By Christine Persichette
Along a busy street in Maspeth, Queens sits a sanctuary. It’s a place of beauty where visitors can block out the noise.
“All day long, every time anyone passes by here, you’ll constantly see someone stop,” Monsignor Joseph Calise said.
For Barbara and Ken Rudzewick, it’s more than that.
“We feel at home when we come here, and the grotto is like an extension of the home,” Barbara Rudzewick said.
They were both baptized at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. It’s also where they got married and raised their family.
“The church has been like the cornerstone of what we have accomplished so far in life,” Ken Rudzewick said. “Our four children were baptized here, and all went to St. Stan’s School.”
They’ve been so involved in the parish — and so generous — the school hall bears their name.
But the garden and grotto bears the name of their daughter, Jill, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40.
“I knew what it meant and they said ‘no she’s going to live,’ but there were other plans, and she went through nine years of chemo and prayers,” Barbara Rudzewick said.
One month before she died — Barbara and Jill went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France.
“We couldn’t wait to see them go and bring back a miracle, and we did get a miracle from Lourdes. Not a miracle of saving our daughter, she died about a month after the trip, but when she came back, her faith was renewed,” Ken Rudzewick said. “She was stronger and she helped Barbara and I, and certainly our immediate family through her death… and she was so convincing that we all felt the same way… she got us through that period.”
Since then, Ken and Barbara have leaned on each other, their faith, and their parish community to deal with the loss.
“You know the pain is always there and you do go on, but I see her picture at home, and I have a tough time looking as I go about my day,” Barbara Rudzewick said.
They come here to the grotto they created in her memory to say a quick prayer and remember their daughter — hoping others who stop find solace as well.
“I feel it gives them comfort, and I feel that way myself when I’m there,” Barbara continued. “I just know she is there.”