Stefne T. Jurgielewicz

Stefne Therese Kurkoski Jurgielewicz, 93, of Tilden Township, passed away peacefully at home on July 10, 2021.

Stefne was born on March 3, 1928 in Southold, NY and was the daughter of the late Peter and Antonina (Dziergoska) Kurkoski. She was the youngest of their five children and adored her late older brothers (Stanley and Zygmunt) and sisters (Alexandra and Anna). Stefne graduated from Mattituck High School in 1946.

Stefne married the late Joseph Leo Jurgielewicz on October 19, 1952 at Our Lady of Ostrabrama Roman Catholic Church in Cutchogue, NY. They settled in Moriches, NY where they raised their five children. In addition to supporting her husband's career, Stefne was the founder and proprietor of the Briar Patch Greenhouse in Moriches, NY, where she shared her green thumb with local residents. In 1985, Stefne and Joe moved to Pennsylvania where they founded Joe Jurgielewicz & Son, Ltd., a duck farm in Hamburg.

Stefne was a devout Catholic, with a particular fondness for the teachings of Saint Pope John Paul II. She was the proud daughter of two Polish immigrants, ensuring the culture and traditions of her parents' homeland remained alive in her family. Stefne was talented in the kitchen and derived great joy from cooking for her friends and family. Her (not so) secret ingredient was ketchup, which she fiercely believed made everything taste better.

Stefne and Joe loved road trips, particularly to New England to watch the colors change each fall; later in life, they enjoyed many cruises, including memorable voyages through the Panama Canal and to Alaska, as well as visits to Colorado, San Francisco, England, Ireland, and Poland.

Stefne's greatest joy was being a grandmother. "Babo" was a regular at sports games, dance recitals, school plays, and everything in between. She was immensely proud of her grandchildren's achievements, so many of which would not have been possible without her and Joe's support. Stefne's relentless faith inspired them, constant encouragement motivated them, and tireless love sustained them. "Babo" was, simply put, the very best grandmother a child could ask for.

Stefne is survived by her children: Stefne (Jurgielewicz) and her husband, William Sears, of Holmdel, NJ; Anne (Jurgielewicz) and her husband, Thomas Bean, Esq., of Colts Neck, NJ; Dr. Joseph Jurgielewicz Jr. and his wife, Rita (Murphy), of Tilden Township, PA; Janet Anne Jurgielewicz of Freehold, NJ; and Dr. Lynne (Jurgielewicz) and her husband, W. Robert Leavitt, of Davidsonville, MD. She is also survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Thomas Bean Jr., Esq. and his wife, Allison (Weiser), of Hopewell, NJ and their daughters, Abigail and Emily; Stephanie (Bean) and her husband, William Allen, Esq., of New York, NY; Andrew Bean and his wife, Kris (Allen), of Titusville, NJ and their daughter, Esmé; J. Matthew Bean of Colts Neck, NJ; Joseph Jurgielewicz III and his wife, Christine (Loomis), of Tilden Township, PA and their children, Emma, Joseph, and John; Dr. James Jurgielewicz and his wife, Stephanie (Chernalis), of Mohrsville, PA and their children, Evelyn and Jacob; Michael Jurgielewicz of Chicago, IL; Dr. Brian Jurgielewicz of Philadelphia, PA; and Julia Leavitt of Davidsonville, MD.

The extended Jurgielewicz family would like to thank the wonderful caretakers and nurses who supported Stefne and her husband, Joe, over the past five years. In particular, they are eternally grateful to Carlos Ramirez-Contreras for the friendship, kindness, and love he extended to Stefne and Joe.

In lieu of flowers and in honor of her lifetime of generosity and quiet philanthropy, donations in memory of Stefne may be made to Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, 94 Walnut Road, Hamburg, PA 19526 or to the ProMedica Hospice Memorial Fund.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, July 16, 2021, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's R.C. Church, 94 Walnut Road, Hamburg, PA 19526. Entombment will follow in Gethsemane Mausoleum. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service in the church from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.burkeydriscoll.com.