Paula J. Rusinko

Paula Jean Rusinko peacefully went home to be with the Lord on January 30, 2018 after an amazingly courageous 19-year fight with cancer. She was surrounded by friends and family in her last days, with much singing, praying, laughing and storytelling in her honor. She was 64 years old.

Paula was born on September 10, 1953 in Butler, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Butler High School in 1971. She went on to receive her B.S. (1975) and M.S. (1976) in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Pennsylvania State University. She met the love of her life, husband Mark Rusinko, while standing in the registration line on her first day of college; for the next 46 years they were nearly inseparable. Mark and Paula were married on September 29, 1979 and after living in Butler and Ligonier, PA. settled for good in Newark, Delaware.

Mark and Paula were blessed with their daughter, Leah, in 1983, and Paula spent her time as a devoted wife and mother, along with being a dedicated friend to the many people lucky enough to know her. Starting in 2009, she went to work as an English Language Tutor for the English Language Institute at the University of Delaware, where she helped many international students work through the difficulties of mastering the English language. She was particularly adept at teaching techniques to help with pronunciation. Previously, she had also worked as a Speech Pathologist at the Butler, PA. Veterans Hospital, where she helped patients suffering from aphasia to recover their ability to speak. In both her career and in her personal life, Paula’s main focus was rooted in helping others.

As a devout Christian, Paula loved to share her faith in Jesus, and during her time on Earth introduced many people to the gospel. She was a member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, in Landenberg, PA, going back all the way to when services were still held in the “barn.” Her fellowship at Cornerstone and in the teachings of Christ was a fundamental part of her life and being.

Paula liked to paint and draw in her free time, to travel, and to plant and grow flowers at her home. She also loved animals, and they in turn loved her. Those who knew her well are aware of her fondness for shopping, especially at the Rehoboth outlets. Paula loved the beach, whether it was at Rehoboth, or in Florida at New Smyrna Beach, or one of her favorite places, Sanibel Island. If it was a Florida trip, then a stop at Walt Disney World, especially Epcot, was sure to make the itinerary. She loved spending time with her parents, John and Jean Rock, who are also home with the Lord; her brother and sister-in-law, Al and Cindy Rock; and her life-long friend, Mary Woodburn, who could make Paula laugh like no one else. Most of all, what made Paula happiest was being with her daughter, Leah Kulikowski, and her husband, Mark Rusinko. Mark and Leah were her world, and the love she had for them cannot be separated by death, as they will one day be reunited in Heaven.

A memorial service for friends and family will be held in her honor on Saturday, February 3 at 4:00 pm at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, 109 Gypsy Hill Road, Landenberg, PA. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, 1-800-805-5856 http://giftfunds.stjude.org/paularusinko