Genevieve Burak

Genevieve Burak, age 94, died peacefully at St. Mary's Nursing Home in St. Clair Shores on January 18, 2012. Here is her life story as written by her daughter Mary Ann: Genevieve (Genovefa, Genia, Gene) Lazarecki Burak My mother Genevieve was born on June 11, 1917 in Austin, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Mary Grodecka and William Lazarecki. Shortly, after my mother's 94th birthday in June 2011, I realized that I needed to capture her stories that have been heard throughout the years. I asked her to tell me about her life before it was too late. She asked me why.her life did not have many good memories especially when she was young.She told me most of her stories in her Polish accent. This is my mother's story as she remembers at that time: Mary Grodecka, my grandmother, came to America to visit her brother because he had lost his leg. My grandmother had a good memory and in America learned English fairly well within 6 months. She became a good translator for other Polish people who could not easily learn the English language. Grandmother ended up working in a hospital where she met William her husband. They both were married in the United States at the age of 19. My mother was born one year later after they were married in the United States. She was the oldest of 4 girls. Her sisters, Monica and Lucina, were born here in America too. My grandfather returned his family to Poland when my mom was about six years old. My grandmother did not like living in America. Her health was poor and she felt better living in her own country. My grandfather left his family in Poland returned to Pennsylvania where he could make more money working in the United States. Occasionally, grandfather would visit and send money to his family. Seven years later, my aunt Reynolda, birth name Hedwiga, was born in Poland. My grandmother took care of her four daughters by working her parent's farm where my mother said they had everything. They raised a number of different animals including pet dogs. The pets were not allowed to live in the house. They had to live in the barn with the other animals. After the start of the depression, my grandmother had sold the farm due to her poor health and they went to live in the city. At that time, there were no banks in Poland and my grandmother kept all her savings with her. My mother always told me grandmother had a good heart. There was a family who lost everything and grandmother loaned the family most of her money until they could get on their feet. But they never repaid their debt to my grandmother as they once promised. From then on, life in Poland was "terrible". My mother always remembers being hungry. Sometimes, my grandmother's good friend would give them cheese and milk from their own farm. My mother would pull weeds and do odd jobs for money or food. My grandmother was able to earn some money sewing. Since mom was the oldest she always had to care for her sisters and her sick mother. She remembers when her mother was in labor with Reynolda. My mother was sent out in the dark alone to get the midwife. She was only 13 years old and very scared. Hanka was my mother's best friend. Both Hanka and my mother were American born. They were well liked by a special teacher in Poland. The teacher, Ms. Patorava, must have been well off since she employed a cook and housekeeper. The teacher provided some home schooling, along with knowledge on etiquette, crocheting, knitting, serving and setting a table for the two young girls. She let Hanka and my mother taste 1 teaspoon of a 300 year old wine. My mother said it was "good wine." Hanka and my mother also belonged to a Catholic Youth Club. There was an heiress, the Dzudizka, that was head of the Youth group. Hanka and mom were her also her favorites and were able to ride frequently in her carriage to her palace. Unfortunately, during the war the heiress was thrown out of her palace and her home became occupied by the Nazi's during World War II. When mom was older she was able to work for a pharmacist in his drugstore. He was meticulous about cleanliness while mixing his medications. He hired my mother to be the sales person in the drugstore and handle the money. She learned a lot about bacteria that year. She also kept his financial books in order. The pharmacist's name was Richard Natelski. When my mother was 20, hint of a World War II was brewing. Since she was a United States citizen it was decided that my mother go to live in America and stay with her father. She came by boat called the "Batori". She traveled third class and shared a room with another person for 15 days. Mother remembers there was a big storm and they were riding the waves. She remembers there were many Jewish people who were sea sick and puking in bags. She claims that she did not get sea sick. When my mother finally arrived in America she had to travel to Pennsylvania where my grandfather would meet her at the train station. Unfortunately, my grandfather who liked to party on the weekends was drunk and forgot to pick her up. My mother was grateful she had my grandfather's phone number with her. Some nice people provided a phone for her and she was able to call him. My grandfather sent a taxi to pick her up. Mother remembers how scared she was going up and down the big hills of Pennsylvania. I Googled pictures of "winding mountains" in Pennsylvania to understand my mother's fears. A picture is worth a thousand words. Grandfather wanted mom to go to school so she could learn English. She didn't want to go because the students would make fun of her. They called her a "Green horn". They would ask her, "Are you a monkey?" no she said "You are nuts!" The Irish people admired how well my mother washed her clothes as they hung on the line outside to dry. My mother learned never to be on the Irish's bad side. The people she knew would moon you if they did. (Not her word of course!) Mother worked many jobs in America: Her first job was working for a lawyer and his expectant wife, for $5.00/week. She was to become the nanny after the birth of their child. The lawyer promised to teach my mother English. Meanwhile prior to the birth of the baby, mother had to clean 12 rooms each day. In two weeks, she had lost 20 pounds, worn two pair of shoes, and never learned English. When grandfather came to visit