Lois Charlotte (Ryba) Proniewski

            Lois Charlotte (Ryba) Proniewski, 85, died peacefully on July 26, 2021.  Born in Burlington City, NJ she made the big move from the City to the Township where she resided for over 60 years.  

            She was the widow of the love of her life, John (Sonny) Proniewski and mother to Beth (Luke) Kiernan and the late John William Proniewski, Jr.

            She was an adoring Grandmother to her two grandsons, John and Luke Kiernan, who were the light of her life.

            When she was young she worked in the family business, the Ryba Bakery in Burlington City.  She then attended the University of Tennessee where she studied biology. Her college career was cut short that first summer, when she met her Sonny at the Polish American Club in Bordentown, NJ. It was love at first sight. They had their first date at the Surf City Hotel on her beloved Long Beach Island. They saw each other every day since then. Theirs was a true love story.

            They were married two years later and opened The Villa, a bar in Tabernacle, NJ with her brother Ron until it burnt down in 1959. She moved back to Burlington with Sonny and John to start again. They built their dream house and Lois became a substitute teacher in the school district. In 1972, after researching and recovering from a health issue using vitamins, she and Sonny decided to open Lois’ Health Cupboard, a vitamin store in – you guessed it – Burlington.  She ran the store for over 40 years and opened a second one down the road.  The store is still going strong today.  She helped so many people over the years and they became part of her extended family.  People would come to the store to sit and talk with Lois for hours.  She was great to talk to and had a wicked sense of humor. And when she wasn’t talking, which she did so well, she was singing.  She had a song for every moment and her joy and love of life was infectious.

            Besides being devoted to her family and her business, she was also devoted to her faith and her church, All Saints. She was a Catechist and a Lector for many years. She was married there and celebrated many of her life milestones there. Her faith was the cornerstone of her life, so much so that you had no choice but to say the rosary with her, Dorothy and Gene, on the way down to Atlantic City.

            Lois was a loving and generous person.  Even after she lost her son and husband, she was still one of the most positive people around. Her sense of humor, her genuine caring, keen intellect and ability to burst into song at any given moment will be greatly missed.

            She was preceded in death by her parents Stanley John Ryba and Lottie Violet (Cebulski) Ryba and her sister Dorothy (Ryba) Rose.  

She is also survived by her big brother, Ronald (Marlena) Ryba of Berlin, NJ and her best friend of 83 years, Gene Dolce, as well as her many loving and caring nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be held on Friday, August 6th:

Visitation 9am to 10:30am at Page's Funeral Home. 302 E. Union Street, Burlington, NJ 08016

https://www.pagefuneralhome.com

Mass at 11am celebrated by Rev. Canon Dr. Jacek Labinski at All Saints Church, 502 High Street, Burlington, NJ 08016

The Funeral Mass will be streamed on Face Book Live from Page Funeral Home facebook page.

Interment will be held privately for the family.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can made to Rosepetals Hospice, which provides support and care for terminally ill children and their families in the NJ/NY area.

http://www.rosepetals-hospice.org/donate.php

Rosepetals Hospice

825 Bloomfield Ave.

Verona, NJ 07044

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