Stephanie Maryann Brys

Traverse City - Stephanie Mary Ann Brys, of Traverse City passed away peacefully at Munson Medical Center on November 20, 2015. She was 97.

Stephanie was born on April 5, 1918 in Cheteck, Wisconsin to the late Simon Wilk and Mary Ann Rojek Wilk. As a young girl, Stephanie moved with her family to Detroit. In 1939, Stephanie married the "boy next door" - Walter Brys, and together they built a home in Mt. Clemens where they raised their two children – Michalene and Walter. Stephanie cherished family time at their cottage on Harsens Island, MI and later in life at their winter home in Sebring, FL. Stephanie and Walter celebrated 52 years of marriage before he passed away in 1991.

Stephanie was the supervisor of sales at the Awrey Bakery in Detroit until she retired in the early 1970's. In her spare time she enjoyed daily cross word puzzles, sewing for her family, and reading, especially the newspaper - which she read cover to cover. She was an avid cook – and enjoyed preparing traditional Polish feasts for the entire family. She was a kind, loving and generous person, often helping those in need with quiet acts of kindness. To Stephanie, family always came first, and she was the matriarch of her entire family. In 2003, Stephanie moved to Traverse City with granddaughter Judy Shaughnessy and family – and was often seen cozied up with her favorite four legged friend, Cody.

Stephanie was preceded in death by her husband Walter, daughter Michalene and nine siblings.

Stephanie is survived by her son Walter (Eileen) Brys of Traverse City and son-in-law Larry Elzerman of Oxford, grandchildren Brian (Sloan) Elzerman, Gary (Paula) Elzerman, Judy (Michael) Shaughnessy, Katie (Azmi) Elmasri, Patrick (Erick Outcalt) Brys and Stephanie Brys; great grandchildren Audrey Elzerman, Regan Elzerman, Rachel Shaughnessy, Wyatt Elzerman, Connor Elzerman, Lexa Elzerman, Allison Shaughnessy, Nicole Elzerman, and Aidan Elmasri.

A memorial mass will be held on Tuesday December 29th at 11am at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Old Mission Peninsula.

Memorial contributions in memory of Stephanie may be directed to the Father Fred Foundation of Traverse City.

Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your condolences and memories with the family.