Celine Ruskowski

TRAVERSE CITY — Celine Therese (Lukasiewicz) Ruskowski, 84, of Traverse City, died Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.Celine was born on Tuesday, March 15, 1927, to the late Joseph and Agnes (Konczal) Lukasiewicz in Detroit. On Wednesday, Jan. 16, 1954, she married Anthony Ruskowski in Detroit and together they raised their family of six children. He preceded her in death on Oct. 18, 2000. Celine attended St. Thomas grade school and Nativity High School in Detroit. She worked for Hinckley Insurance in Detroit prior to having her six children. She and her husband later moved to Mesick where Celine was employed at Mesick High School as secretary to the principal and was known to all there as Mrs. R. She enjoyed her time at the high school and always had fond memories of the many students and teachers she knew.Celine was a longtime member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven parish in Detroit, later at St. Ann's Parish in Cadillac and most recently at St. Francis Catholic Church in Traverse City, where she served on the funeral luncheon committee. She was dedicated and active in all three parishes and found solace in her faith.Celine's primary focus in life was her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her granddogs. She took delight in her family and was proud to talk about them whenever she could. She also enjoyed taking Amtrak trips with her husband, bargain shopping and trips to the casino.She is survived by her six children, Linda (Ruskowski) and Gregory Root, Anthony and Christine (Brown) Ruskowski, Gerard and Elisabeth (Gaff) Ruskowski, Ann Ruskowski, Paul and Anne (Miller) Ruskowski and Mary Beth (Ruskowski) and Michael Morgan. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Jessica (Michael) Dawson, Emily (Ben Harder) Kalis, Zachary (Elizabeth) Root, Gerard Ruskowski Jr., Anthony Joel Ruskowski, Ryan Ruskowski, Sally Ruskowski, Tim Ruskowski and Laura Ruskowski; three great-grandchildren, Isabelle Dawson, Lucas Dawson and Baby Root due in May 2012.Celine is also survived by her sisters, Maxine Hafeli, Aurelia Harris, Phyllis Krause, Emmerence Ratjyk and numerous nieces and nephews, and was preceded in death by her brother Joseph Lucas. Visitation for Celine will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at St. Francis Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. James Gardiner presiding. Burial will follow at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.The family asks that memorial contributions in Celine's name be directed to the Choir of St. Francis Catholic Church or to the Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation. Please share your memories of Celine with her family by way of her online guest book at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.The family is being served by The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

Celine Ruskowski

January 20, 2012