Frances Veronica Nowakowski

Frances Veronica Nowakowski 87, passed away quietly surrounded by her family on Wednesday October 16, 2013. Frances was born in Detroit on May 28, 1926. She was raised with a sister and brother by a single mother Veronica Bock-Dubik. Frances attended St. Alphonsus Catholic school in Dearborn and received special honors for her academic achievement and perfect attendance for all twelve years of school. After high school she attended Siena Heights College in Adrian, Michigan where she excelled in a chemistry and mathematics program. While at Siena she sang in the choir and was proud to be a "valiant woman" graduating in 1948. She remained lifelong friends with her classmates and was chosen as the Outstanding Alumni in 1988 recognizing her achievements as an educator, Christian mother and role model. Frances and Aloysius married on October 2, 1948 and they celebrated 64 years of marriage mostly at the farm they loved on O'Neil Road. There they raised ten children, nurtured sixteen grandchildren and loved three great-grandchildren. Frances headed the kitchen and ran a busy household where no one left a stranger or hungry. That included foreign exchange students and many friends. She was proud of her Polish heritage and prouder to be given such a good life as an American. She loved being a math teacher at Memphis High School for 1 8 years and enjoyed her former students telling her how much they learned and loved her classes. She was funny, thoughtful and eager to help her students realize their potentials. After retirement Frances and Al spent winters in Ft. Myers Beach, FL and enjoyed friends and family there. Frances was well known on the beach for encouraging people with angel pins, prayers, crocheted hankies and dish cloths. She loved to listen to the music on the beach and to be near the water with all the beach fun. Frances was a lifelong member and regent of the Daughter's of Isabella. She was a 4-H leader and an unselfish volunteer for good. She supported academic achievement and extra curricular activities for her kids and then her grandkids. She realized that life was short and as long as nobody got hurt you should go for it. She enjoyed the Salvation Army programs at Pine Grove Park music concerts and was especially proud that the new Pope Francis shared her name. She never left the house without lipstick and jewelry. In her own words written in 1994 she wrote “I consider myself very lucky to have had a great childhood, a happy marriage, super children and even better grandchildren. Life was good to me." Frances leaves behind her children, Cathie (Jeff), Diane (Chuck), Mary (Jeff), Susie (Laurent), John (Martha) and Margie (Allen); daughter-in-law, Glenda Nowakowski; grandchildren, Matthew, Veronica, Nathan, Stephen, Adam, Lorna, Tyler, Lorena, Carson, Lewis, Rudy, Carmen, Calvin and Hector, Grant and Marie; great-grandchildren, Violet, Madison and Daniel; sister, Dolores Jonasz, many nieces and nephews and dear friends all over the world. She was preceded in death by her husband Aloysius (March 17, 2013), sons James, Joseph and Michael and daughter Carol; brother Harry Bock, sister and brother in laws and her parents. Frances wishes to celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 Saturday at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Emmett with a 10:00 a.m. visitation. Fr. Tom Kuehnemund, pastor, will officiate. A family inurnment will be at a later date at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel-Kenockee Cemetery, Kenockee Township. Please join the family for a short video tribute and luncheon at the Fr. Sirianni parish hall immediately following the mass. Arrangements are by Kaatz Funeral Directors, Richmond. In lieu of flowers she suggested memorials to the Salvation Army, 2000 Court Street Port Huron, Michigan 48060. For information and Guest Book kaatzfunerals.com

Frances Veronica Nowakowski

May 28, 1926 - October 16, 2013