a lifelong bond. The two loved to shop, go to Atlantic City and play the slot machines, and vacation at the Jersey Shore over in Chadwick Beach. They were best friends until Debbie’s untimely passing in 2021.
Stasia is survived by her two children: Emil Richard Skula, Esq., and Robert Skula; and her four grandchildren: Joseph E. Skula, Steven R. Skula M.D., Robert E. Skula, and Thomas Skula.
She is predeceased by her husband Emil Skula; her daughter Debbie Skula; her parents: Joseph Siwiec, and Catherine Siwiec; and her siblings: Sophia Kerr, Albina Bulanda, Josephine Kocsis, Jean Popek, and Louis Siwiec.
If you are unable to attend the funeral mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, a livestream will be available at the following link: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
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