Danuta Dudanowicz

NEW BRITAIN

Danuta "Donna" Dudanowicz, age 74, longtime resident of New Britain, CT and recent resident of Longs, SC, passed away peacefully in her home on January 27th, 2026 after a 4-year battle with cancer. Donna was born in Mlawa, Poland to Ryszard Pietruszak and Jadwiga (Rozonska) Pietruszak.

Donna immigrated to the United States when she was 19 years old, where she met her beloved husband of 42 years, Zenon. She worked hard at Johnson and Johnson factory making hypodermic needles for many years before following her true passion, shopping, while working as a sales associate at Lord and Taylor. Following her late-husband's death in 2015, Donna took the brave step to leave her home of 50 years in New Britain to follow their shared dream of moving south to enjoy the warmth and sun. Donna was a fierce woman who loved her family unconditionally, enjoyed playing cards, shopping, gardening, and sharing jokes with friends and family. Donna was the life of the party and could always be counted on to make everyone feel welcome with her quick wit and sassy attitude.

Donna is survived by and will be dearly missed by: her daughters, Margaret Dube and her husband Dean Dube, of New Britain and Katherine Saraceno of Longs; Her four granddaughters Briana Saraceno, her fianc Jeff Atkins, and their little boy coming soon of Surfside Beach, Jacqueline Saraceno, her partner Mical Lewis, and their son Matthew Lewis of Longs, and Krysta and Samantha Dube of New Britain. She is also survived by her sister Irena Gawdzinski, of Mlawa, Poland as well as many nieces and nephews. Donna joins in heaven her husband Zenon Dudanowicz, her older sister Wieslawa Kownacki, her sisters-in-law Cecylia Wallman and Maria Dudanowicz, and her parents.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday, February 6th, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Ave, Newington, CT 06111. A brief gathering service will begin Saturday, February 7th, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 158 Broad Street, New Britain, CT 06053. She will be laid to rest in Sacred Heart Cemetery. To share your sorrow with her family, please visit us at www.duksa.net.

Danuta "Donna" Dudanowicz