Frances Emily Wilk

Born on July 30, 1931, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Walter Szczesniak and Emily Jedrzejek.

Nancy was very involved in music all her life. From the children’s choir at Our Lady Queen of Angels School and Church in Detroit, to St. Leo’s High School. After graduation, Nancy continued singing at weddings, funerals, concerts, church choirs, and musical productions, as well as at the Detroit Opera House. Nancy was a very beautiful and talented lady.

On January 13, 1951, Nancy married Chester Wilk, an apprentice student at Dodge Main who graduated as an Electrician Journeyman and spent over 30 years at Cadillac Motor Car in Detroit until his retirement. Together, they raised six children in a happy and loving home.

Nancy loved watching musicals and ice skating. Nancy was a devoted member of St. Andrew Catholic Church and continued singing in the choir. She practiced her faith in God and had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary until the day she passed.

Nancy was always there for her children. When a science project, book report, or homework was due the next day, she was right there by their side. Nancy was thrilled when she needed to help babysit her grandchildren and grandpuppies. She also loved cooking their favorite after-school favorites, such as fried bologna sandwiches and Pop-Tarts with ice cream on top.

She taught her children and grandchildren many Polish words and phrases. She even attended Girl Scout meetings and school classrooms and taught the Polish birthday song, "Sto lat" (may you live 100 years). She showed them how to make all the holiday traditional favorites: pierogi with a variety of fillings, golabki (stuffed cabbage), and borscht/barszcz (Easter/Christmas soup), to name a few. She made everyone’s favorite desserts, such as cheesecake, kolacky (sweet pastries), lemon meringue pie, cherry nut cake, and chrusciki (angel wings). When making apple pies, she used her Auntie Bertha’s special pie crust recipe, which has been handed down and is now made by her own children. Her children even have experience making crock polish dill pickles in the basement. Every Sunday, without fail, at 5 pm, Nancy would make the family dinner: “Sunday hamburgers” (mini pork meat loaves), boiled potatoes drizzled with butter and onions, and iceberg lettuce with sour cream dressing.

Nancy maintained many Polish holiday traditions, including coloring Easter eggs using the hot wax method and taking decorated Easter Baskets filled with food to church for a special blessing.

Nancy also made sure that on Christmas Eve, Polish carols (Kolendy) played during dinner, and before opening any gifts, her family sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, followed by their favorite Christmas carols.

Nancy was only able to receive her favorite Polish sausage, Kiszka, (blood sausage), when her children brought it on the airplane frozen in their luggage from Michigan. Yuckiepoo, according to some family members!

Beginning in the early 1960’s until the late 1980’s, Nancy and Chester enjoyed spending their summers with their family in Emeryville, Ontario, Canada, at their cottage on Lake St. Clair. Nancy coordinated the annual park picnics and obtained donations from the local vendors for raffle prizes. She also organized the weekly bingo gatherings in the big orange pumpkin building with Chester working by her side.

Nancy and Chester always put their children and family before themselves and showed their children the true meaning of unconditional love through the sacrifices they made. The lessons shared will guide their children and grandchildren as they raise their own families.

Nancy is survived by her children, Frank (Debra) Wilk, son-in-law Ralph Loweke, Debra (Roger Hufford) Wilk, Steven (Ann) Wilk, Jeffrey (Kelly) Wilk, and Tricia (Jeffrey) Winterstein; her grandchildren, Scott (Madison) Wilk, Jennifer Craft, Michael Loweke, Ryan (Madi) Wilk, Jason (Carolyn) Wilk, Eric (Maci) Wilk, Allison (Colin O’Leary) Wilk, and Alex Winterstein; her great grandchildren, Aiden Craft, Avery Craft, Lucia Rose Wilk, and Romeo Mata; and her future great grandchildren, Oakley Wilk (Ryan/Madi) and Baby Wilk (Eric/Maci).

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Emily Szczesniak, her husband Chester Wilk, and her daughter Barbara Jean Loweke.

In keeping with Nancy’s wishes, there will be no formal service. A mass and celebration of Nancy’s life will be held in the future.