Stanley Paul Jozefczyk

Stanley Paul Jozefczyk, age 90, of Mukilteo, Washington passed away on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

A recitation of the rosary for Stanley will be held Friday, June 7, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Evergreen Funeral Home, 4504 Broadway, Everett, WA 98203, followed by a visitation from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

A Memorial Mass for Stan and Rita will be held on Friday, June 28, 2024 at 11am at St. Mary Magdalen Parish, 8517 7th SVE SE, Everett WA 98208

Stanley and Rita Jozefczyk valued faith, family, and friends and strove to serve others. Because of COVID we were not able to recognize Rita in 2020 so we are honoring her now as we honor Stan.

Rita Mae Jozefczyk was born in Miles City, Montana on July 11, 1927. She was a resident of Mukilteo for 55 years, 51 of those at 1123 3rd Street where she enjoyed gardening and watching the birds and the sounds of children playing in Japanese Gulch.

Always an organized planner she noted in her 1992 funeral arrangements her memberships in Catholic Daughters, St. Vincent de Paul, VFW Auxillary, The Bookbinding Association, and the King County Herb Society. An avid reader she was curious about everything and was truly a lifelong learner. In the same plan Stan’s memberships were Knights of Columbus, VFW, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Polish National Alliance. He too approached life as a wonderful banquet to be savored. They were committed and involved members of St. Mary Magdalen Parish where Stan ushered.

Rita’s childhood had been spent all over her beloved Montana as she, her brother Robert, and her mother Violet followed her father Earl Davidson as he surveyed many of the projects which became the roadways of the state. Eventually the family settled in Tacoma where Rita graduated from Clover Park High School in 1945 and attended business school. During World War II, Earl was stationed on Guam and as a teenager Rita worked at the Mount Rainer Ordnance Depot at Fort Lewis. Later she was a key punch operator at Madigan Hospital. She recalled some of that time to Julie Muhlstein in the article ‘Slow dancing to memories’ published by the Everett Herald https://www.heraldnet.com/news/rita-jozefczyk-88-thinks-back-to-the-sacrifices-made-during-wwii/

Stan was born on July 23, 1933 into a large and loving Polish family in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up helping on the family’s 180 acre farm in Murrysville Pennsylvania. After graduating from Westinghouse Memorial High School in 1952, he enlisted in the Air Force and served four years as an aircraft engine mechanic for Air Sea Rescue in Japan and Taiwan. At the end of his service, he was stationed at McCord Air Force base. One night at the Blue Moon tavern in Tacoma he asked a lovely young woman to dance.

Married in 1957, Stan and Rita had 62 years of service and fun together. Proud holders of life time national park passes they were avid campers. In their infamous 1971 red and white Chevy van and trailer they crisscrossed the country including touring 28 states in 1990. Stan was known in the family as Moses for his ability to maneuver a rig in tricky conditions and always finding a parking spot including for their South Wind motor home in front of the Smithsonian Museum in D.C. They were proponents of slow travel - using blue highways and exploring any small town museum, scenic overlook, community festival, or historic site.

In 1988, Rita joined with Ed Peterson and others to convert part of what had been the Bethany Nursing Home into a shelter for homeless families. For many years her bumper sticker carried the Children’s Alliance motto “Who’s for Kids, who’s just kidding?”. Stan and Rita both volunteered for years with St. Vincent de Paul helping at the food bank and making home visits. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas they were involved with preparing food baskets and collecting Christmas presents. They were honored with the Top Hat Award by the North Sound Council for their many years of service. Even at 91 Rita wanted to help tie fleece blankets.

After Rita’s passing Stan was persuaded to come live with his daughter and granddaughter in their home a block away from where he and Rita had resided for 51 years. Shortly after Stan moved in Ann was able to locate a very important addition to the family. Poppins, a Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniel, joined the household. Stan had always had pets and loved having a puppy dog again.

Stan was delighted to again be working in the dirt, growing food with his Earth Box garden. He enjoyed 1000 piece puzzles and having a nonalcoholic beer with dinner. He loved watching the Seahawks and the Mariners, Rachel Maddow, SNL, Finding your Roots, Tell me More, and all the PBS dramas. Occasionally Clare and Ann had to tell him they needed to go to bed. Stan enjoyed a special connection with his cousin Evelyn Dzigiel. She had been the flower girl at his parent’s wedding. They exchanged cards and phone calls.

Stan faced many medical challenges but was determined to keep on living until the end. Thanks to the extraordinary care Stan received we were gifted with more time with him. We were able to honor his wish to remain at home with his family instead of needing to go into the hospital or a nursing home. He was able to enjoy life.

For his 90th birthday, he took a town car to the Mount Vernon theater for a Robert Cray concert. The following October he fell in love with the music of the Harlem Gospel Travelers when they performed in Edmonds. He celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter with family and friends. This spring he was able to plant peppers, tomatoes, snow peas, radishes and carrots. The Medically at Home program made all this possible. Special thanks to all their staff and to Doctors Dahlberg, Fankhauser, and Carli and to the wonderful Katie Uberti. Thank you also to Susie Free who always answered her phone and took care of whatever was necessary. Providence Home Health also took great care of Stan - thank you Scott, Adrien, Hannah, Leeann and Terri. Thank you to Pat and Margaret for their weekly visits and to our caregiver and friend Diana. Finally love and gratitude to the nurses who came daily especially Chris, Jamelia, Heidi, and our dear Collette.

Stan wanted the following in his obituary: He leaves behind his daughter, Ann and granddaughter, Clare and is preceded by his wife of 62 years Rita Mae and his infant daughter, Julia Rose. He had a great 90 years, spending his last days and moments with his daughter and granddaughter to whom he leaves all his love. “It was great while it lasted”.

Poppa it was wonderful while it lasted and we were so blessed to have you. All our love back, Clare and Ann.