Veronica Galacki

Veronica Galacki (née Dziuba) of Long Branch, known to her friends as Ronnie, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2022 at the Brandywine Senior Living in Shrewsbury.

Ronnie was born on February 26, 1932 in Masbeth, Queens to hard-working Polish immigrant parents Walter and Sophie, but spent a predominant part of her youth in Clifton, NJ, where she graduated from high school, before marrying her husband Julius in 1950, and shortly thereafter, moved to Long Branch.

She briefly worked at the Sears in Asbury Park before raising four beloved children, then when they were older, returned to the workforce first at the old Lido Beach Motel (where she met Rodney Dangerfield - not impressed!). She finally found her métier in the medical field, first working for neurologist Dr. Richard Rhee and then as a medical transcriptionist for Jersey Shore Medical Center until she retired.

Ronnie was widely known for her sweet nature, kindness and self-deprecating sense of humor.   She delighted in telling stories at her own expense if they made people laugh, like the time at the mall, she got into the wrong car while waiting for her brother to return, then insisted to the real car's owner when he returned, that she was where she belonged and he was clearly mistaken!

She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother - when her only granddaughter Kim Friedman joined the family, she made frequent trips to Needham, MA to be with her.  She was a devout Catholic, an avid penny and nickel poker player and an exuberant dancer - especially the polka... even taking a belly dancing class offered by the Jewish Community Center. 
Ronnie also loved animals (perhaps none more than Sheba the faux Lhasa Apsa that lived to 23) and passed that love unto her children and grandchildren.  After the loss of a pet, she would say no more animals then be the first one to break her own pronouncement.

She was predeceased by her husband, Julius in 2011, son Joe in 2019, her twin brother Teddy and brothers Walt and Raymond.  She is survived by her remaining three devoted children:  John, Dee (née Dolores) and Julius, Jr., granddaughter Kim, brother Mike and daughters-in-law Judy Victor and Diane Doolittle. 

A viewing will be held on Saturday, March 19 from 10 - 11:15 AM at Damiano Funeral Home, 191 Franklin Ave., (corner of Third Ave.) in Long Branch, with a Mass to follow at 11:45 AM at St. Michael's Church, 800 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch followed and interment at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund (https://curealz.org/) or the American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org/). The family invites you to leave a letter of condolence by selecting the Tribute/Guestbook link above. 

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