"When our time on this Earth is done, money or material things will not matter, but the Love, Time and Kindness we've given others will Shine and Live on Forever... "

STANLEY was a loving, caring, kind, and outgoing husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend to many. He joined his Lord, his beloved wife Gloria, siblings, family members, and many friends and acquaintances in heaven this past Tuesday, His kindness, warm-hearted feelings, support, and sincere love were shared by many throughout his life. Those whom he leaves behind will surely experience a bit of emptiness without Stanley to bring them daily joy and happiness.

Stanley led a simple, yet remarkable life. Born in the coal-mining town of Laredo, West Virginia, to first-generation Polish immigrants, he, and his older brother John, lived with their mother, through his high school graduation. His older sisters were all in New York City, to care for his sick father who was receiving special medical care.

Through high school, Stanley, and John, were star athletes on both the Man High School football and basketball teams. Being the younger brother, Stanley, as "Prep" would occasionally have to endure the "brotherly love" and unforgiving paddling by his "Senior" brother and other Varsity players in initiation "ceremonies" and other "rites of passage" for younger athletes. Stanley endured these challenges and matured as a Senior to be team captain in each of these sports. He loved to speak to anyone who would listen to his outstanding athletic achievements.

After graduation, Stanley was drafted by the U.S. Army where he proudly served our country 'in an administrative position (due to a restrictive medical condition) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. It was the day before being sent to Fort Knox when Stanley proudly proclaimed his only "night in jail". Registration was at the local sheriffs' post, where the Army bus would take recruits the next morning to their respective base, As no other accommodations were available, the kindly sheriff allowed Stanley to sleep on a cot in a jail cell. This was probably the most diabolical experience of a man who led such a wholesome and virtuous life.

After fulfilling his military duty, Stanley met up with his mother and sisters in New York. As prone to happen, while at Orchard Beach in the Bronx, young strapping Stanley was thunderstruck by the Venus-like and shapely figure of a young dark-haired Italian beauty, Gloria Ponzio. A beautiful and loving relationship quickly developed, and after being the "plus one" at three weddings at which Gloria was a bridesmaid, the inevitable proposal quickly followed. A church wedding date was set for late July. In anticipation and awaiting the upcoming nuptials, the young and anxious couple sought out their future domicile. Upon finding the perfect apartment, the soon-to-be newlyweds were dealt a devastating setback to their plans. As they went to sign the lease, the landlord, as required by NYC housing statutes, asked to see their marriage license. Although despaired by this untimely complication, the young couple, in fear of losing out on their dreamy abode, rushed to the county courthouse and took their wedding vows, under the witnessing supervision of total strangers.

Once satisfying the Housing Authority rules, Stanley and Gloria signed the lease and hurried to

Gloria's home in the Bronx where she resided with her charming, yet somewhat old-fashioned, Sicilian mother, Antoinette Ponzio. They were excited and anxious to announce their success in finding their future home. As tradition at that time required, the handsome young man lifted his lovely "new" bride and carried her into the living room of Mama Ponzio. Gloria's mom shockingly questioned how her daughter was "injured". Without a moment's hesitation, the young, handsome "newlywed" proclaimed that he and Gloria had gotten married that afternoon. Before any explanation could be made, Stanley became a victim of the wrath of an enraged Sicilian mother, who grabbed the biggest wooden spoon in her apartment and chased Stanley out the door proclaiming "You are not married until you are married before God in the Church. She quickly added that he would be subject to undetermined pain and suffering, should he present himself before the Church wedding date".

Fortunately, Stanley and Gloria had a heart-rendering traditional Italian wedding ceremony.

Eventually, the young couple moved to an available apartment in the small tenement building owned by Mama Ponzio. This was a quaint two-bedroom, one-bath unit, with the bath in the kitchen, "only three floors up" a steep and narrow staircase. A perfect honeymoon palace that would be home for more than ten years.

The young couple was blessed with two children, Stanley Jr. and his adorable baby sister, Anne Marie, "Cookie". Living in the same building as now "Nonna Ponzio", the young family became accustomed to the ever available, loving, and exceptional Italian cooking and babysitting availability. Sunday dinners with Nonna were a feastful and enjoyable experience.

Shortly after the passing of Nonna Ponzio, the young family moved to the suburbs of New York City, to the popular and highly regarded Long Island town of Plainview. Another son, Robert, was born filling out the Ruszkowski family.

For more than forty years, the family thrived in the endearing and family-friendly Plainview. Stanley was a great father and provider and worked at the same company as a bookkeeper and office manager, devoting more than 40 years to be rewarded as a partner in the business, including equity ownership.

