Julia Szuszkowski

Julia Szuszkowski 1938 - 2026

Julia Szuszkowski 87, passed away unexpectedly on September 18th, 2026 after a brief hospital stay brought on by numerous health complications.

Julia was born in Newark, New Jersey to Katharine and Marcin Czepielewski in September 1938. As a child she attended Saint Stanislaus School in Newark and graduated from Weequahic High School in the class of 1955.

In the 1960’s Julia worked as a Field Director for the American Red Cross in Newark.

In the 1970’s she worked as a Legal Assistant for the Law Firm on Devin and Devin at the Robert Treat Building also in Newark. In the 1980’s after moving from Irvington to Newfoundland New Jersey, she worked as a school bus driver for the Jefferson Township Board of Education and in the 1990’s she worked for Sandoz Pharmaceuticals from where she eventually retired.

In 1962 Julia married Michael Szuszkowski and in the next few years gave birth to her sons Robert and Mark to whom she dedicated her life as they grew up, being both a class mother throughout their elementary school years and even worked part time as a substitute physical education teacher. As a young mother she instilled the love of discovery and the great outdoors in her two sons as she and her family enjoyed numerous summer vacations including trips to Poland, driving across the United States visiting Yellowstone National Park, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and numerous other western and mid-western states. She also enjoyed camping and would spend many vacations towing a trailer in the family’s 1969 Buick and camping in New Brunswick Canada and New England. One of her favorite places in New Jersey was the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area, where in the 1970’s she and her young family would spend many weekends picnicking along the Delaware River, tubing and fishing in the river and hiking along sections of the Appalachian Trail and exploring historic copper mines along the Old Mine Road. Her love of the area got her involved in the fight against the Tock’s Island Dam Project that threatened to construct a massive dam across the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, burying her family’s weekend getaway. Eventually the dam was never constructed. She and her young family also spent summers in the 1970’s in a rented cabin on Pelican Island on Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, where the family would go to the beach, swim, boat and fish in the bay.

Julia was an avid animal lover and loved her adopted dogs Chicklet and Gypsy. She will be interred with Chicklet’s remains so that she will have company along her journey. She instilled that same love for animals in both of her sons from a very young age.

She was incredibly dedicated to her beloved Saint Stanislaus B&M, R.C. Church in Newark, New Jersey where she attended school as a young child and became a lifetime member of St. Stanislaus, where she volunteered as a member of The Rosary Society, the Lutnia Choir and Parish Council. She was also a member of Polish Falcons of America and Secretary of Polish Falcons of America Nest 17 in Newark. One of Julia’s proudest achievements came in October of 1979 when she was honored to represent St. Stanislaus as a choir member at the visit of Pope John Paul II at Yankee Stadium, where she sang for the new Pope on his first U.S. visit.

Julia is survived by Michael Szuszkowski her husband of 64 years, who was the love of her life,their two sons Robert and Mark and their spouses Patricia and Lenore, four grandchildren, Nicholas, Kathryn, Kersten and Kyle, all who are devastated by Julia’s sudden passing.

Arrangement for Julia are being made by Galante Funeral Home, 2800 Morris Ave, Union, NJ with viewing on Wednesday 9/23/26 from 3 -7pm. Funeral Mass will be at Saint Stanislaus B&M R.C. Church 146 Irvine Turner Blvd, Newark NJ on Thursday 9/24/26 at 10am followed by her interment at the cemetery at Our Lady of Czestochowa, 654 Ferry Road, Doylestown PA 18901.

In lieu of flowers donations could be made in Julia's name to Saint Stanislaus B&M R.C. Church 146 Irvine Turner Blvd, Newark NJ 07103.