MaryAnn Skurja

MaryAnn Skurja, 91, of Huntersville NC and formerly of Stratford CT, died peacefully on October 2, 2021 with her family at her side. She was born Mary Anna Kuskoski on August 19, 1930 in Wallingford CT to the late Walter and Katherine (Pierzga) Kuskoski. Her father immigrated from Poland in 1911 and her mother was born in Schenectady NY.

A 1948 graduate of Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport CT, she was described as “quiet, attractive, and sweet girls like her are hard to beat,” in her high school yearbook. She participated in the Student League, Red Cross, and Polish Club. 

She met her husband, George J. Skurja, in an ice cream parlor after his return from serving in the Army during World War II. They married in Bridgeport CT on May 7, 1949 and moved to Stratford. MaryAnn’s employment over the years included jobs as a typist, bank clerk, and a ‘piece worker.’ It was her employment as a small instrument calibration technician at Dresser’s Industries that gave her the most gratification, as her exceptional performance was recognized and she was moved to an air-conditioned room to do her job. She held these jobs while raising seven children.

In 1997, George and MaryAnn moved to The Villages FL. After the death of her husband, she  moved to Huntersville NC where she has been a resident of The Glens since July 2011. When asked, she would say the greatest pride in her life was her family - she was always there no matter what or when. She was a loving and selfless daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. MaryAnn was a fifth-generation matriarch with 37 immediate family members.

MaryAnn was a devout Catholic and a parishioner of St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville. She volunteered for several activities; and a memorable one was the precious task of doing the laundry for the neighbors of the Room In The Inn ministry. She also participated in several Small Groups sessions, adding joy and kindness with her group members. 

She had a love of music and dancing, and believed that we all should “dance as if no one is looking.” She enjoyed reading, doing jigsaw puzzles, long car rides, sharing a cup of coffee, glass of wine, or a Cosmo with family and friends; and was ready to go for just about anything. She emulated the contemporaneous version of FOMO (fear of missing out). Her high energy and love was contagious.

She is preceded in death by her husband, George J. Skurja, son Peter Skurja, granddaughter Tara Cirillo, her brother (Thomas) and three sisters (Stella, Anne, Helen). Survivors include daughters, Judith A. (Otto) Sidarweck of Guilford CT, Nancy (William) Bourque of Milford CT, Patricia (Dwight) Corley of Huntersville NC, Susan (Jan) Dorenbosch of Redding CT, sons Thomas (Brenda) Skurja of Thomaston GA and George (Patricia) Skurja of Stratford CT; 12 grandchildren (Kris, O.J., Gene, Nicole, Hannah, Dale, Mark, Matthew, Tommy, Anni, Kacey, and Jake); 9 great-grandchildren (Emma, Timothy, Samantha, Liam, Chase, J.R., Leo, Zoey and Thomas); one great-great-granddaughter (Delilah); sister, Catherine B. Aiello of Chapel Hill NC; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the Medical-Surgical and Hospice staff of room 207 at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center for their compassion, kindness, and care of MaryAnn and her family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, October 25, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Ann Church, 501 Naugatuck Ave., Milford, CT 06460. Burial will follow at the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane, Middletown, CT 06457. In lieu of flowers, donations and memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors, St Jude’s Children Research Hospital, and a local Hospice Organization. 

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