Leonarda Trofimiuk

Leonarda “Lonia” Trofimiuk, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully at RWJ Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on June 19, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Lonia was born on March 15, 1957, to Jan and Tatiana Lazewski in the small farming village of Studzianki, Poland. After finishing school in her hometown, she studied economics at Liceum Ekonomiczne in Białystok. It was there that she met the love of her life, Jerzy Trofimiuk. The two were married on November 6, 1976, and soon welcomed their daughter, Magdalena. Around this time, Lonia also began her professional career as a bookkeeper. In September of 1993, Lonia and Jerzy immigrated to the United States and settled in Manville, New Jersey. With determination and the support of friends and the local Polish community, they built a new life together from the ground up. Lonia went on to establish her own housekeeping business and quickly earned a reputation for her integrity, work ethic, and kindness. Her clients became lifelong friends, many of whom she treated like family. She will be remembered for her strength, wit, and spirited nature, especially her love of challenging her grandchildren and friends to playful arm-wrestling matches. Lonia was passionate about gardening, animals, traditional Polish cooking (especially her famous wild mushroom pierogi and herring dishes), and even staying connected through social media, always eager to share updates and celebrate the joys of others. More than anything, Lonia cherished being a grandmother to Justine, Anna, and Ellie. She played an integral role in raising them while her daughter, Magda, and son-in-law, Ke, pursued their careers. From helping with their first steps to cheering them on at softball games, theater performances, and horseback riding events, Lonia was always their biggest supporter. Her love extended beyond her own grandchildren; she was also affectionately known as Babci by their friends, with whom she shared holidays and special moments, embracing them as part of her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jan and Tatiana Lazewski, and her brother, Jerzy Lazewski. She is survived by her devoted husband of 48 years, Jerzy; her daughter, Magdalena, and son-in-law, Ke; her cherished granddaughters, Justine, Anna, and Ellie; her honorary grandson, Anh; and the beloved family pets she fondly referred to as her “grandkid pets.” Her sister, Antonina Boguslowicz, along with many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family members, will miss her dearly. Lonia’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Her strength, compassion, and joyful spirit touched many, and her legacy will continue through the generations she helped raise and inspire. The visitation will be on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 from 4 PM to 8PM at the Ketusky Funeral Home, 1310 Brooks Blvd., Manville, NJ 08835. The Funeral will be on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 8:00 AM from the Ketusky Funeral Home followed by a 9:00 AM Mass at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church (Christ the Redeemer Parish) in Manville, NJ. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Hillsborough, NJ.

Tributes

Leonarda Trofimiuk

March 15, 1957 - June 19, 2025