Bridget E. Gruss

Bridget Gruss, 93, of South Fork, PA, danced her way into Heaven on March 28, 2025, at 10:11 a.m., where she plans to settle the age-old question and alert her children: "Is there really no beer in Heaven?" Born on January 1, 1932, in Cassandra, PA, to the late Francis and Mary (Montgomery) Beck, Bridget was the last of her immediate family and the last living legend of Liberty Park Hill.

Bridget was preceded in death by her husband and dance partner, Stephen P. Gruss Sr.; infant daughter; son David; grandson Justin; great-granddaughter Gracie; and her siblings Gordon, Paul, Richard, Thomas, and Catherine.

She is survived by her loving sister-in-law Rosita Beck; her children: Stephen Jr., Vickie (Baxter) Gruss, Susan Dick (Wallace), Patrick (Denise), Lisa Penatzer (Rick), James (Janette), Thomas, and Ronald (Shannon). Bridget also leaves behind a legacy of love in her 21 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

A polka dancer extraordinaire, Bridget could "Slovenian Waltz" anyone on the dance floor, often dazzling family and friends with her moves. Now she’s dancing the "Obedic" in Heaven with Steve and the rest of the family, polka-ing until the stars come out.

With eight kids to feed, Bridget had to make a meal stretch further than the line for confession after Lent. She was also the unofficial Guinness Book of World Records holder for the most buns baked in a lifetime. She worked her magic as a baker and chocolatier at The Honey Tree, where she used her expertise to help customers choose the best chocolates for every occasion. But her real magic happened in her own kitchen. A mother of eight, Bridget mastered the fine art of cooking and baking while washing cloth diapers in a wringer washer and hanging them on the line to dry—all while somehow perfecting and passing down recipes such as potato soup, chicken and waffles, and pierogies. She told her secret gravy hack so many times that the government took it off the national "secret list."

Bridget’s desserts could tempt a saint. Her pies, cookies, nutrolls, gobs, and homemade fudge made sure that no one dared leave the dinner table without a clean plate. Her creations didn’t just satisfy a sweet tooth—they made you question why you ever bought store-bought treats.

Faith was at the center of Bridget’s life. She was a devout Catholic who worked tirelessly at Most Holy Trinity Church—or, as the OGs remember it, St. James. She taught CCD for years, kept the church sparkling with her light housekeeping, and made sure her boys served as altar boys, ensuring that the Gruss family was well-represented at Mass.

She had a punishment for every crime, a love for every special moment, and a witty comeback ready for any occasion. You weren’t getting away with anything around Bridget, “if she had to get on a chair to kick you in the ass she would”!

While Bridget’s physical presence will be missed, her spirit lives on in the stories, recipes, and dance steps she passed down. As she twirls her way through Heaven, we’re sure she’ll send a sign—probably in the form of a perfectly risen batch of buns or a Polka beat in the wind—to let us know if we "should drink it here."

Rest easy, Bridget. Save us a dance, and maybe a bun or two.

Friends will be received Saturday April 5, 2025, from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church Fellowship Hall (church basement); followed by the Funeral Mass which will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Father Joseph C. Nale, celebrant. Private committal of urn, St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Cresson. Arrangement by Charles O. Dimond Funeral Home, Inc., South Fork.