Submitted by: Dan Rich

Nicolas Joseph Ruggieri

April 3, 1933 - June 2, 2000

South Bend Tribune 6/5/2000

Nicolas Joseph (Nick) Ruggieri, 67, of Auten Road, South Bend, Ind., died Friday, June 2, in Hospice House of St. Joseph County, in South Bend, after an illness. Nicolas was born April 3, 1933 to Rose and Frank Ruggieri, in South Bend, Ind. and had lived here all his life. He graduated in 1951 from Riley High School.

On August 29, 1953, he married Dorothy Beatrice (Bea) Malohn, and was reblessed at Little Flower Catholic Church, July 12, 1975, who survives. Also surviving is his son, Dennis Frank Ruggieri (Denise), and twin daughters, Cynthia Sue (Cindy) Buzas and Catherine Ann (Cathy) Brown (Rex), and a sister, Mary Boettcher, along with loving brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ron Malohn (Patti), Robert Malohn (Elba), Donald Malohn (Myla), and Helen Mickey, and nieces and nephews. His grandchildren include Ryan Joseph Buzas, James Richard Buzas, Nicolas Michael Buzas, Amber Lynn Brown, Ashley Marie Brown, Carmen Marie Ruggieri, Dustin Frank Ruggieri, Michael James Duncan and Andrew John Duncan. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Rosina and Frank Ruggieri, both born in Italy, three sisters, Diana Jean Schofield (12-3-96), Elizabeth Pridmore (12-2-99), and Elvira Francis Caron (12-30-99), and a son-in-law, Richard James Buzas (4-7-00).

He was in the navy for seven years, then went to work at Oliver (White Farm Equipment) for thirty-four years, and retired from L.E. Johnson Products, after twelve years. He loved traveling, working around the house, family gatherings, walking and having coffee with friends at the mall, shopping, trips to the casino, Notre Dame football games, and bowling and his bowling friends. He was also a member of Moose Lodge #58, since 1960. He went on twelve cruises, three trips to Hawaii, and four times to Italy, to visit distant relatives. He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather, and will be missed by all.

Friends and relatives may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2000 at Bubb Funeral Chapel, 3910 N. Main St., Mishawaka, Ind., where the South Bend Moose #58 will conduct a ritual at 6:30 p.m., and where a parish Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2000, at Little Flower Catholic Church, 54191 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend, Ind. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, 375 W. Cleveland Road, Granger, Ind. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Little Flower Catholic Church building fund, or Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637