Rita Patricia Kubek
October 28, 2014 - October 28, 2014
Obituary
Rita Kubek passed to her eternal home from Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI on October 28, 2014.
Rita was born December 29, 1926 in Depew (Buffalo), NY to Stanley and Mary Dombrowski . She grew up with brother Julie and sisters Jean, Laura, and Sylvia, all of whom predeceased her. Rita graduated high school at the age of sixteen and went to work for Gould Battery in Buffalo and then New Jersey during World War II. She was a “travelling businesswoman” before her time!
Rita married the late Rudy Kubek in 1951. Rudy and Rita were married 55 years and raised sons Gary and Jim in their Cheektowaga, NY home. While mothering her boys, Rita worked part time at Pumpernick ‘n Pastry Shoppe. When the boys left for college, she began working as church secretary for Resurrection Parish until her retirement in 1995. She stayed involved in the church’s activities as treasurer of annual lawn fetes and weekly bingo.
Rita is Mom to Gary Kubek of Short Hills, NJ and James (Jill) Kubek of Middleton, WI. She is Grandma to Jonathan Kubek (fiancé Jenn DiNicola) of New York, NY, Samuel (Becca) Kubek of Chicago, IL, Samantha Kubek of New York, NY and Allison Kubek of E. Lansing, MI. Rita is further survived by beloved “Buffalo family” members Alice Dombrowski, Ron Dombrowski, and Nancy Haas (Sam Belsito), as well as other more distant family.
The family would like to thank Rita’s Buffalo in-home caregivers, especially Jessica Matthews with whom Rita shared a special bond. The family is also most grateful to the wonderful staff at Artisan Memory Care in Middleton. You all enriched Rita’s life with your patient kindness as she struggled with dementia. Finally, thank you to everyone at Agrace who helped Rita and her family through her final journey.
For those who would like to make a gift in Rita’s memory, the family suggests the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance of WI, 517 N. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53705.
A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL & CREMATION CARE, 7435 University Ave, Middleton at 6:30 PM on Friday, November 21, 2014, with Monsignor Douglas Dushack officiating. Friends and family can begin to gather at 5:30 PM and are invited to stay for dinner following the service.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Avenue
(608)831-6761
Events
Memorial Gathering
Fri Nov 21, 2014 @ 6:30 PM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Photos
No photos of Rita have been shared yet.
Memories
RD
Ron Dombrowski
Other •
Some memories my mom and I share of Aunt Rita: having Christmas Eve at my house and enjoying the Wigilia dinner together. The evening started with the breaking of the oplatik (the bread of life) followed by a meatless dinner consisting of mushroom soup, fish, pierogis, beets, bread, plenty of deserts including chruskis, and coffee. Later the famous pinocle game would take place. Betting only a quarter until last year when it was raised to a dollar. And more card playing with Alice and the girls on Sunday afternoons. Aunt Rita was always great at cards; that's why Gary became a pro, just ask my neighbor Ray. I'll always remember the fun we had on our European trip. Those were the "Good Old Days" !!
Our Prayers are with you,
Sister in-law Alice & Nephew Ron Dombrowski
JE
Jess Em
Other •
I feel so privileged and blessed to have known Rita. Rita played many roles in my life from a surrogate mother to a close, dear friend. Rita was such a great friend! I always looked forward to my Sundays with her. I could mention something that was going on, and she'd always agree to go. My favorite was going down to the waterfront with her. One summer, she told me that she wanted to walk all the way to the pier, which I had extreme reservations about since it was a quite a long distance, but Rita was Rita and off we went! We did it! I couldn't believe it and we took breaks along the way, but we made it the entire way. Rita was also a magnet for little kids. They would always come up to her and I was always scared that we'd end up on the news with her trying to take one home! She loved little boys because they reminded her of when she had her little boys. We would often go to Glenn Falls and sit for hours watching the waterfall.... and the good looking men that would walk by! It was so peaceful and relaxing. We would talk about dating, her family and Rudy, and about life in general. I always knew I could get an honest opinion from Rita and I do dearly miss our conversations. Rita, je t'aimerai toujours! xoxoxo -Jess Matthews