TRAVERSE CITY - Mildred A. (Millie) Drzewiecki, 87, of Traverse City, a loving and kind mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend went to be with the Lord Jesus on November 1, 2016. Millie passed away peacefully at Hospice House surrounded by her family.
Millie was born July 8, 1929 in Cleveland Township, Michigan to John & Antonia (Horak) Kurina. She married Frank Drzewiecki on February 26, 1949 at St. Joseph's Church in Maple City. Frank passed away in 1983.
Millie was a hard-working woman. As a mother of seven children her everyday life was always filled with the hustle and bustle of children, work and chores. Through her hard work and dedication she built a strong, close knit, faith-filled family.
She spent several years working at Burwoods Products Co. in Traverse City. After leaving Burwoods she worked cleaning cottages at Villa Glen in Glen Arbor. She also worked at Benjamin's Café in Maple City doing a variety of tasks. The best part of her working experience was all the wonderful people she worked with and all the friends she got to meet along the way.
Millie had a very strong faith. She was an active member of St. Rita's/St. Joseph's Church for most of her life. She attended church regularly and if the snow was too deep or weather too cold she would still insist on watching mass on television. Having faith and a connection to The Lord helped guide Millie to have such a fulfilling life and peaceful passing.
Through her life Millie enjoyed many things. Gardening was one of her favorite pastimes, although tomato worm picking was usually left up to her children. She would be busy during canning season to make sure her, her family and her friends could enjoy the garden throughout the year. Millie was a very talented seamstress and loved to sew. Many people would call or ring her doorbell to get that button put on, zipper fixed or hem shortened, knowing they would get it back in better shape than new.
Millie enjoyed music, her favorite, of course, was Polka music. She would listen to polkas loud as she danced around the house with a smile on her face and a "jig" in her step. She attended the Cedar Polka Festival every year. The festival always fell right near her birthday, and for her and her family it became a perfect birthday celebration location each year.
Millie is survived by her seven children, MaryAnn (John) Sparks, David (Jean) Drzewiecki, Patricia (Jim) Leibenguth, Susie (Jerry) VanZee, John (Carol) Drzewiecki, Ruth (Larry) Johnson, Michelle (Rich) Talerico; 11 grandchildren, David Jr. (Paula) Drzewiecki, Lisa (Aaron) Cloyd, Jackie (David) Turner, Sarah Leibenguth, Emily Leibenguth, Kristoffer VanZee, Jennaffer (Chad) Kraemer, Frank Drzewiecki, Lina (Rich) Robertson, Jessica (Jason) Carneal and Chelsea Mulliner; 12 great-grandchildren, Renee, Mikey, Max, Nathanial, Eli, Paige, Marissa, Alex, Sophie, Noah, Gabe, and Ethan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Anna Kraitz, Rose Flaska, Agnes Waclawski, her brothers Tony Kurina, Joe Kurina, her granddaughter Jodi Sparks and her grandson Michael Drzewiecki.
A visitation will be held on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, with a rosary prayed at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. Rita Catholic Church in Maple City, with a visitation held one hour prior. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Munson's Hospice House in Traverse City.
Kindly share your thoughts and memories with Mildred's family by way of her online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .
The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.