Lucy Phillips Kruchowski

Died Sunday, December 11, 2011 At her home in South St. Paul Preceded in death by husband, Michael J. Kruchowski, Sr.; son, Michael Jr.; & siblings, Albina Lambert, Elvene Kavaloski & Dr. Leonard Phillips. Survived by children, Caryl (Blair Kruschke), Jeanne, Rita (James Snyder), Sharon (Terry deLeon) & Mary (Robert Hagert); granddaughter, Amy Kruchowski-Phillips DVM (Jeremy Phillips) and Amy's mother & Lucy's good friend, Tamara Fast; grandson, Eric Hagert; nieces; nephews; and many other relatives & friends. Lucy was born in McGrath, MN on August 29, 1923 to Albina and Stanley Phillips (Philipsek), where she attended McGrath Consolidated School and excelled in English, Math, Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry, and Physics. After graduation in 1941 she travelled to the Twin Cities to find work and to save for college. She did restaurant work for a short while and then moved on to West Publishing, where she was a proofreader. She saw an ad in the paper for technicians at 3M and did not hesitate to apply as she was proud of the education she had received in McGrath. Lucy always stressed the importance of education and supported the PTA and the SSP Educational Foundation and was for many years President of the SSP Library Board. She worked at the 3M Tape Lab from 1943-1946 in the "old" 3M building on East 7th Street in St. Paul, where she assisted in the work on 3M's first pressure-sensitive tapes. Once her children were older, Lucy worked until her retirement at Target. When Michael J. Kruchowski, Sr., her soldier husband, returned from duty after the war, they settled in South St. Paul and built the house where she remained for the rest of her life. She never hesitated to roll up her sleeves, and loved to tell how she had mixed every bit of cement and carried every brick that went into their home. With no more bricks to carry, she applied her energy to her greatest passion, which was gardening. Even people who didn't know her personally knew of her garden in SSP as the one with the amazing show of spring blooms. She was a member of the gardening clubs in SSP and Mendota Heights, and when her fingers were itching for more she would help her daughters with their gardens, too. She was already looking forward to next year's garden. Lucy was proud of her involvement in local organizations, which included the Cub & Girl Scouts, REAP, the Raptor Center, the Dakota County Historical Society and the Target Retiree Volunteer Group. She loved the classic cars that she had inherited from her brother, was a long-time member of the Gopher State Buick Club, and her cars won many awards. Lucy loved animals and had a procession of furry friends around the house. She supported local animal adoption and spay/neuter causes. Having grown up on a farm, she found a second home at the Dodge Nature Center. She worked there as a volunteer for 26 years and enjoyed helping with the Woolly Bears preschool program, where she could pass on her love of nature. She enjoyed travelling and was able to combine that with her interest in genealogy. She travelled to Europe several times, including twice to Poland to trace her ancestry. But the fulfillment of a lifelong dream was her trip to the Galapagos Islands. She was the oldest member of the group and the only one who did not get seasick. Lucy was active and lively until the day before she died. She always looked for the best in everyone and was kind and generous to all. She was blessed to be able to live out her life in the house where she had raised her family and close to the garden she loved. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends and by Lisa, Peta, Tommy and Wilson, to whom she gave a good home. Mass of Christian Burial 10AM Thursday at the CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, 6th Ave. S. @ 8th St., South St. Paul with a visitation from 4-8PM Wednesday at SOUTHERN FUNERAL HOME (651-451-1551), 414 Marie Ave., SSP & also 1 hr. prior to the Mass at church. Private interment Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights with lunch at the church immediately following. Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers.