Although she was 88, Lucille Ann (Knaus) Statkiewicz was taken far too early from the family who loved her so dearly. Dying as she wished, she passed peacefully from this life at the Flemington, NJ home of her daughter, Jean Slobodzian, with whom she had been living for several years. Lucille died on February 26, 2013, joining those before her who had already gone to their eternal rest. Included on that list were her parents John and Helen, her sister Helen, her two brothers Wilbert and John, and Edward Sanchez, her grandchild.

Lucille was also predeceased by her dear husband Theodore, whom she married in 1945 upon his return from serving as an Army Corporal during World War II. The two of them will now rest together in a shared gravesite at Indiantown Gap, the national veteran's cemetery located in Anneville, Pennsylvania. The circle is also complete in yet another way with Lucille going back to Pennsylvania now, as she was born there in the town of Castle Shannon on January 26, 1925.

Having held many different jobs over her lifetime, such as working as a copier at Bell Labs in Whippany, NJ; owning a tavern in Dover, NJ; serving as a home health aide in Chalfont, PA; and even holding a job well into her 70's as a clerk at the Stanhope Municipal building in NJ through the auspices of the Experience Works program, Lucille took the most pride and pleasure from being a homemaker of excellence and a loving mother to her five children: Mary Sanchez of New Jersey (married to Steve); Lucille Kedersha of Delaware (married to Tom); Stephen Statkiewicz of Tennessee; Jean Slobodzian (married to Daniel) of New Jersey; and Michael Statkiewicz of Nevada. Lucille also leaves behind a legacy of ten grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Never one to let the grass grow under her feet, Lucille found something to do even when her body told her she needed to slow down. For example, although she became unable to attend meetings of the Prayer Shawl Ministry at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, she would sit in the rocking chair in her bedroom so she could continue with her beloved crocheting. She also entertained herself by reading, as well as ongoing quests to solve crossword and Sudoku puzzles. Monday through Friday 7:00 pm was "sacred time" for Lucille, who was a devoted Jeopardy fan. She often talked about how she began watching back when Art Fleming was the host of the daytime version; she would only miss seeing Alex Trebeck in the nighttime version if the power went out and she couldn't turn on the television. The hours between dinner and Jeopardy were reserved for games – when she lived alone she would play solitaire or work on jigsaw puzzles, but once she moved to Flemington, she would play word games, dominoes, or card games with Jean, Dan, and their children: Keenan, Duncan, Grace, and Emmett. Every single day, Lucille would end each of the games by saying, "That was fun. It never matters to me who wins, I just love to play."

Lucille was a positively-focused woman who looked for the best in every person she met. Despite many hardships along the way, she took to heart the title of her favorite movie and was often heard to say, "It's a wonderful life." One goal of hers was to find something to bring her joy and give her a good laugh each and every day. Her smile and the touch of her hand will be missed, but the model she leaves behind of a life well lived and of a kind and loving soul will remain with us forever.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation at Countryside Funeral Home, 724 Route 202 North, Three Bridges, NJ 08887 on Friday, March 1, 2013 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m.

A funeral liturgy will be held at 9:00 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church in Three Bridges. Private burial services will follow at Indiantown Gap Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Lucille's name to Hunterdon Hospice, c/o Hunterdon Medical Center, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822.