Caroline Rose Koscinski

Caroline Rose (Calcaterra) Koscinski, age 95 of Harper Woods, Michigan, passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2024, after a brief hospitalization. She was born on February 16, 1928, to the late Charles Petro “Paul” Calcaterra (born April 27, 1897, died February 6, 1988), and Josephine A. Calcaterra (nee Calcaterra, born March 23, 1904, died December 2, 1978).

Caroline is preceded in death by her husband of nearly 65 years, Arthur Robert Koscinski, and her beloved sister and brother-in-law Marie (Calcaterra) and Joseph Roskowski. Caroline is survived by her sons, Robert Paul Koscinski (Anne Mancour) of Clarkston, MI, and James David Koscinski (Catherine Buffa) of Chesterfield Township, MI; and loving granddaughter, Melissa Ann Koscinski. She also leaves behind special nieces and nephews, Mike and Linda (Roskowski) Williams of Weddington, NC, Ken and Gail (Roskowski) Martin of Rochester Hills, MI, and Steve and Joanne (Kenney) Roskowksi of Northville, MI; Dianne (Slank) Kraft, Carol Koscinski and many other nieces and nephews from the Koscinski side; great-nieces and -nephews, Lauren Williams, Stephanie Roskowski, Christine Roskowski, Robert Roskowski, Amanda Martin, and Adam Martin.

Caroline was born and raised on the eastside of Detroit as a second-generation Italian American. She was always active and athletic. Her father, “Charlie” Calcaterra, was born in Detroit, raised in Cuggiono, Italy, and returned to Detroit around 1915 where he owned and operated his own auto repair shop in Detroit’s Eastern Market. Caroline attended Nativity Commercial High School in Detroit, MI, and graduated in 1945. She remained close with her Nativity friends throughout her life. After high school, Caroline worked as a secretary for a brokerage firm in Detroit and would proudly describe her responsibilities of sending stock trades over the wire services to the Chicago Board of Trade.

Caroline and Art met at the Vanity dance hall in Detroit. Art would retell the story of how he went home that same night and told his mother he met the woman he was going to marry. After a six-month courtship, Art left for Germany for his army service, but not before putting an engagement ring on Caroline’s finger. A well-worn laminated and signed photo of Caroline was found in Art's wallet after he died, the same photo he kept with him while in Europe. After Art returned from his military service, they married in 1954. Bob was born in 1956, and Jim was born five years later. Her favorite third child, as Bob and Jim would often say, was the beloved family dog Gigi. Caroline kept a photo of Gigi on the refrigerator door until her final days.

Caroline took up golfing in midlife. She and Art enjoyed many years as members of Gowanie Golf Club in Mt. Clemens, MI, and then at Boulder Lakes in Chesterfield. With her natural athletic abilities, she quickly became one of the top female golfers at the clubs. At 87 years of age, she made her first hole in one. Caroline was also a masterful bowler, frequently winning high roller in women’s bowling leagues, and quite often beating her husband. Art was very proud of his wife’s accomplishments and would save every one of her golf and bowling score cards.

Caroline loved playing her piano, especially "the good music" from the '50s. Her only grandchild, Melissa, fondly remembers spending the night at her grandparents’ and hearing her grandma Carol play the piano while grandpa sang along. Melissa and Caroline also spent time together looking for books and videos at the Harper Woods Public Library, and shopping at Eastland Mall, one of Caroline’s favorite pastimes.

A private funeral service attended by family members was held on January 24, 2024, at Mt. Olivet mausoleum in Detroit. She was laid to rest in the crypt next to Art, who died March 23, 2019, and where her parents, Josephine and Charlie, were also entombed. A Celebration of Life luncheon was held on February 17 at the Royal Park Hotel. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made in Caroline’s honor to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen of Detroit, www.cskdetroit.org, 1820 Mount Elliott Street, Detroit, MI 48207.