Stanley always worked as a dedicated, hardworking, driven, and loyal employee for his job in Brooklyn, a commute of an hour plus twice each day. At times, he would put in sixteen plus hours doing part-time work, as an accountant/bookkeeper, to provide for his family's needs. Because of his tireless efforts, his family was never at want. He was truly an amazing and special husband, father, and friend to all.

He and Gloria were loving, caring, involved parents in their children's lives as they grew through high school, graduated from college, and moved to challenging careers in their chosen professions. He had much pride and gave incredible support to his kids' efforts.

For many years he was actively involved in coaching and supporting his kids in their sports and other endeavors. He had an incredible talent and ability to encourage and coach young athletes, in basketball and baseball. Most importantly, he served as a role model to his players, passing on significant life skills and impactful virtues and morality contributing to their maturity and personal growth. One year as coach of a high school age CYO basketball team, Stanley led his young men to the Long Island championship. This was a very proud moment for the former star athlete. To him winning was not the most important accomplishment, but rather the opportunity for the young men to recognize that hard work and dedication will overcome life's obstacles and challenges.

For more than fifty years, including the departure from home of their children, Stanley, and Gloria lived an enjoyable a fulfilling lifestyle. They were thriving through their retirement years when Gloria suffered a severe and devasting stroke. This resulted in her incapacity and a dramatic decline in her ability to verbally communicate effectively.

Stanley explored all available options and medical treatments, including placing Gloria in one of the finest care facilities on Long Island. Every day the committed and unwavering love and devotion for his wife motivated Stanley to visit and spend all allowable time with Gloria, sometimes more than 12 hours in a day. Each day he would attentively follow the treatments and professional care services provided by the acute care facility. After several months, Stanley believed he could provide the same, or better care, personally to Gloria.

At this point, he decided to bring her back to the home they had enjoyed and cherished for most of their lives together. This decision proved to be a significant and life-changing experience. Not only were they together 24/7, the devotion, care, and undeniable love grew.

Stanley's focus and attention were fully committed to Gloria to have the best life possible in spite of the impact on her abilities from the stroke. Daily care to assure his wife was cleansed, hair combed, and dressed appropriately for the day's activities and outings were facilitated by Stanley. Weekly trips to Jones Beach, family visits, visit to casinos, a enjoying meals with friends at their favorite diner became the normal routines as opposed to the exception. The commitment and devotion Stanley continuously blessed Gloria with an exceptional example of a man with outstanding and exceptional perseverance and passion that could be achieved by any man. His actions were in a way, truly angelic.

Stanley and Gloria eventually relocated to Georgia and pursued a new beginning. A lovely home was purchased in Canton, that Stanley proudly designated as "Gloria's Home". With significant live-in assistance from son Robert, his family and others, Stanley and Gloria were able to live a fulfilling and happy existence in Georgia. Unfortunately, for only few too many years, they continued to share their romantic and loving ways, until Gloria passed away to be in heaven with her Lord, her predeceased and greatly missed family members, and many other dearly departed friends.

Despite his strong will and undeniable independence, Stanley made a timely and wise decision to move to his new, assisted living home at Merrill Gardens. This proved to be a positive, invigorating, and life changing decision.

Stanley was readily accepted by his "new family" at Merrill Gardens, and undeniably became a cherished and much adored member of this incredible group of exceptional elder citizens. Stanley never hesitated to reach out, share friendly conversations, console those in need, and bring much joy (and occasionally frustrate his new family for his insistence on not wearing his hearing aids, and his endless retelling of the joys and experiences he so enjoyed with his loving Gloria). Undoubtedly, most residents have committed to memory "the Poem" sent to him by Gloria, as she vacationed with her family prior to their marriage. However the tolerance and respect given to Stanley by all of the residents and staff at Merrill Gardens, surely reflects the accepted love, caring mannerisms, and overall concern and goodwill to his beloved family at his final home. The passing of Stanley will surely leave an emptiness to the daily routines of those at Merrill Gardens. However the impact and deep affections Stanley displayed to all, will provide a message of hope, happiness, joy, and sincere love to his special family at Merrill Gardens.

Although Stanley lived his life vibrantly and with great passion, His passing will allow him to reunite with the most important and cherished person in his life, his dear and forever loving wife, Gloria. He awaited with great desire and anxiousness for the opportunity for them  to be together through eternity in Heaven. Now his wish has been fulfilled.

Stanley also shared a very close and personal loving relationship with his related family throughout his nearly 94 years on this Earth. He showed compassion, empathy, happiness, strength, passion, and love to all his family. He became the Ruszkowski Patriarch, as the oldest living member of the family.

Stanley was always cherished and adored by his core family members. His children; son Robert (and granddaughter Elara); his daughter Anne Marie "Cookie" (and husband Michael); his elder son, Stanley Jr, with his wife Karen (along with their sons Scotty (wife Susan) and Andrew (wife Erin) and their two most cherished boys – six year old Luke "Bear" and two year old Austin Stanley; all greatly loved and cherished their father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He will be sorely missed by all.

