Sondra S. Rutkoski

1937 - 2024

RUTKOSKI (SMITH), SONDRA SHAREL  -

Of Grand Blanc, Age 87, has gone to be with her Lord on Monday, July 29, 2024, at Vicinia Gardens Assisted Living, Fenton MI. Visitation to be held from 4pm-8pm Thursday, August 1, 2024 at Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint Michigan 48507 (810) 235-2345, a rosary will be prayed at 7:00 pm Thursday, at the funeral home. A Funeral Mass Service to follow the next day Friday, August 2, 2024  at 1pm, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 1227 East Bristol Road Burton MI, Fr. Georges Bidzogo, officiating. Burial to immediately follow at Evergreen Cemetery, 3415 East Hill Road, Grand Blanc. Sondra was born at the home of her Aunt Effie in Flushing, Michigan on July 11, 1937. She was the second child of the late Howard Smith and Marion Louise Brizee (Smith). Sondra had one older brother the late Donald Smith and a younger sister the late Barbara J. (Smith) Sisco. Sondra Graduated from Flushing High School in 1956. While attending HS, Sondra worked for the school superintendent as his secretary, through 11th and 12th grades. She was on the Home Coming Court and at the age of 16, was 2nd runner up in the “Miss Flushing” beauty pageant. After graduation Sondra was offered a job by the FBI, in Washington DC although she turned down the offer, for a pending marriage to her future husband, Daniel L. Rutkoski. Sandy worked for two different car dealerships in Flushing while dating Dan, Delahanty Pontiac and Rizik & Soloman, as a secretary. Daniel & Sondra were married on July 20th, 1957 at St. Matthews Catholic Church, Flint MI. They had 4 daughters together: Cynthia M. Rutkoski (Joseph Willey), Victoria A. Rutkoski (Rex Hawley) Theresa L Rutkoski (Gregory Koerber), and Angela M. Rutkoski (Thomas Reilly). Sondra enjoyed many activities, mostly revolving around her daughters. She was president of the PTA at Dailey elementary school, Mt. Morris, taught Catholic Catechism classes at St. Francis of Assisi parish, Mt. Morris for several years, along with summer bible school classes, was their school bus driver and cheerleading assistant coach (1970-1971). She also was active in the Girl Scouts and Brownies for her daughters, candy sales, talent shows, sports and more.

She made ceramics, other artistic crafts, grew vegetables, flower gardening, made/sewed her daughters’ clothes, attended mass every Sunday, made donuts for Sunday mass at church, and worked the Bingo kitchen on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. She sold Tupperware, Avon and Sarah Coventry jewelry. Sandy always made dinners for her family, and when they all couldn’t be together for Sunday dinner, she made a pot roast, gathered up the kids and drove to Dan’s work and they all ate together in his office at South Plaza Shell and at Maple Point Shell, which they owned. Sondra eagerly accompanied her husband in the opening of their new joint business venture “Grand Blanc Auto Parts, Inc.”, in 1970, It was going to be a family affair, the entire family, even their dog! The business officially opened on July 25th 1971. Dan & Sandy Owned and operated Grand Blanc Auto Parts for 28 years. They retired from the business in 1999. Her customers were sad to see her go. Sondra became quite the automotive knowledgeable women of Grand Blanc and had a large following of loyal customers who also valued her as a helpful and a nice person. In 1995 Sondra’s mother Marion Smith and her Stepfather Jerry Smith took ill in their old age of Alzheimer’s disease and Bone cancer. Sandy cared for them every day after working long hours at her store, until their deaths in 1998. She also helped in the care of her brother-in-law Eugene Rutkoski, for 25 years, alongside her husband Dan, as a result of an accident that had left him legally incapacitated.

Sondra loved helping people, she and her husband Daniel would load their vehicle with coats, hats, gloves and food and drive around the community seeking out people who were in need. Also, in 1995 Sondra enrolled into a bible study class, which lasted 4 years, and in 1999, she graduated and received her diploma/certificate for completed education in Christian Biblical studies. She is deeply devoted to her faith in GOD and has developed a keen and passionate interest in the seeking of as much knowledge on the word of GOD as she can get. She is a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, formerly of Holy Family Church, of Grand Blanc. She continually attended biblical study classes with her husband, became a Eucharistic Minister and Lector for Holy Family Church as well as a Eucharistic Minister for Genysis Hospital, Grand Blanc. During her retirement from their auto parts store, she continued to take care of her home of 50 years in Grand Blanc. She was funny, often silly, a very quick wit, loved to dance and sing, enjoyed eating out and sharing her knowledge of the bible to anyone who would listen. She also enjoyed flower gardening, especially roses, completed several home remodeling projects, loved to travel, enjoyed her retreats to their property in Oscoda MI, where they owned a cottage on the lake front. has travelled to 48 of the 50 states , she’s visited: Mexico, parts of Canada, the Bahamas and Austria. Sandy loved to attend family social functions, enjoyed visits with her grandchildren. She has 8 grandchildren. Adam K. Koerber, Nicholas G. Koerber, Michael A. Koerber, Sarah E. Koerber (Garret Patterson), Anna V. Koerber, Jonathan D. Koerber, Matthew T. Reilly (Rachel) and Allisan M. Reilly (Joshua Healy). Sandy also has 4 Great Grand Children: Brayden Reilly, Julianna Reilly, Annalise Reilly, Sabrina Patterson and 1 Step Grandchild Kimberly Willey and 1 Step Great grand Child, Xander Healy. Sondra is preceded in death by her husband Daniel L. Rutkoski, a grandchild Adam K. Koerber, her parents Howard and Marion Smith, her brother Donald and sister Barbara. Sondra has several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to the American Stroke Association or the Alzheimer’s Society. The family would like to express a sincere and heartfelt thank you and their deepest gratitude for all the help, care and support of Sondra’s neighbors, all the staff at Vicinia Gardens Assisted Living, Fenton and the Entire Care Team of ProMedica-Heartland Hospice.