Obituary for Stella Wolfe Rutkowski
Stella Rutkowski, 95, of Bridgeville, PA passed away peacefully on December 20, 2021 at Juniper Village at South Hills. Stella was born June 23, 1926 in Pittsburgh, PA and resided on the South Side during her early years. She was a graduate of South Side High School. Stella celebrated 59 years of marriage to Stanley Rutkowski, Jr. prior to his death in 2006. She was a member of St. Agatha Church and was an active member of the Christian Mothers. She also volunteered at St. Agatha’s School working in the library and cafeteria. After raising her family, Stella enjoyed secretarial work with Cigna Insurance and Black Box.
Stella’s humor and outgoing personality helped her make friends easily throughout her life. She was known for her cookie and cake baking skills and was a wonderful hostess for many holiday celebrations. Most recently she built loving relationships with her attentive caregivers at Juniper Village. She was always available to talk with them and regale them with her many stories from her lifetime…and in case they missed any details, she was happy to tell her stories again. Her storytelling is one of the most endearing memories of Stella that will last with us forever.
Stella is preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Rutkowski, Jr. and son James Rutkowski. She was the youngest member of her family and is preceded in death by her four sisters and one brother. Stella was a loving mother and grandmother and is survived by her daughters Linda (Joe) Leonardo, Kennesaw, GA, Karen (Robert) Kviklys, Marietta, GA, and son Thomas (Sue) Rutkowski, Cranberry, PA. She was also the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren Lori Leonardo, Kristy Leonardo Higdon, Melissa Leonardo Barris, Steven Kviklys, Alex Kviklys, Mychal Rutkowski, and Jayme Rutkowski, and two great grandchildren Jack Higdon, and Cameron Barris.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. After an 11:00 a.m. viewing at Beinhauer Fryer funeral home a blessing will be held at the funeral home at 12:00 p.m. followed by a burial service at St. Josephat’s cemetery on Glass Run Rd. in Pittsburgh.
In lieu of flowers a gift of remembrance can be made to Anova Healthcare System or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital Stella Wolfe Rutkowski Memorial.
Stella’s humor and outgoing personality helped her make friends easily throughout her life. She was known for her cookie and cake baking skills and was a wonderful hostess for many holiday celebrations. Most recently she built loving relationships with her attentive caregivers at Juniper Village. She was always available to talk with them and regale them with her many stories from her lifetime…and in case they missed any details, she was happy to tell her stories again. Her storytelling is one of the most endearing memories of Stella that will last with us forever.
Stella is preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Rutkowski, Jr. and son James Rutkowski. She was the youngest member of her family and is preceded in death by her four sisters and one brother. Stella was a loving mother and grandmother and is survived by her daughters Linda (Joe) Leonardo, Kennesaw, GA, Karen (Robert) Kviklys, Marietta, GA, and son Thomas (Sue) Rutkowski, Cranberry, PA. She was also the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren Lori Leonardo, Kristy Leonardo Higdon, Melissa Leonardo Barris, Steven Kviklys, Alex Kviklys, Mychal Rutkowski, and Jayme Rutkowski, and two great grandchildren Jack Higdon, and Cameron Barris.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. After an 11:00 a.m. viewing at Beinhauer Fryer funeral home a blessing will be held at the funeral home at 12:00 p.m. followed by a burial service at St. Josephat’s cemetery on Glass Run Rd. in Pittsburgh.
In lieu of flowers a gift of remembrance can be made to Anova Healthcare System or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital Stella Wolfe Rutkowski Memorial.