Virgene Onufrak

During World War II, Virgene was a “Rosy Riveter” after moving to Detroit from Bad Axe, Michigan. She met William Onufrak at the Vanity Fair dance hall in Detroit and married him in 1944. They lived in Dearborn for a short time before moving to St. Clair Shores where Virgene lived until this past December. She lost her Sweet William in September of 2006 and has missed him greatly.

Virgene was a parishioner at St. Lucy as well as working for the church in several capacities. She lived as a true Christian and listened to the Mass on CTND every morning as well as attending Mass as often as possible. Virgene and Bill made sure all their children received a good Catholic education. She would also pray for anyone that needed prayers, often having a litany of names. Virgene taught catechism at St. Lucy parish for many years and was an active member of the Ladies Club when she was younger.

She enjoyed going out to eat and her favorite were fried fish at Andrea’s Garden, Coney Island hot dogs also Travis breakfasts and patty melts. But nothing beat a good steak anywhere!

She was mostly a stay at home mom who loved to sew and made many of her own and our clothes. She also loved to garden, canning many of the vegetables she grew and was known for her home-made bread, cookies and pastry. She thoroughly enjoyed parties and family get-togethers. She bowled until she was 89 and felt she would no longer be making any strikes to help her team win.

Virgene was a loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Great-Great Grandmother and will be greatly missed.

Virgene is survived by her children, Verniece and Gerald Lennox, Michael and Gilda Onufrak, Valerie (Preston) and Andrew Adamkiewicz, William and Sharon Onufrak, Paul and Shelly Onufrak, Steve Onufrak; her grandchildren, Michael and Sharon Lennox, Jerry and Sakaina Lennox, Jason Onufrak, Chad Onufrak, Ryan Onufrak, Michelle Onufrak, Brianne Onufrak, Keith and Jenny Preston, Robert and Amie Adamkiewicz, Shannon and Lance Hall, Lindsey and Scott Repicky, Joshua Onufrak, Dustin Onufrak, Nicholas Onufrak and Anthony Onufrak. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Trevor and Andrew Lennox, Christian, Zion and Pricilla Lennox, Chase and Chandler Onufrak, Lily Onufrak, Kevin and Alex Preston, Kristen Adamkiewicz, Cameron Hall and a great great granddaughter, Elizabeth, siblings Velma DeWitt, Violet Vertin, Thomas Polk, sister-in-law Johanna and Patricia Polk, brother-in-law Robert and many nieces and nephews. Virgene is preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Onufrak, grandsons, Kevin Preston and Garnet Lennox, and siblings Evelyn, Vivian, and Verla, Harvey, Orville, Alton, Donald, Stanley, Norbert and James.

Virgene has chosen to be cremated and to have a Bereavement Mass. The Mass will be celebrated on April 5, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. in St. Lucy Church 23401 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, MI