Elizabeth Petruska

Elizabeth T. Petruska, age 96 years of Niles, Michigan died at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on June 13, 1917 in Niles to Simon P. and Barbara (Susick) Buheker. She was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in Niles all of her life. She was retired from the offices of National-Standard, and had been previously employed at Clark Equipment.

Elizabeth was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles, and of its Altar-Rosary Society. She always enjoyed sports, playing shortstop in area softball leagues as a young lady, being a fan of the Chicago Cubs, and a fan of all sports at the University of Notre Dame but with a special interest in the women’s basketball team. She also enjoyed gardening and crochet, but might be best remembered as a baker whose specialty was the apple pie.

On June 13, 1942 (her birthday) at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles she married Paul J. Petruska who preceded her in death on October 14, 1965. She was also preceded in death by her parents and by her siblings, John Buheker, Agnes Buheker, Frank Buheker, Thomas Buheker, Mary Buheker who died in childhood, and infant Julia Buheker.

Surviving family includes her children, Barbara Petruska of Niles, Therese (& Charles) Caruso of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Thomas (& Kathy) Petruska of Niles, Mary Dunn of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, and Rita (& Joseph) Kiell of Niles; nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews; and Paul’s brother, Henry Petruska of Niles.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Elizabeth Petruska will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. David Otto of the parish, and concelebrated by the Rev. William P. Melody, C.S.C. of Notre Dame, Indiana. Committal Rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m. lead by Rev. Melody. Contributions in memory of Elizabeth may be made to Saint Mary Catholic church, or to the Christian Service Center at Saint Mary’s.