Danuta T. Danilow

Danuta Teresa Danilów (née Rosiek), loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away on July 15th, 2025.
Danuta was born on July 7th, 1939 in Luck, Poland (now Ukraine), to Mieczyslaw and Maria Rosiek. At the age of six months, at the beginning of WWII, she and her parents were deported to Siberia, in the former Soviet Union, under the communist rule of Joseph Stalin. They were subsequently forced to travel through various countries (Iran, South Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and England), living in refugee camps, until finally arriving in the U.S. and settling in New York City.
Danuta attended St. Thomas Aquinas School, Cathedral High School, and Hunter College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She then worked as a social worker at New York Foundling Hospital for many years. During this time, she met Jan Danilów at a Polish Charity Ball. They were married in 1963, and had their two daughters, Lisa and Barbara (Basia) in the years that followed. In 1974, the family moved to Ridgewood, NJ, where Danuta resided until her passing.
A devout Catholic, Danuta was a lay Carmelite, and a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Ridgewood up until her death. The family also attended Polish Masses at St. Stanislaw Kostka in Garfield, NJ. Because of her avid love for animals and nature, the family often summered in the Catskills and, over the years, had many pets, ranging from dogs to blue jays. Danuta was also a Girl Scout leader for her daughters' Girl Scout troops, and enjoyed camping and horseback riding with them on several occasions.
Known for her sharp wit and clever sense of humor, Danuta always knew how to get right to the heart of a matter. Her kindness, generosity, and creativity were extraordinary, and she enjoyed needlepointing, knitting, refinishing furniture, reading, music, creating pisanki, anything chocolate, and getting the best bargain she could at her local thrift store. Her deep faith and devotion to God were the driving forces for all she did, and sustained her throughout the many trials and tribulations of her life. Danuta had a particular devotion to the Blessed Mother, the Divine Mercy of Christ, and St. Padre Pio. She loved to share her faith with those around her, praying with and for her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Danuta is predeceased by her parents, Mieczyslaw and Maria; her sister, Maria; and her husband, Jan. She is survived by her daughter Lisa; daughter Basia and son-in-law, Peter; grandchildren Kirk, Kerri (and their respective spouses Kendyl and Matt), Erich, and Aniela; and great grandchildren Robert and Abigail.
A private viewing will be held on Friday at Feeney Funeral Home in Ridgewood, NJ. The funeral Mass will be open to all on Saturday, July 19th, at 9:30 am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Ridgewood, NJ. In addition to flowers, donations may be made in her name to Salesian Missions.