Veronica "Von" (Staszowski) Rusckowski

Veronica  ”Von” A. (Staszowski) Rusckowski, 93, of Torrington, CT, passed away Friday, August 15, 2014, at Litchfield Woods with her loving family by her side.  She was the wife of the late Henry J. Rusckowski.

Veronica was born November 18, 1920, in Winsted, CT, daughter of the late Joseph and Aniela (Trafidlo) Staszowski.  She worked as a telephone operator in the 1940’s, and then as a waitress at the Torrington Country Club, the Litchfield  Farm Shop,  Beverly’s Roaring 20’s in Bantam, Dee’s Deli and DeFranco’s Restaurant, retiring in her late 80’s.    She was a member of St. Mary’s Church and Guild, the Torrington Women’s Club, the North End Association and was an alumna of Gilbert School, in Winsted.  She was well known for her cooking, baking, gardening and for her vivacious personality.  She enjoyed the annual reunion of telephone company operators and also of the Gilbert School Alumni.

Von is survived by three children, John Rusckowski and his wife Rachel of Torrington, Dr. Mary Rusckowski and her longtime companion Willard Johnson of Southborough, MA,  Stephen Rusckowski and his wife Deb of Massachusetts and New York; four siblings, Stan Staszowski of Winsted, Janet Barnes of Simsbury, Josephine “Babe” Ochotnicky of Winsted, John  Stowe and his wife Marguerite of  Cincinnati, OH; a longtime friend and sister-in-law, Alice Staszowski;  a brother-in-law Stanley Ruszkowski and his wife Alina of West Hartford; three grandchildren, Benjamin Rusckowski (Melissa), Lauren Duprey (Jeremy), Joseph Rusckowski; one great grandchild, Owen Henry Rusckowski, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and many good friends.  She was preceded in death by one brother, Frank Staszowski; two sisters-in-law, Marge Staszowski, Aldona “Bunny” Staszowski; two brothers-in-law, L. Edward Barnes, Michael Ochotnicky and one nephew.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2014, with the cortege leaving at 10:00 a.m. from Cook Funeral Home, 82 Litchfield St., Torrington to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 160 Main St., Torrington, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m.  Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery.  Relatives and friends may call on Monday, August 18, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and also on Tuesday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at Cook Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Church, c/o The Pastoral Center, 160 Main St., Torrington, CT 06790.

Condolences may be sent to the Rusckowski family by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com