Drusilla Cieszinski

Drusilla (Dru) Curry Cieszinski passed away in Roswell, New Mexico on July 10, 2019. She was born August 13, 1925 in Seminole Texas. Her parents were Bascom B. (Buck) Curry and Mabel Claire Sherman Curry.  Dru was the youngest of five sisters, the others being Anna Beth, Mary, Bennett and Jonye. She descended from early South Plains pioneers from the Quaker settlement of Estacado, as well as some of the earliest settlers in Gaines County. Her early years were spent growing up in Seminole and on the Sherman and Curry Ranches. After graduating from Seminole High School during World War II, she moved to California with her sister Jonye to assist with the War effort. While still a teenager and living in the YWCA, she worked in a shipyard as a welder’s assistant. When asked about her activities during the war years she simply said “You did your part.”

Returning to West Texas after the war, she attended Texas Tech University. On January 22, 1951, she was united in Holy Matrimony with the Love of her life James Edward (Jim) Cieszinski of Owatonna, Minnesota at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Lubbock, Texas.

She was blessed with three sons, Joe,  Jonathan, and Tom.

In 1960 the Cieszinski Family moved to Roswell, New Mexico where Dru lived the rest of her life with the exception of a short period in Dallas, Texas. All three sons attended St. Peter’s Catholic school which became Roswell Catholic School. The Cieszinskis were one of the original founding families of Assumption Parish in Roswell. Dru was a 40 year member of Assumption Catholic Church, a 40 year choir member, member of the Altar and Rosary Society, and Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Dru was a loving thoughtful mother and wife who always cared more for others than herself. She would bear almost any burden without complaint, perhaps even to a fault. She stayed busy raising her family and doing volunteer work for Saint Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary, Saint Peters Boy Scout troop and as a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She was a member of or worked with the Pecos Garden Club, Chaves County Council of State Garden Clubs, Morning Garden Club, Roswell Women’s Club. Her volunteer work included closely working with and assisting the Poor Clare Sisters at the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Roswell. She remained close to the Sisters who referred to her as Auntie Dru for the remainder of her life.

She loved gardening and all sorts of animals especially cats, dogs and birds. She was a great cook which was a good thing because Jim certainly loved to eat.

Surviving loved ones include her 3 sons, Jonathan’s wife Martha, nieces and nephews John and Kris Erickson, Charles and Brenda Erickson, Michael Harter and Monique Dupuis, Martha and John Marmaduke, Barbara and Jim Whitton, Clyde Patterson, Paul Patterson, Andrew Patterson, and Karen Bielecki.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Jim and her sisters Anna Beth Erickson, Mary S. Curry, Bennett Harter Kerr, Jonye Patterson, niece Ellen E. Sparks, and nephew Jim Harter.

The Family gratefully acknowledges Dr. Reynaldo Martinez for his many years of care and consideration.

As an expression of remembrance and sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to: Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 809 E. 19th St., Roswell, NM 88201-7599.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, July 19, 2019 at Assumption Catholic Church burial will follow at South Park Cemetery.