Rita Ann Prawdzik Wroblewski age 92 of Erie, PA passed away peacefully on June 11, 2024, surrounded by her loving children. She was born in Erie, PA on April 16, 1932. Daughter of the late John Joseph Prawdzik. She was raised by her father and grandparents, the late John and Mary Prawdzik in a loving home.
Rita thrived in the old Polish neighborhood of Holy Trinity helping her grandfather make Polish sausage and other delicacies for the little corner store he owned. She completed grade school at Holy Trinity and went on to graduate from Academy High School with the same neighborhood kids who remained lifelong friends.
Her Polish Heritage and its traditions gave her a base in which she took comfort, pleasure and pride. Going back to Holy Trinity for the Polish mass on Christmas Eve was a highlight of the season. Holidays were always filled with Polish traditions that her children and grandchildren carry on to this day. She enjoyed the summer holidays and picnics out at the farm near Peek’n Peak where she loved watching the grandchildren play together.
Raising eleven kids was not an easy task, it was filled with many trials and tribulations, but she persevered. We all turned out pretty good and we thank her for the wisdom, guidance, and love which will stay with us forever. We weren’t the only kids that called her Mom, she was there for all that needed her. Which in itself is a great tribute. When she was done raising her own kids, she decided to work at the YMCA daycare center in which she showered the little ones with love, affection and kindness.
Rita enjoyed traveling around the country as well as abroad. She was in awe traveling out West one summer with her husband and her daughters’ family going to see the construction of the Crazy Horse Monument. This was one of her favorite places. She was fortunate to go to Europe, while there she went to Poland as well as Rome where she fell in love with the Pieta.
In her later years she became an avid Buffalo Bills fan to everyone’s surprise and was able to attend a home game up in Buffalo, but whatever you did not want to do, was to call for a chit-chat while she was watching a Bills game on TV or listening to Lester Holt.
Rita was a longtime member of Holy Rosary Church in Erie and St. Matthias in French Creek, NY. Her faith in God was unwavering and she set a strong example for her children and their families to follow.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Leonard of 61 years; her daughter, Susan Horvat (Jim), her sons-in-law, Daniel Holdnack (Amy) and John Coleman (Lisa); daughter-in-law Shelly Wroblewski (Leonard) as well as grandchildren Ariana Tate, Angel and Richard Hopkins.
She is survived by her children, Christine Spare (Michael Waugh) of Erie, Sandra Shouse (Tom) of Florida, Son-in-Law, James Horvat (Susan) of Erie, Cynthia Van Slyke (Tim) of Erie, Jeanette Snippert (Dave) of Erie, Elizabeth Coleman of Erie, Philip Wroblewski (Maria) of French Creek, NY, Victoria Murray of Troy, Ill., Leonard Wroblewski of French Creek, NY, Amy Holdnack (Marty Baity), of Buffalo, Katie Wroblewski, of Erie. She is also survived by 50 grandchildren, 54 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren, also an ex-son in law Jeffrey Carpenter and wife Elaina.
Friends and family are invited to Brugger Funeral Homes & Crematory, Pine Ave. 845 E 38th Street, on Thursday June 13th 3:00-8:00PM and are invited to a funeral mass on Friday June 14th at 1:00 PM at Holy Rosary Church, 2701 East Avenue.
Private burial at St. Mathias Cemetery French Creek, NY.
In Lieu of flowers a donation can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or at www.stjude.org or to Holy Rosary Church.
Rita’s Children would like to acknowledge the wonderful care, attention and kindness she received from the Parkside Regency at South Shore as well as the Interim Hospice Staff.
Our Mom will be sadly missed by those who knew her. As her honored children, we will do our best to carry on her spirit of unwavering kindness and perseverance. Condolences may be expressed at wwww.bruggerfuneralhomes.com.
Posted online on June 12, 2024
Published in Erie Times-News
