Ruth K. Stefanek

Ruth K. (Nowakowski) Stefanek of South Bend, Indiana, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2025, at her home on the beach in Naples, Florida. "Ruthie" was a devoted wife for 69 years, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, godmother, and a loyal friend. She was a devout Catholic calling both St. Hugo of the Hills in Bloomfield Hills and St. John the Evangelist in Naples her church homes. Ruth spent many cherished summers at her aunt and uncle’s farm in Michigan City. After high school, she moved to Chicago to support the war effort before returning home to South Bend, where she worked for Studebaker. It was during this time she met Gus, then a student at Notre Dame. They married in her hometown at Saint Hedwig Catholic Church soon after his graduation and began their life together. Their journey first took them to Cleveland and then New York, before they eventually settled in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where they lived for more than 50 years. While Ruth devoted herself to raising their family, Gus often credited her with bringing the spark and “pizazz” that helped fuel his business success. Together, they were a true team, building not just a life, but a legacy. In the early 1980s, lifelong best friends introduced them to Naples, Florida, where they soon purchased a second home. For many years, Ruth and Gus traveled happily between Bloomfield Hills and Naples before making Naples their permanent residence in later life. Her intelligence was not of the formal kind, but Ruth possessed a deep wisdom rooted in curiosity and compassion. One of her greatest pleasures was immersing herself in the Sunday papers after Mass, and she passed on her love of reading and learning to her children. Ruth’s appreciation for the arts was boundless. She found joy in music of every kind, from Bob Seger and Louis Prima to Pavarotti and Pete Fountain. She loved the theater and the opera, and she delighted in any chance to share these experiences with others. Traveling with Ruth was always an adventure; her sense of fun, humor, and energetic spontaneity ensured that everyone made unforgettable memories. In a fitting finale, just last week she sat at the card table with her grandchildren, winning in true Ruthie fashion with a perfect hand, collecting the winning pot, and having the last smile at the table. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gus, and is survived by her children Mark (Kathy), Jill Ackerman, Karen Lussier (Kurt), Gregg, Nancy Allen (Joe), and Patrick; her grandchildren Billy, Nathan, Ryann, Augie, Ben, Katie, John, Jessie, Kristin, Kevin, and Patrick; and her great-grandchildren Wyatt, Tristan, Keegan, Marleigh, Paige, and Nash. A private funeral mass will be held for Ruth and Gus at a future date at their beloved University of Notre Dame, where their ashes will be interred together. Ruth was grateful for the loving care she received from hospice. In her memory, donations can be made to Avow at this link https://www.classy.org/give/544918/#!/donation/checkout. Though we grieve her passing, we also celebrate a life richly and joyfully lived and are overflowing with gratefulness for having had her with us for so many beautiful years. Ruth taught us not only how to live but how to love. “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13. To sign her guest register or to leave online condolences please visit www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home Family Owned and Operated Since 1978.

Ruth K. Stefanek

August 7, 1927 - August 17, 2025