Other surviving family members include – nieces, nephews, their spouses, children, and grandchildren: Annette, Ernie and David; John, Toni, Matthew and Tara; Carolyn, Kenny Michel, Amy; Jerry and Beth, Jerry Jr, Paige and Amanda; Michael,Sherry, Michael Jr., and Jenny; John and Linda;Betty; and Emilio: Frankie, Kitty, Frankie Joe and Nancy. All of these were deeply touched and loved by Stanley.

In conclusion, Stanley had a wonderful and fulfilling life, which impacted so many with his kind and loving ways. He was a dear and incredible husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, and uncle to his family. He cherished and brought joy and happiness to all he encountered. He truly had a wonderful and meaningful life. His legacy will be remembered for years to come.

At the request of Stan Jr., Anne Marie "Cookie", and Robert, and in keeping with the spirit and values of Stanley Ruszkowski, Sr., we request in lieu of flowers or gifts, please do one of the following:

1. Donate to a meaningful charity of your choosing in the name of Stanley;
2. Perform a random act of kindness to someone in need.

STANLEY was a loving, caring, kind, giving, and positive individual who would always bring joy and happiness to all he met. Everyone that was a part of Stanley's life was important to him, and impacted him dearly, as he did to them with his sincere and admirable values and
morality.

Following are many of those whose life was changed for the better because of the love and caring attitude Stanley displayed. If someone who knew and was impacted by Stanley has been omitted below, please excuse this oversight, you WERE NOT OMITTED by Stanley, he
loved you, and considered you as part of his extended family:

STANLEY RUSZKOWSKI SR. FAMILY (All deceased): Mary and John (Mom and Dad); Sisters, Spouses and Children: Mary and Mario; Helen and Joe; Anne, Joe, and Sonia; Theresa and Tom, and Tommy, surviving children Jerry and Beth, Jerry, Paige and Amanda, Carolyn and Kenny and children; Jean and Frank; Violet and Jack; Brother John and Emily, surviving sons: John and Linda; Michael and Sherry, Michael and Jenny; Frankie and Kitty, Frankie Joe and Nancy (all living).

Karen's (Stan Jr wife) family: Mom and Dad, Lois and George, George, and Natalie (all deceased); Jim and Grace, their children and grandchildren: Mike and Becky, Ellen; Tim and Liz, Collin; Jim and Lindsey, Aiden and Lilly: Amy and Ben, Emily, Madison and Allison; Jennifer; David and Minda  Denzel), Bryant and Jessica, Kaiden and Tyler; Andrew and Carol (fiancé), Katie (daughter) and Amanda, Oliver and Adeline, Alex (son) and Kim  friend); Tom, Leslie and plan.

GLORIA RUSZKOWSKI FAMILY (All deceased): Antoinette and Anthony (Mom and Dad); Sisters, Spouses and Children: Lee and Mario, Emilio and daughter Christine (living); Richard and Maria; Mary and John; Rosie and John; Brother Tommy and Gloria, Michael, Surviving children - Susan,  Debbie and Thomas.

Michael's (Anne Marie's husband) Texas Family: Sister Stacy; Daughters, Spouses and Children: Amy and son Ryan; April and Joel, Annabelle, Maddox, and Mason; Adrienne and Jordan, Blake, and Camryn.

Erin's (Andrew's wife) Family: Robin and Bear (deceased) Mom and Dad; Kate and Dave, Caroline, and Emily; Darcy and Aaron, Colton; brother Ben.

Susan's (Scotty's wife) Family: Mary and Bo, Mom and Dad: Karen and Matt, Bo and Annie: Molly and Maggie.

Merrill Gardens: Frank (best friend), all his loving resident friends, all the supportive and special care kitchen and service staff, and the entire office and management team. You all were part of Stanley's special last home family. He loved and adored each of you.

Special Lifelong Friends and Neighbors: Mike and Gloria; daughters, Lorinda and Kerry' and Denise and Emery, and their children and grandchildren; Tess and Joe, and their daughters JoAnn and Elizabeth; the loving and friendly neighbors on Lane Avenue; All friends, acquaintances and others, everywhere in Plainview, the Bronx, West Virginia and throughout the world, who knew and loved Stanley Sr and his forever loving wife, Gloria.

Each of you made a big impact on Stanley's life and character, surely as he did on yours Stanley loved life, his loving Gloria, his children and their families, all other extended family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. He will be greatly missed by all. However, He is now
with the Love of His Life, Gloria, and his Lord.

Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at www.LakesideFuneralHomeGa.com .

Lakeside Funeral Home, 121 Claremore Drive, Woodstock, Ga 30188, Phone: 770-293-2757, is honored to assist The Ruszkowski Family.