Sophie Rys
March 21, 1925 - January 29, 2023
LA JOLLA — Sophie Rys, 97, a La Jolla resident since 1960, passed away peacefully in her home on January 29. Sophie was born in Thorndike, Massachusetts, to Albert and Sara Padykula, Polish immigrants. As a child during the depression and the youngest of six children, she learned how to grow food for the family. This talent continued and she has grown an abundance of fruit, vegetables, and flowers on her large lot in La Jolla Shores, which have brought her great joy in sharing with others.
Soon after graduating as high school valedictorian, Sophie became a Registered Nurse. Sophie was dedicated to her research work at Massachusetts General Hospital and Sloan Kettering Institute, although in La Jolla she was well known as a compassionate nurse at Scripps Clinic & Hospital and innumerable private duty patients. She studied medical research even until her mid-90s on the internet.
Sophie married Stanley Rys in 1949, and her career enabled him to attend Fordham School of Pharmacy. They journeyed to Los Angeles in 1956 with their first three children, where Sophie continued nursing so Stan could attend grad school at USC. In 1960, with four children, they moved to La Jolla, and Sophie has touched many lives ever since with her special kindness and generosity.
Three more children came soon afterward. All attended Stella Maris
Academy and graduated from La Jolla High.
Stan and Sophie shared their great faith at every opportunity and were very involved with many charities through Mary Star of the Sea Parish, passing that example onto their children. Donations to “Father Joe’s Villages” and “Friends of the Poor” in Sophie’s honor are appreciated.
Sophie is survived by her seven children: Stan Jr, Paul, Frank, Robert, Genie, Joseph, and Christopher; six grandchildren: Rita, Andrea, Erica, Sophia, Olivia, and Paloma; and great-grandson, Timothy.
Memorial Services will be on Tuesday, Feb 28, beginning at 1:15 pm at Veteran’s Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Dr., with the “Final Honor” horse and carriage procession escorting Sophie to be together again with Stan, who passed away in 2012. Mass will follow at Mary Star of the Sea Church at approximately 2:30 pm, followed by Celebration of Sophie’s Life in the hall.
Sophie’s final words after receiving the Sacrament Anointing of the Sick were, “Thank you, and God bless you too.”