Louise K. Petrush

MT. PLEASANT— Louise Kolodziej Petrush, 96, passed peacefully in her sleep on January 30, 2015. Born March 4, 1918, in Haverhill, MA, she was the daughter of Andrew Kolodziej and Mary Salok and the wife of Thomas Donald Petrush. Mrs. Petrush had been a longtime resident of New Jersey before moving to Mt. Pleasant in 2007. Before marrying, in her teens and early twenties she worked at shoe manufacturers in Haverhill MA, including the Brown Shoe Company, covering the heels with leather, and served as a housekeeper, cook, and au pair for a family in RI. During her marriage, she co-owned and helped her husband Thomas operate restaurants in Passaic and Paterson, NJ; worked for Premier Athletic in River Vale NJ (at one point making the bases and umpire vests for major league baseball teams) and for Argyle Knitting, the sweater factory at the site of the historic Campbell Wampum Factory in Park Ridge NJ; attended Secretarial School in Hackensack NJ, and subsequently held various secretarial roles for Volkswagen, Rockland County NY, and Mercedes Benz and Lehn and Fink, both of Montvale NJ. While her daughters were in school in Park Ridge NJ, she served as a Girl Scout Leader for Troop 26. After moving to Mt. Pleasant with her husband, Louise was a volunteer for several years at East Cooper Community Outreach. Louise grew up fishing with her father in New England and enjoyed looking after numerous nieces and nephews. In June 1978 she visited her mother’s family farm in Poland with three of her sisters. Louise loved baking, reading, crossword puzzles, quilting, sewing, knitting, gardening, listening to music, and traveling, including geology excursions to the American Southwest with her husband. In 1999 she became the oldest person to white water raft on an Alaska excursion. Family and friends treasure the gifts of her handmade original design quilts. Louise will be missed by her two daughters, Mrs. Charmaine Gillow (Robert) of Mt. Pleasant and Mrs. Coquette Wazeter (Bob) of Champlain, NY. She also is survived by her grandchildren, Audrey Hornyak (Craig) of Hewitt, NJ, Pamela Fleming (John) of River Edge, NJ, Dr. Jeffrey Gillow (Christine) of Castle Pines, CO, Dawn Wazeter, Mahopac, NY, Jacqueline Wazeter, Peekskill, NY; her great-grandchildren, Faith, Paige, Shannon, Sara Rose, Kayla, and Aliya; and numerous nieces and nephews. Louise is preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Thomas Donald Petrush; her brothers Joseph, John, and Andrew; her sisters Sophie, Valeska, Nellie, Julia, and Celia; and one nephew and one niece. Louise did not wish for any formal memorial services. The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter and son-in-law Charmaine and Robert Gillow, 1000 Balgrove Court in The Retreat at Charleston National, Mt Pleasant, on Sunday, February 15, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Her ashes will be scattered and a private family memorial service held in the state of Massachusetts, the place she always called “home.” The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff of Somerby of Mt. Pleasant and to Agape Hospice for their care and support. Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT. PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1133 Rifle Range Rd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466, (843)884-3833. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online by visiting www.mcalister-smith.com.