Eloise Andress Kuczmarski

Mrs. Eloise Andress Kuczmarski, 100, a resident of Honoraville, Alabama and formerly of Stone Mountain, Georgia, passed away peacefully in her family home on Sunday, February 12th, 2023.

Throughout her blessed life, Eloise was always the epitome of Southern grace and beauty. She was the second oldest of nine children on the family farm. As a result, she took on the role as a mother figure to help her mother. By the time she was a young adult, she was an absolutely fantastic cook and could sew virtually anything she set her mind towards. In fact, one of her favorite activities as a young woman was taking various patterns and designs from Vogue and other fashion magazines and altering them to create her own design to match her personal style. From the age of ten, Eloise often took the train from Greenville to visit her grandparents in Montgomery and it was in Montgomery that she eventually met the love of her life, Leonard Kuczmarski. Leonard went off to serve his country in the European Theater during World War II for almost four years. Happily, he returned to her so that they could marry and later move to Georgia. While there, Eloise went to work for Macy's Department Store, formerly known as Rich's, where she became a top salesperson for Estée Lauder cosmetics. This career afforded her the special opportunity to meet the legendary cosmetics founder, Estée Lauder. The two women recognized each other as kindred spirits in their love of beauty and fashion and as a result became lifelong friends.

After their retirement, Leonard and Eloise moved to the family homestead in Butler County, Alabama. Eloise continued to indulge in her love of cooking and playing host to many events at their home. She also kept up the family green thumb as she tended to her garden and beloved plants. Above all, she was a devoted wife and mother as well as being a doting grandmother and great-grandmother in her later years. Her granddaughters and their children never doubted that Grandmother Eloise was always their biggest cheerleader throughout every opportunity and activity in their lives. In fact, she continued to attend many of their events even at the age of 100 years young. Eloise was also a dedicated member of her home church, Spring Creek Baptist, for many years. She thoroughly enjoyed her role as a member of the church hospitality committee and the Spring Creek Homemakers Club. She was also the first member in its 140 years history to celebrate her 100th birthday at the church with family and friends surrounding her. Eloise lived long enough to witness some of our history's greatest and most tragic events, from the Great Depression to World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, and the advent of modern technology that she could never have dreamed of as a child. More importantly, her impact on her family and loved ones through those 100 years is the greatest legacy she could leave behind.

Eloise was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Leonard J. Kuczmarski; son, James R. Harrison; parents, Stephen Eli & Mayne Fail Andress; and siblings, John E. Andress, Steve Andress, Terry Andress, Harold Andress, and Carolyn Bowden. She is survived by her loving son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Victoria Kuczmarski; granddaughters, Christina Lynn (Butter) Smith and Kimberly Anne (Brandon) Tolbert; great-grandchildren, Kaylee Lynn Smith, Hunter Cread Smith, Brody Scott Tolbert, Bo Michael Tolbert, and Brooklyn Victoria Tolbert; loving sister, Betty Foster; loving brothers, Bobby Andress and Donald Andress; and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family members and friends. A special thank you to niece, Kay Bowden, and Sharon Sellers for all their love and care.

A graveside service for Eloise will be held at 2 PM on Friday, February 17th, in Spring Creek Cemetery with Pastor John Ross Massey and Deacon Jerry Perdue officiating and Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. Family and friends will meet in the cemetery at the service time.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Eloise Andress Kuczmarski to Spring Creek Baptist Church, 142 Ashmore Road, Honoraville, AL 36042

Pallbearers will be Allan Andress, Keith Andress, Billy Daniel, Stump Sellers, Butter Smith, and Brandon Tolbert.