Viola C. Rij, 96, of Palm Coast, died peacefully on May 15, 2017 at Brookdale Assisted Living. She was born on June 26, 1920 in Spirit Falls, WI, a daughter of John and Catherine Kuzara Bandura, Polish immigrants who operated a dairy farm. They lived as strong, rural pioneers.
At the age of 16, she moved to Elizabeth, NJ, where she supported herself and soon found work at the Singer Sewing Machine company.
Viola was married to her late husband, Jerry J Rij on May 6, 1945. She continued to work until 1950, when she became a full time loving mother. After raising her three children, she returned to work at Singer’s before retiring in 1982. She and her late husband enjoyed traveling around the country, especially to the National Parks, took a wonderful extensive trip to Europe, and enjoyed several cruises in the Caribbean. Viola loved to cook and baked many family favorite cakes and pies. She was well known for knitting and crocheting baby clothes while sitting for hours in her favorite chair.
In 1982, Viola and her late husband moved from Colonia, NJ to Palm Coast, where they were devout religious founder members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Viola was also a member of the Church’s Ladies Guild and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
Her husband of 63 years, Jerry J Rij, passed away on February 11, 2009. She is survived by her three children, Jerry (and Dorothy) Rij of Burke, VA; James (and Sandee) Rij of Poway, CA; Diana (and Joseph) Leonetti of Palm Coast, FL; younger sister, Francis Maleckie of Chicago, IL; four grandchildren, Jennifer (and Michael) Kearny, Ryan (and Lindsay) Rij, Jerry J Rij III, and Ursula J. (Anna) Rij, and one great grandchild, Axton Kearny. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her older sister, Marion Egley of Sun City, CA, and her fraternal twin brother, Walter Bandura of Tomahawk, WI.
Family and friends will be received Friday, May 19, 2017 from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 4600 Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, and entombment will follow at Volusia Memorial Park in Ormond Beach.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Central & North Florida Chapter, 2180 W State Road 434, Suite 1100, Longwood, FL 32779. Or by phone 1.800.272.3900 or online by visiting alz.org
Arrangements are in trust and care of Craig-Flagler Palms Funeral Home.
Condolences may be sent to www.craigflaglerpalms.com
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18