Stanley Kwapniewski of Woodbridge, NJ, was called home to God on January 13, 2026, following a period of declining health. He was 88 years old.
The viewing will be held in the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, NJ on Monday, January 19 from 3-7 pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday 11:00 am in St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Lyndhurst. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Stanley was the devoted husband of Margaret (Findura), his wife of 46 years, who predeceased him in 2012. He was also predeceased by his parents, his siblings, and his daughter-in-law, Marybeth (Glowacki). Stanley is survived by his devoted son Richard of Middletown, loving grandchildren Kathryn and Andrew, and by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews in the U.S. and Poland.
Born in 1937 in Rudka, Poland, to parents Jan and Bronisława (Gdowska), Stanley was the youngest of 12 children. During his early childhood, he suffered the hardships of World War II together with his family. After the war, Stanley exceled as a student, served in the Polish Army, graduated from Liceum Pedagogiczne College, and began a career in Poland as a teacher. However, Stanley was unwilling to endure the oppression of communism, and together with his brother Czesław, emigrated to the United States in 1963 to begin a new life. Stanley became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1971, and he was proud to be an American.
Stanley had a long career as a quality control inspector, notably at Standard Tool & Manufacturing in Lyndhurst, and most recently at Westlock Controls in Saddle Brook, from which he retired in 2013.
Stanley was a deeply faithful Catholic throughout his life, and he was active at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Lyndhurst for more than forty years. He was a member of the Holy Name Society and a leader in the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts there.
Stanley resided most of his life in North Arlington, but after retirement, he moved to Lincroft, where he resumed his passions of art and music. He produced many drawings and paintings, including numerous which were exhibited in local senior citizen art shows. Stanley enjoyed playing music on keyboard and harmonica, and he entertained fellow residents while serving as DJ for events in his senior citizen community. He ultimately resided at Saint Joseph Senior Home in Woodbridge.
Memorial donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services (www.crs.org).