and saw what his daughter had to endure he took her away. A paper mill was another place my mother worked. One day my mother was tired of all the paper cuts on her hands, she kindly asked her boss if she could possibly have a pair of gloves. The boss felt sorry for my mother's bleeding hands and brought her a pair of gloves. The other workers saw this and demanded the same treatment. Another job my mother attempted was working in a factory stamping plant where they made parts for airplanes. My mother told me this was not a good job for her since she didn't like working in an assembly line and have to "rush." Rushing about was never my mother's forte. She was so afraid she'd make a mistake and someone would die in the plane as a result. She claims her friend Hanka had no problem stamping out parts. She was able to do more than whistle while she worked. She danced and stamped out her product at the same time. This enabled her to stamp 10 x more products then my mother. One day, Hanka needed surgery to remove a large cancerous tumor on her thigh. She couldn't walk as a result of the surgery and they both returned to Pennsylvania to live with my grandfather. My mother said that grandfather received a good salary at the paper mill factory where he worked. This enabled both of them to take care of the house, cook and bake without working other jobs. Six months later Hanka returned to the stamping factory. Mother stayed behind and continued to live with her father. My mother would communicate by letters with her godmother ( Streena) who lived in Michigan. Streena's husband, Stanley, was my grandfather's brother. Her godmother suggested that my mother come to Michigan for a visit. My mother was glad to come and visit her aunt, uncle and seven cousins. During mom's stay she would help her godmother with the cooking, dishes and house work. Her Streena was so happy to finally have someone help her she asked her to stay and live with them. A few months later, my grandfather moved to Michigan to live with his brother's family and his daughter. The factory where my grandfather worked in was submerged under water due to heavy rains and a broken damn. The owner lost his business and my grandfather lost his job. Eventually grandfather and my mother moved into their own flat. My mother worked at a delicatessen. She worked 59 hours a week for $19.00. My mother moved on to work for a meat store called Jaworski's in Hamtramck. On one of her first days, she found some roaches running about the place. Mother started feverously cleaning to rid of those nasty things. The other girls in the store made fun of her by saying, "Polish girls are only good for cleaning" and called her "nasty names". My mother lost her cool and pushed one of the girls in the coal bin. Realizing her temper might get her in trouble, she went to tell Mrs. Jaworski her dilemma. Mrs. Jaworski said, Genia what did you do and listened to her story? The owner of the store said she had a hard time too when she first came here to America. Genia, my mother, was given another job collecting and counting food ration stamps in the store. Later she became a manager at the Davison store. Here is where my mother became friends with a frequent customer named Sophie. Sophie would often buy kielbasa and chat with my mother. Sophie told my mother she wanted to introduce her to a nice boy. Someday, I will come and pick you up in my car. When my mother was 16 years old, she dreamed about a man she would find one day. My mother often said she had a sixth sense. When Sophie introduced Franush to my mother, he was the same person in her dream. The rest is history: Frank and Genevieve were married August 7, 1948. They built their first and only home two doors away from Sophie. They had two daughters Diane and Mary Ann. We grew up learning our Polish heritage and culture by being active in MÅ‚ody Teatr (Polish Youth Theatre). Together, my parents were active in the youth group too. My mother served as President of the mother's group. My father served as the president for the father's group. She enjoyed giving her time promoting Polish Culture. Later Mary Ann married Walter. Diane married Zaki. My mother enjoyed her four grandchildren John, Laura, Shereen and Omar. My mother had no idea she would be the midwife for Omar's birth. I wished that I was a fly on the wall that day. Life was fulfilling and blest for all especially my mother since she never had to suffer hunger again. You would never dare to throw out any of your unfinished food. You would get a lecture from my mother of all the hungry people. As the years went on and at the age of 72 my father passed away. Again my mother struggled through life with loneliness and the stress of taking care of her home and finances. She learned to drive at the age of 74. This enabled her to remain active and independent for the next 20 years. Her philosophy was always to keep the mind and body in motion. If you don't use it you will lose it. It is now 2012, seven months since her 94th birthday. I struggle to finish her story as I sit at her bedside. Her heart is wearing out and she no longer has the energy to use her mind and body. This woman of courage is ready to meet her dear 'Franus' again now in heaven. My mother told me she had a lot of "guts" throughout her life. She also told me, God always helped me and good came around. You just have to have faith. She died approximately ten minutes after midnight, on January 18, 2012 with a picture of her dream next to her. Genevieve will be remembered as being a beloved mother and grandmother whose talent, energy and enthusiasm inspired many. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday at the A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Avenue at Vernier Road in Grosse Pointe Woods. Her body will lie instate at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 2291 E. Outer Drive (between Ryan and Dequindre), Detroit from 9:30 a.m Saturday until mass at 10 a.m. Rev. Fr. Ronald Borg will officiate. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit. The family has suggested memorial contributions be made The Capuchin Monastery, c/o The Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order, Attn: Development Office, 1820 Mt. Elliott Street; Detroit, MI 48207.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236