Eleanor Skroza Prokupek

Eleanor Katherine Skroza Prokupek (99) of Springfield, Virginia went to be with the Lord on Friday evening, April 25, 2025. Eleanor was born on February 8, 1926, in Hartford, Connecticut to the late Thomas and Mary (Evanusich) Skroza. Eleanor graduated from Branford High School in Branford, Connecticut in 1943 and then worked for the Southern New England Telephone Company, until she married the late George E. Prokupek of Poughkeepsie, New York on June 21, 1947. Eleanor and George were married for over 73 years, until George’s death on December 26, 2020. After her marriage, Eleanor initially lived in Haverhill, Massachusetts and Buffalo, New York before spending 62 years (1956-2018) in Norwalk, Connecticut. She has lived at the Greenspring Village Retirement Community in Springfield, Virginia for the past 7 years.

Eleanor initially was a “stay at home Mom” raising her three children (Barbara Ann, Lark Ann, and James Thomas) while also active in many civic and community organizations. These included: the Norwalk Women's Club, the American Field Service, the Norwalk Parent Teachers Association Council, the Southwestern Connecticut Council of Girl Scouts, the Greater Norwalk Community Council, and the South Norwalk Public Library. Eleanor competed in the Mrs. America competition in 1956, winning the first round as Mrs. Cheektowaga (New York). In 1967, she won a prize for her sewing at the Fairfield County Arts and Crafts/Federation Sewing contest and she was a frequent “Blue Ribbon Winner” at the Danbury (Connecticut) State Fair for her canned Bread & Butter Pickles, canned Peaches, canned Cherries, various Fruit Pies and cookies and for her Hooked Rugs. In her earlier years she also served as a Brownie Leader and Girl Scout Leader for her two daughters. After she retired, Eleanor was regularly active in the Goodwives Quilters, the Nutmeg Quilters, and a knitting machine group in Fairfield County, Connecticut. After she moved to Greenspring Village, she enjoyed many activities including Rummikub, Trivial Pursuit, Quorkle, and the GS-Knitters.

In 1969, Eleanor started her college career at Norwalk State Technical College earning an Associate Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1973 at the age of 47. Eleanor then continued her college education at night at the University of New Haven earning her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Degree in 1978 at the age of 52, while also working full time as a metallurgist for Carpenter Steel in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Olin Corporation in New Haven, Connecticut, and Ferro Corporation in Norwalk, Connecticut.

In addition to being a loving wife to George and loving and caring mother to her three children, Eleanor was a very generous person who engaged in several charitable activities making small quilts, knitted clothing and toys for children. With the GS-Knitters, she made over 100 mittens and scarves for local elementary school children.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Mary Skroza, her husband George, her younger sister Doris Skroza Jacobson, her brother-in-law Robert Jacobson, her sister-in-law Ernestine Prokupek, and her son-in-law Michael Liechti. She is survived by her older daughter Barbara Liechti of Springfield, Virginia, her younger daughter Lark Prokupek and daughter-in-law Nancy Leist of Annapolis, Maryland, her son James Prokupek and daughter-in-law Rhonda (Harlien) Prokupek of Humble, Texas, her grandson George Liechti and his wife Meera Murgai of Rockville Maryland, her grandson Steven Prokupek of Atlanta, Georgia, her grandson Vernon Liechti and his wife Arilana Zlotnick of Charlottesville, Virginia and her grandson David Prokupek and his wife Carly Chambrello of Marietta, Georgia, two great-grandchildren, and numerous friends.

Funeral Arrangements are being overseen by the Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, Virginia with a burial to occur later at Arlington National Cemetery. A celebration of her life is scheduled at the Greenspring Village Community Chapel, 7440 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, Virginia on Saturday May 24, 2025, at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to either the Salvation Army, Doctors Without Borders, the Macular Degeneration Foundation, or a charity of your choice.