Consolata Father Robert Viscardi, 67

The Consolata Missionaries, Somerset, commemorated deceased Consolata Father Robert Viscari with a special Mass and Rosary Nov. 15, their annual day of remembrance, at the Consolata Mission Center.

Father Viscardi, who spent 15 years on assignment in the Diocese of Metuchen, died Oct. 4 in Riverside, Calif., after a long bout with cancer. He was 67.

Born in Merate, Italy in 1936, he was ordained as a Consolata Missionary priest in 1963 and spent the first 10 years of his priesthood working in the missions in Kenya.

In 1976 he was assigned to the United States, where he served pastoral ministries in New York, North Carolina and Michigan. He worked hard to adapt to the American lifestyle and was proud to earn his U.S. citizenship in 1984.

In the diocese, he served the Consolata Fathers from 1985 to 2000, holding positions as director of the Mission Office, Consolata Regional Administrator, and director of the Mission Center.

Priest’s father, stepmother killed in hit and run

By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer

The father and stepmother of Father Joseph B. Szulwach, pastor of St. Lawrence Parish, Laurence Harbor, were killed in a hit-and-run accident in Brooksville, Fla. Nov. 10.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Father Szulwach’s father, Benjamin Szulwach, Nov. 17 in St. Lawrence Church. Burial was Nov. 18 in St. John Cemetery in Queens, N.Y.

Mr. Szulwach and his wife, Ruth, of Spring Hill, Fla., were hit by a car while crossing an intersection, said Sgt. Marvin Maeder of the Brooksville Police Department.

Mr. Szulwach died at the scene and Mrs. Szulwach died later at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Maeder said.

Mr. Szulwach, an Army infantryman during World War II and a recipient of the Purple Heart, and his wife had enjoyed a complimentary meal along with other veterans at the Golden Corral restaurant in honor of Veterans Day.

Father Szulwach said he married the couple, both 79, eight years ago. The previous spouses of both Benjamin and Ruth Szulwach had died about 10 years ago.

“This was so tragic because they had a wonderful life together,” Father Szulwach said.

Father Szulwach said he is putting his trust in God to help him through the ordeal.

The driver of the car that allegedly struck the Szulwachs, Donald E. Miller Jr., 23, of Brooksville, surrendered to police Nov. 15, Maeder said. Miller was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death and tampering with evidence, Maeder said. Miller is awaiting arraignment.

Miller had a green light when his car hit the Szulwachs, Maeder said.

Frederick T. Rusay, 83, father of diocesan priest

A Mass of Chistian Burial was celebrated Nov. 14 in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Sayreville, for Frederick T. Rusay. Mr. Rusay is the father of Father Leonard F. Rusay, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Whitehouse Station.

He died Nov. 11 at age 83 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick.

Mr. Rusay was a lifelong Sayreville resident. He was a communicant of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish and was also a member of the Seniors Club and the Holy Name Society there.

Before his retirement in 1983 he was employed as a plant supervisor by Algro Knitting Mills, Milltown, where he worked for 40 years. After his retirement, he was employed by Maliszewski and Spezzi Funeral Homes.

Mr. Rusay was a U.S. Army air corp veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific theater, and a past commander and honor guard member of the Sayreville Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 4699.

In addition to Father Rusay, he is survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Ann M. Rzucek; his son Mitch Rusay and his wife Diane of East Brunswick; and his grandsons Matthew and Mark Rusay of East Brunswick.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Maliszewski Memorial Home, Sayreville. Interment took place in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Sayreville.

Felician Sister Doris Marie Yakelewicz, 94

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Felician Sister Doris Marie Yakelewicz Oct. 22 in Our Lady of Lourdes Hall Chapel, Felician Sisters’ Infirmary, Lodi. Sister Doris Marie, who had taught in many Catholic schools throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Oklahoma, died Oct. 18 at age 94. She was a Felician Sister for 76 years.

The former Mary Yakelewicz was born in Trenton in 1909. She became a postulant of the Felician Sisters Community in 1927. She made her first profession of vows in 1930 and her final profession in 1936.

She was a graduate of Immaculate Conception High School and Immaculate Conception Junior College, both located in Lodi, and Seton Hall University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in education.

She taught in several schools located in what’s now the diocese, including St. Stanislaus School, Sayreville, from 1941-1942, 1947-1948 and again from 1957-1958. She also taught in St. Stephen School, Perth Amboy, from 1946-1947.

After a long career in education, Sister Doris Marie ministered at the provincial house in Lodi as a baker, chauffeur, manager of the Marian Wing and receptionist among other duties. During the last years of her life she was a resident of Our Lady of Lourdes Hall.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews.