Elizabeth Ann Yonushonis Kubiak

Elizabeth Ann Yonushonis Kubiak

Elizabeth Ann "Liz" Yonushonis Kubiak, 81, passed away Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Saint Vincent Hospital. She was born on September 14, 1941, in Indiana, PA, the daughter of the late Joseph and Kathryn Kelly Yonushonis.

Elizabeth attended St. Bernard's Grade School, was a 1959 graduate of Indiana High School, a 1963 graduate of Mercyhurst College, and then became an elementary school teacher in Baltimore, Millcreek and Erie.

At Mercyhurst, Liz had a professor by the name of Richard J. Kubiak. She took his class, European Civilization, and he gave her a "D" on her test. After all grades were in, Dick asked Liz out for a date a week from Tuesday. Although she was not interested, who has plans a week from Tuesday? But when the date came, they almost missed the movie because they were talking so much at dinner. Shortly after that, she fell in love. They married at St. Peter's Cathedral on August 28, 1965. Liz quit teaching and gave birth to Lev and Krysia Kubiak. Although she occasionally taught at St. James Grade School, primarily she was the best Mom ever. She was also Mom of the neighborhood to all who needed her.

Liz was active at St. James Parish and School and in the Girl Scouts. She helped publish "The Gospel Truth". She also specialized in chicken soup, macaroni and cheese, and antipastos that she would deliver for funerals, surgeries or whenever anyone needed help. She sent cards to whoever was ill or alone. She was a friend to everyone.

Liz was an excellent bridge player. For years, she played in card clubs around town and was always ready to sub for other groups. She was nervous to play at the Mercy Hilltop Center bridge games because she thought she wasn't good enough. But she got there and started winning right away with friend and partner Marge Campbell. She was super proud of her winning scores in the paper, which went promptly on the fridge. She loved her swimming classes at the Harborcreek YMCA and her fellow swimmers. She liked to go on rides, especially to see the sunsets, new ships, and deer. She made an amazing Manhattan and would offer you one, or a beer, or coffee, as soon as you crossed the threshold.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her aunt, Mary Kelly and good friend, Connie Sturm.

She is survived by her husband, Richard J. Kubiak; one son, Lev J. Kubiak (Allana); one daughter; Krysia Kubiak Vila-Roger (Ricardo); sister and best friend, Margaret Howland (Deane); and one grandson, Elias Vila-Kubiak. She is also survived by many dear friends, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Friends are invited to call on Thursday at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, from 1:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and may attend a Funeral Mass on Friday at Mercyhurst's University Christ the King Chapel, 501 East 38th Street, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Elizabeth's family would like to thank Mary Kuhar and Mary Ellen Wygant for their constant support and deep friendship. Memorials may be made to Mercy Hilltop Center, Inc., 3715 Pennsylvania Ave., Erie, PA 16504, or to Doctors Without Borders, https://donate.doctorswithoutborder.org, or to Mercyhurst University, 501 East 38th St., Erie, PA 16546.