Pauline Marie Passic

Pauline Marie (Kulikowski) Passic, of Albion, passed away on May 10, 2026 at Arbor Manor in Spring Arbor, Michigan at the age of 99, following declining health due to a fall in November, 2025. She was born in Albion, Michigan at the then-family home at 624 W. Broadwell St. on Wednesday, May 26, 1926. She was the daughter of Lithuanian immigrants Mike and Theodora Kulikowski (Originally Nikodemas and Teodora (Barvydas) Kulikauskas).

She grew up in Albion and attended the Albion Public Schools. During her junior high and high school years, she lived with various families including the Rev. Dempster Yinger family of the local Methodist Church. She lived and traveled with the Russell Bates family of Marshall her Senior year to Roxbury, New York, where she graduated from Roxbury High School in 1944.

Pauline quickly returned to Albion upon graduation, and during World War II was employed by Union Steel Products, working in the sheet metal department. There she put together ductwork for bakeries, including orders for military bakeries. She learned about aluminum welding, worked on the brake machine, learned to read blueprints, and yes, riveted parts together. She was literally a “Rosie the Riveter.” After receiving a better paying job offer, Pauline went over to Eaton Manufacturing in Marshall where she worked until the end of the War.

She met her husband Frank Passic, Sr. (1919-1974) at Dubina’s Dance Hall in Albion, and the couple were married on April 24, 1948, in Albion. Performing the ceremony was the Rev. Dempster Yinger of the Methodist Church, one of the families she had lived with while growing up.

She was one of the original employees of Corning Glass Works in Albion when it opened in the early 1950s and was No. 16 on the seniority list. She was also on the Corning women’s bowling team. Pauline left Corning in 1953 to begin her family. During the mid-1960s, Pauline took classes in psychology and writing at Kellogg Community College, and Western Michigan University, and carried a 3.0 GPA. Pauline became part of the staff of the fledging Albion Day Care Center in 1967. There she taught migrant children as well as children from the Albion area. She subsequently became a teacher’s aide at Crowell Elementary School. Pauline was also involved as a cub-scout pack leader, and a Camp Fire Bluebird’s leader during this time as her two children were growing up during the 1960s.

Following her husband’s death in late 1974, Pauline inherited the family business, Frank’s Auto Body, Inc. and managed the body shop for a decade. During this time, she was a member of the local branch of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (B. P. W). She sold the body shop in January, 1985, but continued working there in transition before retiring on June 14, 1986. In the summer of 2000, Pauline worked for the U.S. Census Bureau as an enumerator and crew leader assistant in Calhoun County, including Albion, for the decennial count, helping obtain an accurate population count of our community.

Pauline enjoyed traveling, and visited countries such as Canada, Mexico, England, Wales, Germany, Italy, Slovenia in her retirement years. She enjoyed bowling and golf as sports and was a 65-year member of AAA insurance. Pauline was honored by the Calhoun County Senior Services as a “Centenarian of Calhoun County” in July, 2025 at the age of 99. Her biography and photo are found on pages 38-39 in the commemorative booklet that was printed and distributed.

Pauline was preceded in death by her husband Frank on November 30, 1974. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and all of her 13 other Kulikowski siblings: Julius, Teddy, Stella, Joseph, Victor, Mike, George, Ernest, Stanley, John, Casper, Sophie, and Lawrence. She is survived by her son Frank Passic, Jr. at home, and Dr. Amy (Michael) Bearman of The Villages, FL; Three grandchildren: Teddi (Mike)(Bearman) Bewernitz of Mt. Airy, Maryland; Commander Benjamin (Fari) Bearman USN of Plantation, FL; and Michael (Caitlin) Bearman of Rochester Hills, MI; six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 15, 2026 from 4-8 PM at J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Homer, 811 Finley Drive in Albion. Services will be held there on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 10 AM, with visitation beginning at 9AM. Burial following the service will be in Block 119, Lot 55 in Riverside Cemetery in Albion next to her husband Frank. Memorials may be made to a charity/institution of one’s choice.

Please feel encouraged to share memories, photos and condolences to the family through this online guest book.

Pauline’s burial information can be found at www.findagrave.com with Memorial ID # 300151919.