Stella Rakoskie - Obituary

tella Caroline Rakoskie, 88, a 30-year resident of Davidsonville, MD and previously of Hillcrest Heights, MD, died on September 22, 2009 at her home after a brief illness. Born on September 15, 1921 in Washington, PA, she was the seventh of nine children born to the late John and Rose Kurek. She left school early to help support her family, initially cleaning homes and later working as a quality control clerk at the Hazel Glass Factory in Washington, a job she held until her marriage on July 6, 1946 to Tony Rakoskie. As a Navy wife, she relocated frequently on the east and west coasts. While living in Washington, DC in the late 1940s, she worked as a seamstress for W&J Sloane where she had the opportunity to work on a team that decorated the White House during its renovation under President Truman. That experience set the stage for Stella to work for other decorators and operate her own business out of her home. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting and tatting, cooking, baking, gardening and canning, and listening and dancing to polka music. She collected Hummels, Duncan Miller glassware, angels and stuffed bears. And she had a passion for ironing, taking great pride in seeing her family in crisply starched and ironed clothes. But she always said her first love and greatest achievement was supporting and providing a comfortable home for her husband until his death in 1993 and her two sons. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville where she volunteered on the Lazarus Committee and as a collection counter. Her cheerfulness, sense of humor and strong constitution were an inspiration to both her family and her many friends. She is survived by her sons, Dean A. Rakoskie of Haymarket, VA and Donald L. Rakoskie of Davidsonville, MD; one sister, Mary W. Kish of Clinton, MD; one granddaughter, two great grandsons and several nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Kazmier, Stanley, Edward, Frank and Theodore Kurek, Julia Friend and Caroline Kurek, all of Washington, PA. Friends are invited to Stella's Life Celebration at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, September 28 at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, Davidsonville, MD. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, visitors to the funeral home may bring non-perishable food items, which will be donated to the local food pantry or make contributions to the Holy Family Catholic Church St. Vincent de Paul Society, 826 W. Central Ave, Davidsonville, MD 21035, to help the needy in the community. Please sign the online guest book using the link at the top of the page.