Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home

Kuzmiak, Stella M. age 87 of Newton, NJ passed away Saturday October 24^th, 2009 at the Belle Reve Senior Care Center Milford, PA. Born to Joseph and Mary (Walec) Szczur on January 2, 1922 in Passaic, NJ, Stella grew up there and settled in Wallington, NJ as the wife of Theodore (Ted) Kuzmiak, whom she married Feb. 17, 1946.

Together they built a family around Ted’s career as a CPA and Stella’s Homemaking skills. Mrs. Kuzmiak was a culinary artist, who specialized in the creation of desert items. Her confections were popular items at bake sales organized by involved parents at Wallington’s Sacred Heart School.

Mrs. Kuzmiak worked as an assistant librarian at Wallington’s Kennedy Library until she and Ted retired to Toms River, NJ in 1984. They shared the joys of retirement until Ted’s death in 1995. Stella moved to Newton in 2002 to facilitated familial visitation, participate in television commerce and complete crossword puzzles.

Mrs. Kuzmiak is survived by her three sons Robert of Mountain Lakes, Kenneth and his wife Jodi of Branchville, and Steven and his wife Diane of Newton. Stella is also survived by her three grandchildren Jason, Holly and Sarah.

Graveside funeral services will be held Thursday October 29^th, 2009 at 12:00 Noon in the St. Joseph Roman Catholic Cemetery Toms River, NJ. Visitation will be held Wednesday Oct. 28^th, 2009 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM in the Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home, 156 Main Street (Route 206) Newton, NJ. In lieu of flowers memorials in Stella’s memory may be made to the Karen Ann Quinlan Center of Home Hospice #99 Sparta Ave. Newton, NJ 07860.