Henry was truly one of a kind, quick with a joke, and always ready with a witty remark. His sense of humor was effortless and constant, bringing joy to every room he walked into. Music was at the heart of Henry’s life from a very young age. A naturally gifted musician, he began playing instruments as a child and joined his first string band at just 13 years old. His passion and talent carried him far, leading him to proudly serve in the United States Air Force Band, where he traveled the world sharing his music. After serving in the Airforce, Henry went to work for Cambell’s soup where he stayed dedicated for over 30 years. As the years went on, Henry continued performing in combo bands and remained deeply involved in string bands well into 2010. His dedication to the craft and his fellow musicians led him to serve as Music Director for both the Greater Kensington String Band and the Ferko String Band. It was through music that Henry met the love of his life, Patricia. The two first crossed paths in high school band, she playing the clarinet, and he the saxophone, seated right behind her. It didn’t take long for them to hit it off, and their story grew into a lifelong love. High school sweethearts, they were married in 1968 and built a beautiful life together, raising two children and creating a home filled with love, laughter, and, of course, music.
While Henry wore many hats throughout his life, his favorite role, without question, was being “Poppop.” His grandchildren were the center of his world. Whether it was picking them up from school, feeding them treats like soda and junk food, or sitting down for a competitive game of Scrabble, he cherished every moment spent with them.
Henry is survived by his wife Patricia, their children Stephen (Sandra) Rudzinski and Kristopher (Loretta) Rudzinski, and their grandchildren Tabatha(Jesse) Ngo, Stephen (Pinky) Rudzinski, Juliana Rudzinski (Jarred), Anthony Rudzinski (Gracie), and Noah Rudzinski, along with many relatives and friends.
Come celebrate 79 great years on Saturday, April 18th, from 9:00am-10:30am at Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am at Resurrection Parish (St. Casimir site) 502 New Jersey Ave, Riverside. Interment immediately to follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Riverside. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Parkinson’s Foundation at https://www.parkinson.org, or Samaritan Hospice at https://www.samaritannj.org/.