Susanna Helena Skirucha

Our mighty matriarch, Susanna Helena Skirucha, left this Earth on the morning of December 18, 2021, taking her final breath just as the bright full moon set quietly over the snow-capped Oquirrh Mountains in the West. It seemed so fitting. She was born in Pszczyna, Poland on August 30, 1940. She was a head-strong, stubborn woman who grew up during the occupation with her mother and sister after her father was taken away and killed when she was four. She survived the war camps and polio as a child, as well as being struck by a car in her twenties. And anyone that knew her knew she was stoic and obstinate as a result of all her trials. She fled communism and immigrated to the United States in 1968. While always prideful of her German/Polish heritage, she was so proud to become an American citizen that she kept her naturalization oath card proudly in her wallet after all these years. In 1973, she married Miroslaw “Merrick” Skirucha and later gave birth to her only son, Michael. She lived in Chicago, Illinois, and worked for Barr Corp. and as a cosmetologist while helping her husband build his company. She moved to Draper, Utah to be near family in 2018.

The true joy in her life came from her family and friends. She was always ready to feed anyone at any time and wouldn’t take “no” for an answer when she asked, “Are you hungry?” Her pierogi and bigos were unmatched and even though she passed the recipe and techniques on to family, I’m sure we will never make them quite as good as she did. She loved shopping and was always so excited when her Macy’s coupons came in the mail because it meant a day at the “plaza” with her friends of grandkids. She enjoyed going to church, shows, and doing things with the friends she made wherever she went, whether it was Chicago, Florida, or Draper. She spoke Polish, German, Russian, English, and Canine. There was not a dog in the world that didn’t adore her, and she carried around treats in her coat pocket just in case she ran into one.

She is survived by her son Michael (Laura) and her grandchildren that she adored to pieces: Gavin (her prince), Graham (her professor), and Gianna (her princess) of Draper, Utah; her sister Magda of Dusseldorf, Germany; many “adopted” family members (anyone who was Polish was automatically a cousin!), and friends. Waiting for her on the other side with open arms was her father who she lost so young, her mother, her husband Miroslaw, and many, many friends. I’m sure she found Sharon right away and they gushed about their grandbabies. May they watch over them together, keeping them safe and being that rustle in the wind or those birds on the ledge at the future graduations, weddings, and the births of great-grandchildren that are still yet to come.

A funeral mass will be held for Susanna at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (11800 South 300 East, Draper) on Tuesday, December 28th at 11 am followed by a dedication of her grave at Larkin Sunset Gardens (1950 E. 10600 South, Sandy) and a Celebration of Life Luncheon (details for luncheon will be provided at services for those wishing to attend).

To watch the Mass, please visit the following link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPxSBUzhf4hqvBDwIfAktqQ