PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Edna F. "Blondie" Rusiecki of 165 Ridgeway Ave. passed away on her 74th birthday, March 23, 2016, at Berkshire Medical Center, with her daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren by her side. 

Born on March 23, 1942, in Pittsfield, she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Florence Rushbrook Rathbun. She was educated in Pittsfield schools and was a 1959 graduate of Pittsfield High School. She married her husband, the late Frederick W. "Sonny" Rusiecki Jr., the love of her life, on May 4, 1960. He died on Oct. 2, 2014.

A homemaker, Mrs. Rusiecki had been employed at one time at the former Shandoff Stationary on North Street in Pittsfield and managed the Wonder Bread Store, where she was affectionately known as the "Wonder Lady" and the "Hostess with the Mostest.”

She was a longtime communicant of the former Holy Family Church, where she was very active with the Mother's Guild. She had also volunteered as a group leader for Brownies and at the American Legion for holiday dinners that served those in need with her husband. 

Some of her best memories were of her time spent on the beach in Maine with her beloved husband as well as her daughters. 

She leaves her two daughters, Tammy J. Dietrich and her husband Todd of Middlebury, Vt., and Tanya A. Hunt of Pittsfield; her sister, Louise DeVanna; her brother, Walter Rathbun and his wife Mary and her sister-in-law Lillian Rathbun; her seven grandchildren, Todd Dietrich Jr. and his wife Amber, Steven R. Hunt, Kristen Wimett and her husband Alex, Ian Hunt and his fiance Kalen Cote, Chelsea Porter and her husband Jeffery, Abby Hunt, and Mikela Dietrich; and three great-grandsons; Shawn, Connor, and Ian Jr., whom she loved spending time with; her nieces and nephews, Debbie, Joey, Kurt, Freddie, Dawn, Suzie, Nancy, Paul, Sharon, Linda, Jodi, Lisa and Billy, as well as their spouses Barry, Cindy, Kathy, Keith, Olga, Lucky and Cliff. 

She was predeceased by her brother Bud and sisters Dolly, Eleanor and Leona, as well as her brother-in-laws Eddie, Nino, Tony, and Dick, whom she loved so very much. 

Funeral notice: Funeral services for Edna F. "Blondie" Rusiecki will be held Tuesday, March 29, at 8:15 a.m. from the Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St., followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph Church celebrated by the Rev. Monsignor Michael Shershanovich, pastor. Burial will follow in Pittsfield Cemetery. 

Calling hours will be held Monday, March 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations in memory of "Blondie" may be made to The Care Navigation Department of the BMC Cancer Center in care of the funeral home.