Obituary for Stella Kaskiel
Stella Kaskiel, formerly of Prospectville, Horsham Township, PA, passed away on Sunday December 20, 2020 at Elm Terrace Gardens assisted living facility in Lansdale, PA. Stella was 102 years old.
Born in Girardville, Pa. on November 12, 1918, Stella was the daughter of the late John and Sophia (Hnyda) Potchynok, both Ukrainian born immigrants.
Stella was the former wife of the late Michael Jushchyshyn and the late Leon Kaskiel.
The Potchynok family returned to Ukraine after some time, where Stella was raised, working on her family’s farm. In July 1936, when pre-war conditions became overly dangerous, Stella’s family sent her back to America via steamer from France to New York City. Stella worked as a maid to several clients until she met her first husband, Michael Jushchyshyn, and married at St. Georges Ukrainian Catholic Church N.Y.C. The new family started a grocery business, and then a restaurant business, and expanded with the births of John in 1943, Steven in 1947 and Richard in 1951. In mid 1950’s, the family moved to Prospectville, PA, where Stella raised the children and, in the late 50’s, made her career in the electronics manufacturing industry first with Philco-Ford in Lansdale and then with Leeds & Northrup in North Wales, PA, enabling the family to afford college expenses for all of her children. Stella’s husband Michael passed away in 1971. After retiring, Stella then assisted her son John in the operation of retail beer and beverage distributorship. For years, Stella was active at Saint Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church in Warrington, where she was a founding member. She was a dedicated supporter of the church events, especially perogie making and bread baking. Years later, Stella met Leon Kaskiel and married at St. Anne’s, taking his last name. Leon sadly passed away 6 months after they married, and Stella became a widow again. She lived happily the rest of her life in her Prospectville home, socializing with family, neighbors and new friends, until needing assisted living beginning at the age of 95.
Stella is survived by her sons John (Caroline), Steven (Judy), and Richard Jushchyshyn (Joyce) and her sister Virka in Ukraine.
She was the grandmother of Rebecca McCoy, Kathryn McKinnon, Jennifer Allard, Monica Chu, Alex, Nicholas, Jeremy, and Tyler Jushchyshyn. Stella is also survived by her great grandchildren Corey McCoy, Shane and Bryce McKinnon, Graham Weiler, Nate and Sam Chu, Nicholas C., and Jessica Jushchyshyn, and Madison Hahn.
A private graveside service will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Elkins Park.
A Memorial Mass and luncheon to celebrate her life will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions Saint Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1545 Easton Rd. Warrington, PA. 18976
Born in Girardville, Pa. on November 12, 1918, Stella was the daughter of the late John and Sophia (Hnyda) Potchynok, both Ukrainian born immigrants.
Stella was the former wife of the late Michael Jushchyshyn and the late Leon Kaskiel.
The Potchynok family returned to Ukraine after some time, where Stella was raised, working on her family’s farm. In July 1936, when pre-war conditions became overly dangerous, Stella’s family sent her back to America via steamer from France to New York City. Stella worked as a maid to several clients until she met her first husband, Michael Jushchyshyn, and married at St. Georges Ukrainian Catholic Church N.Y.C. The new family started a grocery business, and then a restaurant business, and expanded with the births of John in 1943, Steven in 1947 and Richard in 1951. In mid 1950’s, the family moved to Prospectville, PA, where Stella raised the children and, in the late 50’s, made her career in the electronics manufacturing industry first with Philco-Ford in Lansdale and then with Leeds & Northrup in North Wales, PA, enabling the family to afford college expenses for all of her children. Stella’s husband Michael passed away in 1971. After retiring, Stella then assisted her son John in the operation of retail beer and beverage distributorship. For years, Stella was active at Saint Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church in Warrington, where she was a founding member. She was a dedicated supporter of the church events, especially perogie making and bread baking. Years later, Stella met Leon Kaskiel and married at St. Anne’s, taking his last name. Leon sadly passed away 6 months after they married, and Stella became a widow again. She lived happily the rest of her life in her Prospectville home, socializing with family, neighbors and new friends, until needing assisted living beginning at the age of 95.
Stella is survived by her sons John (Caroline), Steven (Judy), and Richard Jushchyshyn (Joyce) and her sister Virka in Ukraine.
She was the grandmother of Rebecca McCoy, Kathryn McKinnon, Jennifer Allard, Monica Chu, Alex, Nicholas, Jeremy, and Tyler Jushchyshyn. Stella is also survived by her great grandchildren Corey McCoy, Shane and Bryce McKinnon, Graham Weiler, Nate and Sam Chu, Nicholas C., and Jessica Jushchyshyn, and Madison Hahn.
A private graveside service will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Elkins Park.
A Memorial Mass and luncheon to celebrate her life will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions Saint Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1545 Easton Rd. Warrington, PA. 18976