Bernice V. Kruszewski, age 99, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 20, 2020, at Brandywine Living at Wall. She grew up in Philadelphia, PA, the daughter of parents who emigrated from Poland. She entered the Navy in 1942 as a radio operator, along with her brothers, one in the Army, another in the Navy. After the war, she attended Columbia University studying Nutrition. She married Dr. Edward Kruszewski and worked as his dental assistant in Chester, Pa. Edward joined the Army as a dentist, which allowed them to reside in Fort Benning, GA, Fort Meade, MD, Albuquerque, NM, Stuttgart, Germany; Orly, France, Okinawa, and Hawaii where she resided for several years.
She was a true patriot who never forgot the perfect salute in her later years. She moved back to the mainland in 2007 and spent time between Florida and Spring Lake. She was a colon cancer and just recently, a Covid-19 survivor. She was fun-loving and independent, who had a quick wit that astonished us many times. She attended Mass regularly and loved to pray the rosary.
She was predeceased by her husband Edward Kruszewski, parents, Victor and Vincenta Ratkiewicz, sisters Pearl Peszka (husband Benedict), Josephine Ratkiewicz, brothers Alphonse and Victor Ratkiewicz. She is survived by nieces, Pearl Marie Peszka Fitzgerald, Gloria Peszka Auch, Adrienne Ratkiewicz, nephews Benedict Peszka (wife Jeanne Dixon Peszka), Raymond & Joseph Ratkiewicz. She is also, survived by grand-nephew Harold Auch III (wife Natalie Shin Auch), grand-nieces Stacy Auch, Kristin Peszka Morrison (husband Brian), Jennifer Peszka Mastin (husband David), and eight great-grand nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Catharine's Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. It will be live-streamed on their website: http://www.Stcatharine-stmargaret.org
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made in her memory to the Spring Lake Community House www.springlaketheatre.com/makeagift 300 Madison Ave, Spring Lake, NJ 07762 or a charity of your choice.